Agenda Item 897 TESTIMONY 2:00 PM TIME CERTAIN i i II OPPOSE APPEAL OF GOOSE HOLLOW FOOTHILLS LEAGUE APPEAL THE PRESS BLOCKS- LU 16-273094 DZM AD IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL, PRINT YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND EMAIL. NAME ( rint) ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE Email Che Ise ec f:2,·-e cl e( u2I Sw 11/-h 5f C,R_,1 (! cLQ_ ( -fJ'\...RS:1 VIC f o.prvD . COn-- tl.l"\O\ ·w Sb Snl=A, ,t\. v1 C( • wysty l-\clut' e '1,\l\;1 \( ~p(J'r(Cc-rG 2)VV\l\i'J 1 ~C\s I lffe() NuJ WVv~lf :;+ 11Tot S~(? Uttou'I c07 =f '-t I u t:. ?:{o"1'Vl kv~ . C{ =t UJ\!1i17\ Cll;\V\tlWoods Date 08-1 0-1 7 Page I of L Agenda Item 897 TESTIMONY 2:00 PM TIME CERTAIN OPPOSE APPEAL OF GOOSE HOLLOW FOOTHILLS LEAGUE APPEAL THE PRESS BLOCKS- LU 16-273094 DZM AD IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL, PRINT YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND EMAIL. NAME (_print . ) ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE Ema, ·1 \ilJ 5~ Lc.__V'~~--1 \21 >Ll '-\ 5~ >-- <-c_.)c:, S/&-,,,, c.h e{;,_---A..c~._/ 1"10~< o 7 l I I Date 08-1 0-1 7 Page _l_ of L Agenda Item 897 TESTIMONY 2:00 PM TIME CERTAIN , SUPPORT 1 APPEAL OF GOOSE HOLLOW FOOTHILLS LEAGUE APPEAL THE PRESS BLOCKS- LU 16-273094 DZM AD IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL, PRINT YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND EMAIL. Email Date 08-1 0-1 7 Page f of----'-) _ K A I S ER ~,r G RO U P czj;o/2-~17 Portland City Council I 7 f~f es 1221 SW 4th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97204 RE: LU16-273094 DZM AD Press Blocks Dear Mayor Wheeler and Councilors, Thank you for your time today considering both the supporters and opponents of the Press Blocks project that will soon be located in the Goose Hollow neighborhood . It is this type of lively discourse that has made Portland what it is today, the best city in the country. The most critical piece of information in this particular discussion is the fact that the project is being built within the zoning envelope that is allowed by code; Both parcels have a base height of 250 ', with an additional 45' of General Bonus Height, and 30' of Housing Bonus Height, for a total height limit of up to 325 '. This development proposal stays within the allocated base zoning height restriction . These decisions about density, zoning, and height are under attack all across our city. As Portland becomes more and more "gentrified", we are faced with the new challenge of a well-financed population able to make the time to fight anything that they disagree with . In my 8 years on the Design Commission, it was usually the folks that were losing their views, or a public parking space they thought was theirs, or the sunlight on their gardens, that were the most vociferous in their opposition to new projects. These folks are not at all considering the long ago agreed to vision of a dense urban core that is all about preserving our surrounding green spaces and parks for future generations. It is those surrounding green and open areas that are for everyone 's benefit, not simply the wealthy or advantaged . As a city, we need to stop listening to neighbors and start listening to neighborhoods. Our city's long-term visionaries put so much effort into designing our public infrastructure and the adjoining zoning designations, to support these dense urban corridors and 20-minute neighborhoods. We all need to work together to preserve their vision and not succumb to the inevitable pressures that successful cities often fall prey to, which is the over regulation of available building sites. Let's allow the checks and balances that are in place to work, as they are doing with this project. The Design Review process, together with the applicant's architect, has resulted in a very successful building that will be a great benefit to not only the Goose Hollow neighborhood, but the city as a whole , for generations to come. Thank you for your time, Benjamin Kaiser 3530 North Vancouver Avenue Suite 330 Portland, Oregon 97227 503.234 .4718 O• , ,_,,, I ,.. :J t.. ' t C ...., -'.._ u· '.j s "' rs . .., '-';T .... r r. r ,,j _ • t ..._ _ n '""'. ~ u +, Stadl1t11t Dlstrlet 81tsl11oss {iroi.p TO: Tim Heron DATE: 10/19/2016 FR: The Stadium District Business Group RE: Oregonian Press Blocks - EA-186585 Dear Mr. Heron, The Stadium District Business Group would like to indicate full support for the Oregonian Press Blocks, EA-186585. The proposed project not only recognizes the diverse nature of Goose Hollow, it embodies it by including buildings at different scales. It also recognizes the mixed use nature of the flats by including the incorporation of office, parking, retail, and housing. As a business group, from a safety and security perspective we are very interested in the ground floor uses. They will create a much safer pedestrian experience in a part of the neighborhood that has lacked "eyes on the street" for as long as the existing Oregonian building has been there. We believe that the proposed heights of the buildings are in line with both with existing tall and short buildings that currently populate this area, as well as future new buildings. This district's base zoning allows for buildings to be as tall as 250' in height in the flats. This height will allow the growth in density in this area that the businesses welcome; and it will capitalize on the public investments of the MAX line by promoting dense urban development such as the proposed project. Goose Hollow is an historic areas, and a good part of the businesses that make up our membership are located in this neighborhood, however it is a vital and integral district of the Central City. Promoting smart and well-crafted development with urban density is in alignment both with the past and future of Goose Hollow, and the surrounding areas it will impact and improve. The mission of the Stadium District Business Group is to build community through economic development, and to help businesses stay alive and thrive. While the Stadium and the Timbers and Thorns are some of the biggest core elements in the area, many of our local businesses suffer the feast and famine of the Stadium in the off-season. Adding the strong residential component, as well as mixed use buildings, the public space, and the parking as proposed in the Oregonian Press Blocks project, the Stadium District Business Group feels this project will add value, and a positive impact that will benefit not only current residents and businesses, but those who could and will become future residents and business owners and operators. In the words of a famous man, from a famous movie, with a common "stadium" theme- "lf you build it, they will come!" Thank you for taking time to review this project and for all that you do. The Stadium District Business Group fully supports the Oregonian Press Blocks Project. Best Regards, 1111a Tina Wager Wyszynski Founder I President Stadium District Business Group Stadiumdistrictpdx.biz Michelle Schulz From: Heron, Tim <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 6:24 PM To: Marcus Lima; Michelle Schulz Subject: Fw: Press Blocks Building FYI Sent using OWA for iPhone From: Rachel Clark <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 2:19:54 PM To: Heron, Tim Subject: Press Blocks Building Hi Tim, I wanted to take a moment to express my general support for the press blocks plan, with some caveats centered around the parking use. A group that I am involved in had opposed it, and I'm not sure if my name was on it as a member, so I wanted to reach out and say that I'm not opposed. I think that the general design feels right for that particular part of the neighborhood. The walkway between the buildings is a great idea, and adding better lighting, trees and perhaps fountains to the area will bring a more vibrant, and presumably healthy, pedestrian presence to the area. My primary concern is the parking plan. There is loads of parking below street level, which is great. However, on Timbers game nights, I'm concerned that those penthouse comers will fill up with party-goers who are going to take up valuable parking for the residents. We want those residents to count on those spots in the evening -- and for those party-goers to take MAX. As far as I know, that is a hope of the planners as well; however, the plan doesn't convince me that the reality will follow. As a local business operator (Goose Hollow Inn, Inc.) and property owner (Whoop! Whoop!! LLC), I would like to see the parking concerns fully addressed and sorted out before the building is built and rented:) Thank you for your time, Rachel Clark 1 3 PROVENANCE Mr. Tim Heron City of Portland Design Commission 1900 SW 4th Ave, Room 2500A Portland, OR RE : Press Blocks Project - EA 16-186585 Dear Mr. Heron, We support the proposed project for the Oregonian Press Blocks, as it is currently designed. The project provides diversity by having buildings at different scales, as well as incorporating mixed use office space, parking, retail, and housing. The ground floor retail use is especially important as it will create a much safer pedestrian experience in a part of the neighborhood that has been plagued with street crime in the past.