Randy Rappaport, the Portland developer who purchased the Beets Automotive property last year, has plans to put a 4-story building on the lot. Rappaport hopes to create a public / private partnership with the City of Portland to develop a mixed use building with a 4,500 square foot grocery store on the ground level and 60 apartment units above. The plan includes 25 parking spaces – 10 for shoppers and 15 spaces for residents.
Rappaport describes the apartment project as “workforce housing” – housing that’s affordable for someone working the average sort of job. Aimed at increasing the supply of housing in Montavilla, the units will be small, but functional. For example, the one bedrooms will be 400 square feet in size.
In order for the project to move forward with the city’s approval, Rappaport will need the support of the business community and resident groups. He has outreach plans to visit a neighborhood association meeting in the future and will also be on the agenda for the next METBA luncheon meeting on July 11th from 12-1:30pm at the Flying Pie Pizzeria.
400 sq ft for how much rent. Portland is at a major loss for truly affordable housing and I am all in favor of this if that 400 sq ft apartment is not $1200.
Rappaport is out of his cotton picken mind. 60 residential units need at least 60 off street parking spaces and 10 parking spaces for working people in the store + customer parking. These people are destroying the livability of our city. Rappaport needs to move to India or China.
Wayne is right, especially about parking. Four stories doesn’t fit it at this location.
We need affordable housing but we shouldn’t sacrifice our livability.
I’m with Wayne. I’m soooo tired of huge apartments popping up with almost no parking. It’s infuriating! Some claim it’s not affordable if you include parking but it’s not affordable regardless. All comes down to money money money.
This will be great news for local businesses on Stark Street! So much more business!
Of the many issues that could be cited here, parking is the hottest. People moving in will park on the street, cutting out parking for home owners (property tax payers) and their guests, and for people who would shop on Stark.
I was also question the city connection: what is that? Why would a building for working people need city support? And what form will that support take? Will Home Forward support the units as low income? Will the city financially support the 50′ by 90′ grocery (smaller than a residential lot) that is very unlikely to even break-even?
What is this building really going to cost all of us?
You brink up many good questions. METBA’s understanding is that the developer can get some sort of financial break (e.g., building permits) – not sure what kind. The units would be affordable by someone earning 60% of median income. This would place rents under market value – thus the break. The grocery would not fall under the same rent. The rentor will pay big bucks to be there.
I just don’t understand why the City continues to develop toward increased congestion. I guess the goal is to turn Stark into another Division, i.e. good for business but absolutely horrible for long time residents. Parking and traffic is already congested for residents during peak hours. 60 units w no tennent parking? How does this stuff get approved?
This seems like a bad deal for Montavilla. Not sure why the city is pushing it when there’s so many other efforts to improve the community in better ways.