Portland's Pearl District

The Elizabeth Lofts

bficker — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:20:53 +0000

Built in the middle of Portland’s Pearl District, the Elizabeth Lofts are an Art Deco mixed-use building with ironwork displays adorning its brick facade. Within the abode are 182 chic lofts on sixteen floors.

Each unit is elegantly designed with state- of- the- art amenities including gourmet appliances, granite countertops, ceramic tile, 9í8î ceilings, and hardwood floors. The loft sizes range anywhere between 725 to 3,500 feet.

Concierge service, secured entrances, dedicated parking and storage space are also some high-end perks you’ll enjoy as a tenant at this luxurious condominium.

Ground floor retail tenants include Rich’s Cigar, Judith Arnell Jewelers, Imeldaís Shoes, Louie’s Shoes for Men, Custom by ConstructaVision, The Eye Studio, Trust: A Lounge, and Beppu Wiarda Gallery. The building also sports a dazzling outdoor courtyard which is home to Isabel, a fabulous South American restaurant with outdoor seating.

Yet who says that style and elegance means more money and less conservation? Certainly no one who has ever visited the Elizabeth. For example, this high-rise incorporates carbon monoxide sensors in the parking garage, which saves energy as the ventilation runs only when needed.

The Elizabeth also has a water-loop heat pump system that transfers heat from where it is not needed to a part of the building where it is needed, thus causing the boiler to run less often. In addition, the gas boiler is placed on the roof where it heats water while it supplements the heat pumps.

The Elizabeth Lofts have helped make the terms elegance and sustainable synonymous in every way.

333 NW 9th Ave

City Lofts

bficker — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:05:07 +0000

Originally built in 1905 as the business headquarters of the Eoff Electric Company, the building was renovated into condominiums in 1994 making it the oldest loft conversions in the Pearl District.

These lofts contain elegant and detailed designs, high-end amenities while retaining the building’s historic integrity. For example, each unit boasts exposed brick and heavy-timber structural beams.

You’ll also find 14í ceilings, floor to ceiling bookshelves with rolling library ladders, and grand master suites with over-sized walk in closets. Kitchen feature new stainless steal gas appliances & rolling islands while many of baths have deep soaking tubs and showers.
Since its mid-1990ís conversion, The Pearl has a cultural renaissance and now offers outstanding restaurants, boutiques and art galleries, and Powell’s, the largest independent book store in the country.

By living at The City Lofts, you’ll enjoy all that the Pearl District has to offer. Plus, the streetcar or MAX light rail to more distant areas like Gresham to the east and Hillsboro to the west.

Chown Pella Condominiums

bficker — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 16:00:40 +0000

One of the Pearl District’s oldest conversions, the Chown Pella condominiums offer the finest in classic loft living. Originally built in 1912, the Oregon Transfer Company and several Portland manufacturers called this building home until its 1997 restoration. As the first housing renovation in Northwest Portland, the lofts helped spur the neighborhood’s miraculous transformation.

Each of the 68 units boasts 11 to 17 feet-high ceilings of the building’s original planks supported by powerful wooden beams. Yet, the lofts are not at all Spartan – several luxuries include: marble bathrooms; granite kitchens; birch floors; gourmet appliances; as well as built-in TV and stereo cabinets.
The Chown Pella lofts expertly balance the feel of old Portland with such up-to-date amenities as electronic security systems, high-speed elevators, structural and seismic upgrades, and one of the largest indoor parking spaces in the district.

The icing on the cake is a rooftop garden and deck for quiet relaxation or for entertaining a small group of friends.

416 NW 13th Ave

Bridgeport Condominiums

bficker — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:57:10 +0000

Bridgeport Condominiums was one of the first Pearl District lofts to offer classic interior design. Each unit is graced with Beech wood floating floor systems, gas fireplaces, and highly coveted stone black slab granite.
In addition, expansive sizes, high ceilings, large windows, and, one some units, wrap around balconies add a luxurious feel. In addition, huge closets, gourmet kitchens, and state of-the-art appliances make these exceptional homes.
With two buildings housing 123 condominiums ñ the East Building with 56 units and the West Building with 67 units ñ Bridgeport offers the finest in having a modern exterior house such traditional floor plans. Both buildings share a beautifully landscaped courtyard, walkways are lined with native plants and flowers and lit artistic sculptures make the communal space unique.

Of course we all know the old real estate mantra – location, location, location. The Bridgeport Condos offer quiet convenience to restaurants, dry cleaners, flower shops, grocery stores, and even Starbucks. If what you need is not walking distance then the Streetcar is simply a block away.

The ground floor retail spaces are home to D.F Restaurant, Via Delizia Italian Dessert House and Cafe, Lolite Salon and Kanani Pearl Spa. Bridgeport also faces the eco-friendly Tanner Springs Park.

1130 NW 12th Ave

Block 90 Condominiums

bficker — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:52:23 +0000

Originally built in 1923 as an industrial warehouse, Block 90 Condominiums in the Pearl District stays true to their industrial roots. As matter of fact, Block 90 has been restored to the National Register of Historic Places. Each of the 11 units offer feature high ceilings, hardwood floors, large windows, roomy patios and top-quality finishes. And while Block 90 retains its historic charm, it also provides a host of modern amenities.
Through creative design, Block 90 is equipped with a cutting-edge energy efficient HVAC system which seizes then reuses most of the building’s wasted heat and water. This will help you save money on utilities and help the earth.
Block 90 also utilizes a Sawtooth Roof design that reduces the summer “solar furnace” skylight problem, but still allows warm interior air to rise and touch the exterior roof glass in the cold winter, with significant undesirable heat transfer.
Block 90 contains three stories or 49,000 SF of commercial space for upscale stores and restaurants including the internationally renown Aveda Institute. This is topped with 11 Penthouse condominiums. Each commercial floor contains 20,000 SF, with smaller units available on the first level.
Other Block 90 features include:
Smooth Concrete Floors
Historic Building Tax Advantages
Secure Parking Available
Tenant Improvement Allowance
Floor-to-Ceiling Sliding
Cutting edge finishes & Appliances
Secure Storage facilities
Stone/Palm/WengÈ Cabinets

Block 90 captures the inherent live/work principles of Portland’s Pearl District.

323 NW 13th Ave

The Avenue Lofts

bficker — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:44:26 +0000

The Avenue Lofts in the Pearl District are named for the cobblestone street that extends into the building as stone corridor. Built in 1923 as the Meier & Frank Warehouse and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, each loft owner is given a historic tax benefit which allows for more autonomy and versatility.
Some of the lofts have 18-foot tall windows and 26-foot tall ceilings. Although the majority is traditional one-level units, there are also eight townhouses and 17 two-story penthouses. In addition, each loft will offer the following amenities:

. Gourmet kitchens with state-of-art appliances
. Classic hardwood maple floors
. Exposed columns
. European lighting
. Beautifully tiled bathrooms

A grand 5,500 square-foot atrium lies in the center of the building extending from the third floor to the roof. This large park, open to the sky, yet hidden from the outside world, is like a vast secret garden, and provides ventilation and light for lofts located on each floor of the building’s interior.

The 186 secure, covered parking spaces is simply the cherry on the cake of this historic, luxurious landmark.

1417 NW Hoyt Street

937 Condominiums

bficker — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:36:29 +0000

Living in one of the 937 Condos in the Pearl District will enable you to help our planet and your finances. Completed in the fall of 2008, this 16-story building will use cutting- edge technologies in sustainable living providing loft owners with lower heating and water bills.

The 16-story building inhabits a half block site at Glisan Street between NW Ninth and NW 10th avenues. Two levels of parking spaces will lie underneath the structure while retail stores and restaurants occupy the ground floor; above will be 217 units of beautifully designed open-spaced lofts.

The second floor podium will contain 4,000 square foot living vegetated ecosystem and a 130 foot long storm water flow-thru planter that will purify the water running from the towers roof. Stormwater will reach the podium level flow-thru planter through downspout within the building.

The 937 Condos is vying for a Gold rating for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council for environmentally sustainable construction. Other green benefits provided are:

ï Architecture that maximizes sunlight
ï LEED Gold-rated appliances
ï High efficiency heating and cooling systems
ï LEED Gold compliant windows
ï Dual flush toilets
ï Externally-vented kitchens
ï In addition, 75 percent of the debris from the demolished building the 927 Condos replaced will be recycled into the new structure.

Inside each loft unit will boast twice the amount of glass as other Pearl District lofts; the windows will be eight feet high and two to ten feet wide. Oversized walk-in showers and deep soaking tubs will grace every master bath. Master bedrooms feature expansive windows, sizable closets and lighting, and are separated from the great room with oversized doors. Who said sustainability couldn’t be luxurious?

937 NW Glisan Street

The Pearl District: A Gem Inside A Shell

bficker — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:27:06 +0000

Showcasing the city’s top galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and loft condominiums, the Pearl District has grown from a crusty, industrial ugly duckling into a chic, urbane swan.

Formerly known as the Northwest Triangle, the area was once littered with manufacturing warehouses and railroad classification yards. In the late 1980s, developers began purchasing the area’s old buildings and converting them into lofts and offices. Artists, designers, and other creative types were the first to discover the gems in inside the rough and tough exteriors, and eventually Thomas Augustine, owner of the Augustine Gallery, originated the term Pearl District.

In the last 15 years, the Peal has experienced an urban renaissance like no other. Forward thinking urban planners have: traded in the viaduct and diesel trains for clean, convenient streetcars, large sidewalks, and bicycle lanes; replaced rundown storage facilities with modern Portland landmarks like Powell’s City Books, the largest independent bookstore in the country; and converted dilapidated warehouses into loft condominiums sporting high ceilings, large windows, and gourmet kitchens.

Many of these lofts are green buildings meeting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Builders of the condominiums use recycled materials, certified wood, and low VOC-interior finishes and paints. It’s no wonder that Popular Science Magazine once named Portland, OR as the country’s greenest city.

Outside the lofts lie innovative public parks including Jamison Square, which is built around a fountain and man-made waterfalls and Tanner Springs Park which features wetlands, walking trails, and a creek.

It’s hard to imagine what Capt. John Couch had in mind for the area when he plotted its borders in 1850, but no doubt he’d be amazed what can be seen today.