The developer of a planned 4-story apartment building on NE Fremont Street has met again with neighborhood leaders and made some concessions, but is refusing to budge on the two most controversial aspects of the projects: the size of the building and the lack of off-street parking.
Neighbors have expanded their battle against such projects throughout the city. They have formed the group Beaumont-Wilshire Neighbors for Responsible Growth. And the fight is part of a larger citywide group, Friends for Responsible Growth, which includes representatives from the Kerns, Richmond, Sellwood-Moreland, Hollywood and Overlook neighborhoods where similar projects are planned.
Everett Custom Homes of Beaverton, led by longtime developer Wally Remmers and his son Vic Remmers is planning to tear down the buildings from 4419 to 4439 NE Fremont Street. The city zoning for the property allows four-story buildings with no parking or retail space required. After an initial meeting with neighborhood leaders, Remmers agreed to include retail on the ground floor facing Fremont. The building would have 50 units of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Remmers and the architect for the project, Don Sowieja of Myhre Group Architects presented revised plans on August 16 to leaders of the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association and Beaumont Business Association. They said they wanted to mitigate the impact on the neighborhood. The changes were a response in part to the work of a neighborhood association committee that drafted four documents, including a letter to Remmers, opposing the project.
Sowieja started the August 16 meeting by saying that the developer considered adding 10 parking spaces behind the building, but city codes and financial constraints prevented that. Remmers has said that podium parking below the building at ground level would cost $40,000 per space and would be too expensive.
Remmers said he had paid for a parking study that shows there is adequate street parking in the neighborhood to support his development. Neighborhood representatives questioned the study, saying it didn’t take into account particularly busy times like Friday and Saturday nights. Remmers promised to share the results with the neighborhood. In the past he has said that only about half of the tenants are likely to own cars.
Remmers also rejected a suggestion that the building be three stories instead of four, saying it wouldn’t make financial sense. The project started with 68 units and is now proposed at 50, with more two-bedroom units than initially planned.
Neighborhood leaders agreed that the new renderings were more attractive than initial plans. The plans are more stylish and include more plants and awnings. Remmers said he would welcome neighborhood input on colors. There would be fewer balconies on the rear of the building, however some will remain to overlook the properties of adjacent homeowners.
The retail space will be designed for as many as four businesses, but still could be only two.
Tom Melville, a neighborhood association board member who attended the meeting said afterward that Remmers and Sowieja gave a speech about how neighborhoods will come to accept these projects as they become common throughout the city. They also seemed intensely curious about the groups lining up to oppose them and their tactics, Melville said.
The local neighborhood opposition has included gathering several hundred signatures on a petition, lobbying city leaders and coordinating with other neighborhoods. They are also considering a legal challenge.
After the meeting, the neighborhood leaders said it appeared this was Remmer’s final offer. He said he plans to file for city permits in about mid-October. It could take the city about three months to process the request, when Remmers plans to start construction.
The developer also asked whether the neighborhood would prefer that he tear down the current buildings soon or closer to the time of construction. The consensus has appeared to be to wait, if only to avoid the impression that the project is a done deal.
The city wide group, Friends for Responsible Growth, is planning to testify before the City Council September 12. Five members including John Golden from Beaumont-Wilshire have reserved the public comment period and are asking for neighbors to pack the council chambers to show their support.
The neighborhood association board will also hear from Golden and discuss the issue at its September 10 meeting.