the goat blocks

Proposed LOCA development at SE 10th and Belmont (Ankrom Moisan Architects)

Something other than grass and goats may be coming to the long-empty lot between 10th and 11th on Belmont in Southeast Portland. Affectionately named the ‘goat blocks’ by some, a new proposal has been put forward by Killian Pacific for 257 apartments and 84,000 square feet of retail in a mixed-use, multi-block project. Tentatively named LOCA, the proposal includes several new public spaces including a plaza and a mid-block pedestrian alleyway.

Site plan and pedestrian connections (Ankrom Moisan Architects)

The three main buildings of the proposal will all have residential units above large and small retail spaces. The corner of SE 10th and Belmont looks to become the main focal point of the project with a grand entryway and covered public sitting space facing the heavily trafficked one-way street.

Proposed apartment building and pedestrian alley from SE 11th facing West (Ankrom Moisan Architects)

The area has seen a lot of change in recent years with the complete overhaul of the Grand Central Bowling building and Cascade Brewing across the street. A recent proposal by Foresight Development for a 6-story mixed-use building at 915 SE Belmont would also neighbor the proposed LOCA development.

Location, location, location (Ankrom Moisan Architects)

With city approval this new proposal would join a number of new Eastside multi-block apartment complexes in the pipeline such as the Burnside Bridgehead and Hassalo on Eighth. Unlike the massive 657 apartment Lloyd Superblock and the 21-story Skylab designed tower at Burnside the LOCA project appears to be more on a neighborhood scale, and looks to ‘step down’ from the high density Central Eastside to the streetcar-suburb Buckman Neighborhood to the East. With a decent pedestrian-oriented design and (hopefully) strong material finishes, this development could continue the renaissance of the Central Eastside into yet another great Portland neighborhood.

Proposed smaller scale building for the Southeast corner of 11th and Belmont (Ankrom Moisan Architects)

Looking South down SE 11th (Ankrom Moisan Architects)

Looking East from SE 10th Avenue (Ankrom Moisan Architects)