Tanzamook Destroying Neighborhood Charm, as expected
Remember this historic home which was razed to make room for ten condos?
I took these three shots yesterday to show you the *ahem* progress.
The “top” on the corner appeared this week. I don’t know if all of units will get this tall or if this one’s special. The developer, Ry Koteen, is rumored to be moving into one of the units, but I won’t be surprised if that’s a cover story for some tax break.
This is the view from 11th Avenue looking north. The cross street is Tillamook. You might recall that the project is named Tanzamook, which appropriates/mangles Native American culture with Tanzania, which will allegedly get some money thanks to this $3 million abomination. See Condos for Africa!
Here’s the view straight down the middle of the units to the house on Tillamook to the east. I was in Thailand during the big 2 week winter storm, but I was told the workers kept on in the snow and ice. I don’t want to assume anything just by looking at their obvious lack of skills and training. One of my neighbors asked, “has anyone checked their green cards?”
I right with you on the gist of the post, but the racially-tinged comment at the end probably isn’t going to help the cause…
Actually, I’m all for undocumented workers — but I just hope Mr. Koteen has insurance for them if anyone gets hurt and the property in case the building is not up to standards. I’d also hate to think that anyone who purports to save Tanzania would exploit anyone with low wages.
So far so bad. The height was not in any plans we saw. I still have a bad taste in my mouth from their smug, unconcerned comments at the community meeting. I wondered why they bothered to even meet with us at all since they don’t seem to care about what Irvington is about.
why do you assume because the workers look hispanic, or asian or whatever that they are undocumented. geez.
Dear Anne, you’ve made quite a leap yourself.
If they worked through the rain then all of the plywood sheeting and framing will be a serious concern long after its finished. This is a common problem in Portland. Months or years later mold or mildew show up or the wood contracts and cracks the sheetrock interior or exterior stucco/siding,this most certainly will be the case here.The story above the garage shows signs of swelling. Paying for labor under the table, green card or not is another dirty secret of construction, across the board, new construction or renovation/restoration. A common ploy for contractors is to make up a phony bid and send the uninsured, untaxed etc. low paid laborer a 1099. When this crap is built in a decent area it brings everything down-when its poorly designed and built on the cheap the sucking sound can be heard for miles.
As the third floor rises on Tanzamook, the true scale of this planning disaster takes hold. There is no setback or sense of integration to the rest of the street.
As one can see from the pictures,the structure towers over everything else and they still have another level to go up.
The Tanzamook website (www.tanzamook.com) is a marvelous display of the elasticity of the English language and overly optimistic mathematical logic.
Most of the units are little more than cramped vertical studios with the two primary floors covering +/- a whopping total of 1,000 sq. feet. (Many have floor plans that are -500 sf.)
That’s a total of 500 or so sq ft a floor — smaller than most bedrooms of the homes in the area.
Yet an enterprising formula that adds sundry items like ” 28 sf “entry deck”; 40 sf “living deck”; 34 sf “bedroom deck” and a whopping 411 sf for a roof deck that can’t be used most of the year brings the total up to something that looks like it might make sense. At least on paper.
At least until you realize that most of the alleged “decks” can barely hold two suitcases.
Then there’s the 300 sf garage. No wonder they feature Smart cars in the illustration – they are the only things that will fit.
The site also has a lot of “greenwash” in the copy, but all you have to do is look at the construction and the only green thing about it is the money that isn’t being spent. Actually, that’s not true – since most of the framing is being done in the rain and materials are sitting in puddles, the mold will certainly add some color to the project.
Bottom line: This is the most basic, cheapest structural option possible; the finish will be stucco and glass, just like a medical building.
So much for Portland’s vaunted planning expertise, eh?
There is now a 5-year backlog of condos on the PDX market. According to the developers, these undersized units are going to be priced in the low-to-high $400K range.
So…What happens when they don’t sell?
[...] that they’ve put another level on since my last post, along with cheap-looking stairs to the roof, you can see the reality of the building’s scale [...]
Hi Alan
My name is Ry Koteen and I am building the Tanzamook Condos, that you seem to detest so much. I really am fine with your comments as the web is full if differing opinions but what I would like to know, in your “green” expertise, why you dislike the project or find it inappropriate from a “green” perspective.
Hi Ry,
Thanks for your comments. I think I’ve already done a pretty thorough job of explaining why I don’t like the project and you can read the posts here: http://tinyurl.com/aedale
Perhaps, rather than placing the onus on me (and by no means am I a green expert), you could tell folks what makes the project green. Maybe you could start with an explanation of the Earth Advantage scorecard I brought up in my recent post: http://globalgreenie.org/?p=147
Take care,
Al
I think we all (neighbors) wanted to like what was going up, but it was hard to when neighbors concerns were not really listened too. It really looks like it will stand out tall, large (all the way to the street), and modern, which really doesn’t match the neighborhood that you want to have as your community and our neighborhood has a very good community neighborly feel right now. When the subject was brought up how the style will be different than the surrounding historical Irvington district, it was met by the comment: You wouldn’t want us to put on a fake copycat facade just to fit in. That seemed like a rye condescending remark. There are things to do that would make it fit, but still look part of the neighborhood and be admired too. Having it so close to the street creates a boxy feel and front areas to hang out like porches is more the style in the neighborhood.
I’m not surprised that you only commented on the fact that Al is wondering about how you are green. Working with your neighbors and involving them in the early process is green too. We work together in this neighborhood. I’m not clear on why your project is green unless it’s because you are donating money to a school in Africa, which is lovely. I think what we “detest” is your smug, don’t care about my neighbors attitude and the difference between the drawing of the project and the project itself.
Alan – you get them! Even all the way across the country, it angers me to see greedy and selfish developers and contractors rape everything from the environment and ambiance of historic neighborhoods to the quality and craftsmanship of what will eventually be someone’s HOME, all on the backs of workers who are desperate to feed their families and remain employed! I work with them every day and it sickens me. WAY TO GO!!!
Alan, after perusing the “GG” website a little more, I can see why you are angered by this horrific giant “box” is being erected in your beautiful neighborhood. As a big fan of historic properties (must be a Williamsburg thing, eh?) and old houses, I am angry too! In my business, certain developers seem to be above the regulations, and therefore are allowed to run amok, destroying the charm and individuality of neighborhoods like yours. Have you considered going to your local Building office and Planning and Zoning offices to request permit information – after all, it falls under FOIA. Once applications for permits are processed by the local government, they become public information, and although it would require extensive research, you may be able to find violations in obscure building codes to halt this operation. Also, what resources are available to you and your neighbors in the event this re-muddled project is not completed as per the specifications required by those same entities. As an employee of government here in Virginia, I can tell you that the resources are just not readily available to provide for much further enforcement beyond egregious violations. Especially if Codes Compliance & Building Inspectors don’t catch them during regular the inspection process. What a shame that you have to look at that hideous building every day and all you can do is shake your head. I wonder, have you approached the developer and asked if he will have standard electrical, HVAC, and plumbing, or would he consider digging a loop system for heating and cooling and use solar shingles on the roof to conserve energy and use paper-free sheetrock to prevent the mold from spreading to the finished interior? More importantly, would he be willing to modify the finish materials since he has planty of time and they are still in the frame-up stage? Or is his statement about being “green” nothing more than a sales pitch? After all, everybody’s doing it these days, Ma!
Beyond the marketing palaver, the only thing about this that will be green will be the mold festering underneath the walls. The materials being used to frame the project out are the cheapest possible and it has been built in the rain and snow.
Unless, of course, the wood has been treated… which would makes it the anthesis of “green” in the ecologically sound sense.
I am heart broken by the scale of this project. It is beyond my worst nightmare. It has no regard for the history or character of the neighborhood. It might be a great project, but it’s not a great project where it is. It is a disaster. But this disaster, if it ever sells, will make its developers rich. Good for them. And for the others who’ve lived in this neighborhood for a decade or more. F-k you. Too bad you read the little black signs erected around the neighborhood that read H I S T O R I C. (Only foolin’!)
But this is Portland! Urban planning in Portland! The city that is hailed as so remarkable! So green! So forward thinking! Yes, attract people into the inner city, have them invest their life savings into restoring their 100 year plus homes and gardens in a HISTORIC CONSERVATION district, and then ruin it with condo complex that towers and bulges over everything looking like it fell off a truck on its way to downtown Lake Oswego. Pull out those trees that have lived there for 100 plus years. Tear down that house that is 100 plus years old. We are green! We are cool! F–k off neighbors!
It is a crime to allow a building like this to go up in historic conservation district. If a city has these districts, the city has nor right to allow the zoning laws to destroy the character of these neighborhoods.
Portland rapes history. Portland misrepresents itself and its neighborhoods. Portland, shame shame on you.
So now Ry Koteen is a rapist? What has happen to you Mr. Koteen? And if that’s true , shouldnt the authorities be after him. Actually , you people need to get a life bc this discussion is history. In all honesty I also feel repulsed.. but… strangely attracted to the whole idea. hmmm. ; )
I am a potential buyer and find these units absolutely beautiful. I have looked all over Portland and these are greener than most and very well built. Why not put your energy to good rather than festering your anger in this way. No good comes of this and who the heck knows if they live on the east coast? Am I going to listen to one voice? Not. Get a grip.
For example, instead of only telling about conventional school success, he also uses vignettes to illustrate the barriers students must overcome. ,
Green or not, the building is a travesty. A monstrosity because it does not fit in this wonderful old neighborhood. Maybe in the Pearl, not in Irvington. Giving money to Tanzania is wonderful, but did a neighborhood have to be scarred to do it? People who build and live in this thing do not get it about old neighborhoods. Looks like an office building, takes over a whole lot. I feel so bad for the neighbors on all sides. Their views have been ruined, but then there is money for Tanzania….. I am sure that is comforting to them when they look out their windows to this massive thing. The nice old house that was there with a well kept yard was so much nicer to look at. It is so sad that the city fell for this thing.
According to the “article” they paid for in the real estate section of the Oregonian recently, they only donated $20,000 to the school in Tanzania. That’s not per unit. That’s the total amount.