2nd Portland Turn-Down

A second round of storefront designs for a future Portland (Ore.) retail store received equal criticism from the city’s Historic Landmarks Commission as the first design, even though it dropped the company’s trademark stainless steel façade. Architect Jeff Stuhr presented the proposal for advisory review by the Commission yesterday, the first step in receiving approvals to revise the historic space at 423 N.W. 23rd Ave. in downtown Portland. The new storefront features limestone and more windows, but during a two-hour hearing Commission chair Rob Dortignacq described the design as “franchise architecture.” The meeting ended without a formal vote when Stuhr asked for a July 10th appearance at the Commission. Read the Commissioners’ criticism in a Portland Oregonian newspaper article, along with Stuhr’s response.