By Susan Trabucco, CNA Media Team
A 30-unit apartment building is planned at the corner of N.E. 30th & Killingsworth. Bighouse Automotive operated at this location for over 60 years. Photo by Carl Jameson
For decades the home of Bighouse Automotive and a U-Haul outlet, a 10,000 square foot parcel at the corner of NE 30th and Killingsworth in Concordia’s Fox Chase district is slated for the development of a mixed-use building, an outright use for the site under the City of Portland’s current code.
30th & K Properties, LLC, a Vancouver, Wash.-based company, recently purchased the property at 3009 NE Killingsworth from former owner David Bighouse. The project includes 30 apartment units and a small amount of ground floor retail space on the site. Brian Spencer, the company’s representative, said plans have been submitted to the City of Portland for review and permitting. Upon approval, construction will start in the spring or early summer this year.
Final details of the design are in the process of being completed, but the project will be constructed to the city -allowed height. The building will be four stories, with residential units on all floors, and approximately 800 square feet of ground floor retail space on the SW corner of the lot. -Of the 30 apartments planned, 24 will have two bedrooms and two baths; the remaining units will have one bedroom. Rents will be market rate.
Spencer said the building will be constructed with quality components, and be very nice-looking.
“I really think people are going to like it, and see it as an asset to the neighborhood,” he said.
As is allowed by City of Portland code, and because of the relatively small lot size, no onsite parking is included in the plans. In keeping in with Portland’s bike-friendly culture, however, two-wheeled commuters will be accommodated with ample bike storage.
On February 17 the development company presented its plans to the Concordia Neighborhood Association’s Land Use Committee to give committee members an opportunity to ask questions.
“We want to be good neighbors to the people that live and work near the development,” Spencer said.
Architectural design work for the project is being provided by Portland-based Mackenzie, and Union Corner Construction of Vancouver, Wash. is the construction contractor. Both companies have experience in the neighborhood; most notably they have worked on Concordia University projects, including Hilken Community Stadium.
This artist’s rendering shows the current design of the a new mixed-use building to be constructed at N.E. 30th & Killingsworth.
Susan Trabucco is a business communications consultant. She lives in the Beaumont Wilshire neighborhood, just a few steps from Concordia. Reach her by emailing susan@trabucco.biz or call (503) 440-7732.