Pearl Residents Hope to Coax Changes Into Proposed Ball Development

Ground level layout of proposed residential building in the Pearl District. Image: Fletcher, Farr, Ayotte Architects

On the heels of a pre-application conference with planners at the city's Bureau of Development Services, representatives of local developer Robert Ball met with the Pearl District Neighborhood Association's (PDNA) Planning & Transportation Committee to discuss Ball's plan to build a 72-foot, 6-story residential building on the 1400 block of NW 12th Avenue.

Ball, who has spearheaded four developments in northwest Portland, most recently The Wyatt on NW 12th Avenue, is proposing to build 177 units from the building's 202,000 square feet.

While the PDNA as a whole supported the development, it did raise several issues of concern about density. Presently, there are two Pearl District developments under consideration that mirror Ball's proposal: mainly, that a majority of units are designated as either 1-bedroom and studio. The PDNA expressed a hope to work with Ball to turn more of those units into 2- and 3-bedroom units as a way to lure families interested in living downtown to the Pearl. The PDNA indicated that when families grow, they often leave downtown and find homes in other neighborhoods. Building more multi-bedroom units, they think, might encourage families to stay in the Pearl.

And while the PDNA expressed concern over the proposed development's lack of balconies or a loading dock, they were chiefly concerned with the fact that the development's proposed plaza will be available only to its residents, and they hope to convince Ball to make the plaza available to the public, thus fostering engagement with Pearl residents and visitors.

Correction 11/18/11: The article initially stated that Ball plans to build a 72-foot, 6-story residential building on the 1400 block of NW Marshall. It is planned on the 1400 block of NW 12th Avenue.