Plans topple for Portland wood ‘skyscraper’
Portland, Ore. was to be the home of an innovative, 12-story wood resilient building called ‘Framework.’
The structure was expected to be a poster child for tall wood construction.
But plans for the structure have been scrapped, or at least put on hold “for the foreseeable future,” according to Portland developer, Project^.
Framework was to be a pioneering mixed-use project that relied heavily on timber while setting an example for tall wood construction.
The “postponement” is a result of changing market conditions over the past two years including inflation, escalating construction costs, and fluctuations in the tax credit market, Project^ said in a prepared statement.
“Over the last four years, the Framework team has worked with private entities and public agencies that have understood the nature of this project and have supported our efforts to bring this pioneering model to fruition”, said Anyeley Hallova, a developer with Project^. “Although beset with market challenges beyond our control, we are very proud of Framework’s achievements and the new standards we’ve established for the use of CLT in the U.S.”
Last November, Framework was awarded $6 million through the Portland Housing Bureau’s Fast Starts program to develop 60 units of affordable housing in what will be the first high-rise structure in the country. Aside from wood construction, the building was also designed to be earthquake resilient.
The completed project was expected to use more than 50% of its wood from regionally harvested timber and local manufacturing in rural Oregon communities.
“Framework has been steadfast in its commitment to social equity and economic opportunity and in its mission to promote rural Oregon economies and deliver affordable housing. We look forward to the opportunity to advance a 2.0 version of the project”, said Kat Taylor, CEO, Beneficial State Bank, landowner of the project site.
Framework received building permit approval in June 2017. The project’s new technology and innovation were paid for by grants from the U.S. Forest Service, Metro, Hewlett Foundation, Harbourton Foundation, Edwards Mother Earth Foundation, and the Oregon Community Foundation, Project^ said
The structure was expected to be a poster child for tall wood construction.
But plans for the structure have been scrapped, or at least put on hold “for the foreseeable future,” according to Portland developer, Project^.
Framework was to be a pioneering mixed-use project that relied heavily on timber while setting an example for tall wood construction.
The “postponement” is a result of changing market conditions over the past two years including inflation, escalating construction costs, and fluctuations in the tax credit market, Project^ said in a prepared statement.
“Over the last four years, the Framework team has worked with private entities and public agencies that have understood the nature of this project and have supported our efforts to bring this pioneering model to fruition”, said Anyeley Hallova, a developer with Project^. “Although beset with market challenges beyond our control, we are very proud of Framework’s achievements and the new standards we’ve established for the use of CLT in the U.S.”
Last November, Framework was awarded $6 million through the Portland Housing Bureau’s Fast Starts program to develop 60 units of affordable housing in what will be the first high-rise structure in the country. Aside from wood construction, the building was also designed to be earthquake resilient.The completed project was expected to use more than 50% of its wood from regionally harvested timber and local manufacturing in rural Oregon communities.
“Framework has been steadfast in its commitment to social equity and economic opportunity and in its mission to promote rural Oregon economies and deliver affordable housing. We look forward to the opportunity to advance a 2.0 version of the project”, said Kat Taylor, CEO, Beneficial State Bank, landowner of the project site.
Framework received building permit approval in June 2017. The project’s new technology and innovation were paid for by grants from the U.S. Forest Service, Metro, Hewlett Foundation, Harbourton Foundation, Edwards Mother Earth Foundation, and the Oregon Community Foundation, Project^ said