The Former Headquarters of the Former Northern Burner Supply Company and its Parking Lot at 185 Washington Avenue. It is Expected to be the Site of a 7-Story Housing Complex Developed by Jonathan Culley, of Redfern Properties, a Developer of High End Buildings in Portland. What Views From Munjoy Hill Will be Blocked by this Building?
Deb Bates, a Resident of Bayview Heights, Puts the Finishing Touches on a Bird House She Built for the Nearby Mt. Joy Community Orchard Last Year.
Mt. Joy Community Orchard volunteers issued a comprehensive statement this afternoon rescinding their major concern about the proposed 7-story residential building on the drawing board by Jonathan Culley, Managing Partner for Redfern Properties, a developer of high end housing in Portland.
Last Friday evening, a group issued a statement asserting concern that the construction of a 7-story highrise at the site of the former Northern Burner Supply Co., 185 Washington Avenue, would have a detrimental affect on the Orchard. That’s because the height of the proposed building would put the ten year old public Orchard in perpetual shade. Today, the orgaizers say due to improved technical data, they have learned that prolonged shade is no longer a threat to the Orchard.. The Orchard was established ten years ago by now retired city arborist Jeff Tarling for public use and care.
However, they do urge developer Redfern and the city to assure the non-profit that no damage will be done to the Orchard during construction of the highrise. Secondly, the Orchard and the recent installation of home made birdhouses by Bayview Heights residents have increased the volume and diversity of birds visiting the Orchard. For that reason the non-profit is asking the city and Redfern to use only “bird safe glass” in the construction of the building.
Unfortunately, other concerns raised in the previous post on this blog do remain. Although 75% of the units in the proposed 7-story building are to be available at “market rate”, managing partner Culley is touting the building as “workforce housing.” That’s because the remaining 25% of the units will be at workforce housing rates. In multiple emails over the weekend asking for the justification he is promoting this building as workforce housing, Culley sticks to his incorrect refrain that it is “workforce housing.” That refrain continues although the facts dispute that assertion. A concern for the residents of this proposed building that he will be providing “minimal” parking because the building is near public transportation. Culley has a reputation for providing as little parking spaces as he can to increase his profit margin.
The property is currently zoned for 4-story buildings to be constructed in this location on the east end of Portland Culley expects a zone change to be granted because of the financial limitations of a 4-story building on that site and, most importantly, he has convinced himself, it is “WORKFORCE HOUSING.” “No doubt the city will feel his financial pain and approve a 7-story building out of concern for Culley’s bottom line,” said this blogger. “Never mind that some views from Munjoy Hill will be blocked by this highrise construction.”
Munjoy Heights, The Hiawatha, 89 Anderson Street and the new 17 story building in downtown Portland are a partial list of projects of Redfern Properties.
A city required public meeting will be announced in the near future to learn more of the project.
For more background information, please see the previous post herein dated April 27, 2024. Also, for more background information on the empty Northern Burner Building Company, 185 Washington Avenue, please visit post dated Novembe 29, 2023