The Face of the James Beard Public Market

Proposed Frontage on SW Alder Street (BCV Architecture/Colab Architecture)

 

Backers of the proposed James Beard Public Market in downtown Portland have won approval for exterior changes to two buildings that eventually could hold dozens of stalls selling fresh and locally-prepared food.

The proposed market would be housed in two buildings that provide faces on SW 6^th Ave. and Alder Street.  Two floors of the 12-story Selling Building at 610 SE Alder St., a Portland landmark dating to 1910, would have its first two floors returned closer to the building’s original design.  The second building, adjacent at 622 SW Alder, would feature mass timber framing highlighting its three stories.

 An opening date for the proposed market has not yet been specified.  Given the amount of work awaiting in the two buildings, no opening is likely before 2027. The market is expected to offer fresh fruits and vegetables, in addition to locally-prepared foods that could be consumed on-site.

“It’s going to bring a much-needed lift to the downtown,” said Peggy Moretti, a member of the Portland Histgoric Landmarks Commission that unanimously approved changes proposed for the Selling Building.

 The bottom two floors of the Selling Building were remodeled in the 1930s and again in 1948, when red granite was applied to the facades with smaller windows punched through at the second floor.  Those early renovations were made while the store was a women’s clothing outlet called the Lerner Shops.  The most recent tenant in the now-vacant space was a Payless drug store.

Selling Building today 

The approved changes would restore terra cotta facing and historic window sizes to the second floor, and creat traditional storefront faces on the SW 6^th Ave. and Alder St. frontages.  The Selling Building was an early example of several 20^th century office towers designed by A.E. Doyle, a prominent architect whose designs are included in many downtown blocks.

-----Fred Leeson 

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