From: Pat s

Sent: Thu Sep 17 06:53:28 2020

To: Wheeler, Mayor; Commissioner Fritz; Commissioner Eudaly; Commissioner Hardesty; Council Clerk â Testimony

Subject: Appeal of Alamo Manhattan LU-20-102914 DZM GW AD

Importance: Normal

Thank you for carefully reviewing this project. I urge Council to uphold the appeal.

This is a substantial development along the Willamette Greenway–its size a result of bonuses. The Greenway is Portland’s front yard, not just the Alamo’s. It needs to comfortably support the recreation needs for 1200 residential households plus accommodate regional users. It should be exemplary. Expansive. Environmentally-friendly.

The Alamo fails to fully meet these guidelines:

• Central City design guideline #9: Ensure that new development is at a human scale and that it relates to the scale and desired character of its setting…

• South Waterfront Design Guideline D.2: …“graduate building heights from the western boundary down to the waterfront.”

The Design Commission repeatedly encouraged buildings 41 and 44 to be set further back from the greenway and to have much more building erosion to achieve a better pedestrian experience and a more human scale to the buildings. These changes would better integrate the buildings with the rest of South Waterfront.

• A1-2: “Integrate active uses along the greenway to encourage continuous use and public “ownership” of the greenway. Program active uses to face and connect with the greenway, expand the public realm, and enhance the experience for greenway users.”

• When compared to the development required by the standards of 33.510.253, the proposal will better embrace the river as Portland’s front yard

The vision/aspiration for the SoWa greenway setback has always been 150 feet. Other South Waterfront towers provide this. So should the Alamo. Bonus areas need to be clearly public and inviting, not just for “bike and residential use.”

Just barely meeting requirements for a project this size, is akin to passing a class with a D grade. If we expect more of our children, we should expect more of projects that leave a legacy on our city.

Respectfully

--

Pat Scruggs

Scruggs & Associates LLC

704-425-8313

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' Martin Luther King Jr.