And b) I am not sold on the usefulness of design review but they I think honestly do a decent job of resulting in nice looking apartment buildings. Eg Modera Belmont before and after design review (shoutout @maccoinnich.bsky.social so happy nextportland is coming back!)
November 14, 2025 at 10:05 PM
And b) I am not sold on the usefulness of design review but they I think honestly do a decent job of resulting in nice looking apartment buildings. Eg Modera Belmont before and after design review (shoutout @maccoinnich.bsky.social so happy nextportland is coming back!)
A lot of what shapes my noncommittal feelings about designs review is a) a bunch of testimony during DOZA about how it’s the city’s permitting slowness that is the choke point and not design review (though if permitting is sped up it could become more of a factor)
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
A lot of what shapes my noncommittal feelings about designs review is a) a bunch of testimony during DOZA about how it’s the city’s permitting slowness that is the choke point and not design review (though if permitting is sped up it could become more of a factor)
Yep 100%, and it’s also a loophole that could become more attractive post IE4A 🫥. Design review is significantly more regulated since DOZA a couple years ago, but landmarks can and will arbitrarily functionally downzone a site.
November 14, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Yep 100%, and it’s also a loophole that could become more attractive post IE4A 🫥. Design review is significantly more regulated since DOZA a couple years ago, but landmarks can and will arbitrarily functionally downzone a site.
Like the SDC wavier, I think it also changes the status quo in a way that is much easier to make the change permanent (although imo the SDC suspension will make a much more significant difference in speeding up/enabling development than a design review suspension)
November 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Like the SDC wavier, I think it also changes the status quo in a way that is much easier to make the change permanent (although imo the SDC suspension will make a much more significant difference in speeding up/enabling development than a design review suspension)
My understanding of the fair haired dumbbell approval process was that the design commissioners basically got to choose the building wrap design which is kinda genius imo
November 14, 2025 at 8:09 PM
My understanding of the fair haired dumbbell approval process was that the design commissioners basically got to choose the building wrap design which is kinda genius imo
HOWEVER it still doesn’t need to take 3 years, particularly if the planning bureau makes it their top priority and commits enough staff capacity.
November 11, 2025 at 11:44 PM
HOWEVER it still doesn’t need to take 3 years, particularly if the planning bureau makes it their top priority and commits enough staff capacity.
Oregon has statewide land use laws that require a certain level of process + public engagement. If it passes council but doesn’t fulfill those requirements it would get appealed to the state Land Use Board of Appeals and overturned
November 11, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Oregon has statewide land use laws that require a certain level of process + public engagement. If it passes council but doesn’t fulfill those requirements it would get appealed to the state Land Use Board of Appeals and overturned
I live in a sixties motel style building and I keep 2 bikes in my living room, there wouldn’t be a good place to build bike parking in any case but honestly I would want a highly used exterior door before the bike room to trust it at all.
November 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I live in a sixties motel style building and I keep 2 bikes in my living room, there wouldn’t be a good place to build bike parking in any case but honestly I would want a highly used exterior door before the bike room to trust it at all.
I think single stair stacked flats is really the housing of the future for ownership. Having a shared entrance makes it logistically easier to have a bike room, and while I think these townhouses are great, the stairs takes up so much floor space and they’re inaccessible :/
November 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I think single stair stacked flats is really the housing of the future for ownership. Having a shared entrance makes it logistically easier to have a bike room, and while I think these townhouses are great, the stairs takes up so much floor space and they’re inaccessible :/
I’m so sorry Jennifer 😔😔😔 that’s awful
November 9, 2025 at 4:17 AM
I’m so sorry Jennifer 😔😔😔 that’s awful
Would be very nice for the area in conjunction w IE4A tho 👀
November 7, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Would be very nice for the area in conjunction w IE4A tho 👀