A couple quick hits from the hot development news this week:

Portland Spaces reports that the Department of Education awarded the lovely historic Custom House downtown to the International School, a private language immersion school currently immersing 400 pre-k through 5th graders. The International School was the only group that submitted a full application to acquire the vacant property, says school rep Linda Bonder, in part because of the onerous application process — Bonder’s application topped 150 pages. Also, although the school is getting the prime real estate for free, it will have to spend $8-10 million on renovations to get the 1901 building up to modern standards. As part of the agreement, the school must “protect the historic nature” of the Custom House and will not change the outside of the building.

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For the children!

Also, Neighborhood Notes reports that this is coming to Alberta Street:

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The office/retail development dubbed “Alberta Central” is replacing the 16th and NE Alberta block now home to this dilapidated but character-rich former church:

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photo via Portland Ground

The space is leasing for $17-25 a square foot and looks pretty okay, I think, (boring, but pedestrian oriented and the right scale at least) except that developer Nate Celko refused to answer questions about the project and hung up the phone on me, which didn’t exactly make me warm up to the project. Celko holds the business license on six buildings in town, including the Hawthorne space home to Naked City Clothing. If you’ve worked with him before, feel free to add your perspective to the comments. I’m curious.

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

7 replies on “Going Up!”

  1. The tough thing about that Alberta project is the church seems to have a large Congregation. Hopefully they sold for good moolah and are just headed for a better space.

    The new development is going to be pretty big and shiny for Alberta Street. I’m just surprised that anyone is thinking about breaking ground on anything right now.

  2. The church shut down in that space as the pastor was accused of loving up too many of the ladies in his congregation.
    It has been empty since shortly after that scandal.

  3. Sarah, thanks for posting the link to the Neighborhood Notes blurg. First of all, I never knew about them and now I do. And second, I got to glance through some photos of the inside of the Alberta project which was cool because I live rather close and have been watching them cart away truckloads of debris for months, wondering what the inside looked like.

  4. Blabby, The Highland Christian Center moved in 2005/2006 to 7600 NE Glisan, http://highlandministries.org/. I believe that Highland retained ownership but leased the building to another church. I don’t think Highland was the church involved in the scandal mention in another comment.

    Thanks for the link Sarah!

  5. Nate’s a great guy and a great landlord. I’ve been inside the alberta building, and anything he does with it will be a huge improvement. It was a dump. I wouldn’t take offense to him not wanting to discuss the project. He probably already has tenants lined up, and has no use for publicity or the troubles that come with it.

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