The sustainable mixed-use Ecoflats apartment project planned at 3935 N. Williams received funding on December 23rd, 2009.
The demolition permit has been issued, and demolition will begin in a week or so. After the existing building is demolished and the remains are sorted and removed (as much as possible will be recycled), soil testing will be conducted.
Developer Jean-Pierre Veillet expects that the building permit will be issued and construction will begin by February 2010. Should there be any delay in the permit, Veillet will obtain a foundation permit to begin construction while the City processes the building permit application. Construction is expected to take about 12 months, with occupancy in Spring of 2011.
Plans for a restaurant, common area, and garden in back all remain in place.
CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL
As with any proposal, changes are inevitable. In this case, the changes should please the neighbors who voiced concerns about the original plan.
Addition of an elevator
Banks would not consider financing the project without one. To accommodate the elevator, the original staircase configuration was changed, and the stepped floor design was eliminated. Those changes resulted in additional square footage on each floor. That additional space was used to create 2 bedroom units, located at the ends of each floor. The ground floor residential unit was also eliminated, creating a larger commercial space.
Total number of units
Down from 21 to 18. There will be 12 one bedroom units and 6 two-bedroom units.
ADA compliant units
3 ADA compliant one bedroom units and 3 ADA compliant two bedroom units
UNCERTAINTIES
Green exterior color
Veillet is looking at other exterior colors. He likes the look in the renderings, but is concerned that once built, it may not be so attractive.
Solar energy
Veillet is working with the Oregon Energy Trust to expand the solar array from 21 KW of electricity to 35 KW but, at this time, the outcome of that effort is uncertain.
