#APPLE STORE PORTLAND AREA UPGRADE#
#APPLE STORE PORTLAND AREA SOFTWARE#

And while none of them are two blocks from my apartment, I can bike. There are a ton of other neighborhoods around here that would love to have you. At the same time, if you keep getting cold-stone-creameried after making so many of their requested changes, sod it - find another site.

The changes you and Holst have made so far have all been for the better, I think, and I think you can now make this happen. And don't give up on this store just yet. Just in case there's light at the end of the tunnel, I'd like to impart some messages to the parties involved:Īpple! Don't give up on Portland. This is unconfirmed, of course, and probably extremely unlikely.

That Apple might take one last look at it. Has a Pulse?There are rumors swirling around that the project might not be completely dead. Isn't different and modern, if done well, sometimes good? But while I'm no architician, I have to wonder: And there's no question that the building looks different.

You follow me? It's almost, ironically, a kind of reality distortion field: 'if these buildings look like old houses, we can pretend these national chains aren't here!' But that's funny: a street that tries very hard to not be a mall - but really is basically a mall - has become a kind of reverse-mall, where everything still looks the same, but in a different way. Part of me thinks that, because the Apple Store is modern, it doesn't fit into their old-timey, victorian vision of the neighborhood. (Our store is the one on the left.)Ĭlearly, franchise architecture is not the deal-breaker for the commission. But what does a Williams Sonoma Home Store look like in, say, Indiana? You got it: the exact same design. Months ago, construction finished on a presumably-approved new Williams Sonoma Home Store one block away from the Apple site. But, here, it seems the Landmarks Commission is, at best, inconsistent. In other words, is the building designed as an Apple Store, or is it a building that just happens to be an Apple Store, but could really be anything? The former, to many, is bad. The ArgumentIn addition to the last-minute suggestion that Apple consider 'adding some awnings' to the store (I'm serious), the Landmarks Commission's greatest concern seemed to be 'franchise architecture'. So what was Apple going to transform the building into? A little something like this, revealed for the first time: Second only to the Plaid Pantry across the street, this building, last used as a bridal shop, has honestly no redeeming value - the landmarks commission has said as much - see it for yourself. More Than Meets The EyeI want to make one thing painfully clear: the building that Apple wanted to demolish and completely replace has been a terrible eyesore for my entire life. And the feedback?Īmazingly, still not good enough. These new plans were then presented at a second hearing which, unfortunately, took place while I was in Japan.

#APPLE STORE PORTLAND AREA UPGRADE#

They - well, Jobs - personally approved the switch from the traditional stainless steel to Italian stone, which would've made this store one of three in the world with such an upgrade.

They added an impressive, open-glass second level, to be used for staff offices (or future tenants).

They removed a north-facing backlit Apple signs.

Holst began putting together neighborhood-friendly and Apple-approved changes, specifically addressing the concerns. So the developers, in partnership with Apple, smartly hired Holst Architecture, local architecture superstars. And I think it's fair to expect the best from Apple for this project. I'm guessing it was a very standard Apple Metal Box™. When Apple presented their first planned design for the site, the local Landmarks Commission didn't like it. With two exceptions: parking is a nightmare, and new development is eternally contentious. What was once, long ago, classic houses and small stores, is now classic houses, small stores, and national chains next to small stores. In A NutshellNW 23st Avenue in Portland is the kind-of organic shopping street that simply doesn't exist in the suburbs.

That said, I'm not an architect, just a dude, but clearly this is a project I've followed closely.

#APPLE STORE PORTLAND AREA SOFTWARE#

I also co-founded an independent Macintosh software company, such is my love for the Apple platform. I also just so happen to live on NW 21st Avenue, exactly two blocks from the proposed site of this ill-fated store. I remember when the Blazers were awesome, I pronounce 'milk' funny ('melk'), and I was once a serious contender in Ramblin' Rod's 'Smile Contest'. ( Portland Architecture has more, as does ifoAppleStore ).įirst, in the interests of disclosure: I'm a Portland native, born and raised. Now, the news has officially hit the web: the project is, it seems, dead. And not just any old Apple Store - this was to be a built-from-scratch, non-mall, original-design Apple Store, one of the few in the world. So, Apple wanted to build this Apple Store here in Portland, Oregon.

Apple store portland area