Here are three current projects to check out, if any of these descriptions pique your interest:

Division 43 (from low $100s) Woolsey Corner (from $101,600) Killingsworth Station: aka, K-Station (from $169,900)

Division 43 is a unique model of “micro-housing” that we haven’t seen in Portland before. Woolsey Corner also pushes the envelope with its playful details (repurposed instruments in the railings, sculptural downspouts, and live-edge trim accents) and its ownership structure as a Proud Ground Community Land Trust property, which will keep it affordable indefinitely. K-Station is set to be certified as LEED-Platinum building, placing it at the forefront of current sustainable building practices, and they offer a special down payment assistance loan for eligible buyers. This delivers a level of design and performance that hasn’t been available at these prices before in Portland. For more information about any of these properties or the financing available for them, contact me.

The market is being transformed, and as with any system with monetary or design constraints, people get creative to adapt and generate new solutions. I hope you’ve found these options interesting in the least. If you’d like to know more about these properties or any other listings on the market, we’d be happy to set up a customized search to help you find the right fit for your needs. Be in touch. Be well.

Whether you own an 1890 Queen Anne, a 20s Bungalow, a Cape Cod, a mid-century ranch, or a late 1998 home that was built to modern day code, there are gains to be had and money to saved (in most cases). Assuming energy costs increases over time, here are some local service providers and resources to help you achieve these gains and stay ahead of the curve. There are many programs available and the incentives go through periodic changes based on local and federal funding streams. As an Energy Trust Trade Ally, I recommend you make their website one of your first stops to learn about what kind of incentives are currently available.

Imagine Energy 503-477-9585
Hammer & Hand 503-232-2447
Streamline Dwellings 503-310-4981
Green Hammer 503-804-1746
Neil Kelly 866-691-2719
Green Home by EcoTech 503-493-1040
Gale Contractor Services (Deborah Shay & Amy Worthington) 306-241-1897
Energy Trust Trade Allies

AIRSEAL, AIRSEAL, AIRSEAL. . . and ventilate.

For other resources, you can do a keyword search in the upper left corner of this website, or contact me. The River PDX is a Holistic Source for Real Estate. I’m happy to be a resource or be a helpful link in connecting you to the appropriate local service provider or supplier. If you have any suggestions of other contractors that should be added to this list, I’d love to learn about them.

For more conservation info see also, Ascending the Pyramid of Conservation.

If you’ve been contemplating the big step of remodeling your home, creating an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) on your property, or, even bigger yet, building your own home in the Portland area, here’s a set of architects and designers (listed in no particular order) who have a body of residential work to consider.

Departure Design, Dan Lajoie + Michelle Jeresek
Andre Debar
Atelier Waechter, Ben Waechter
Limitless Blue, Corey Cliffe
Structures NW, Patrick Sugrue
PATH, Corey Martin
Paul McKean
Arciform
COMMUNITECTURE, Mark Lakeman
Emerick Architects
paolo design, Paolo Scardina
Architecture W
Giulietti/Schouten Architects
Building Arts Workshop
Works Partnership Architecture
Nathan Good

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of local architects and designers, but a solid starting place for residential architectural resources in Portland, Oregon. I welcome suggestions for additions to this list. In addition to these websites, some of these offices maintain a social media presence as well. In some cases, that provides a more up to date glimpse of what they’re working on right now. Enjoy perusing the work of our local talent! Here’s a brief sampling of local work.

Departure Design, Artist Studio, Portland, OR

Atelier Waechter, Cape Cod, Portland, OR

Emerick Architects, Northwood, Portland, OR

Arciform, 1909 House, Portland, OR

PATH architecture, Butler Residence, Portland, OR

Debar Architecture, Bacon-Brenes Home, Portland, OR

IRVING CLASSIC CONDO #303, listed at $219,000

You may recognize this building from:

• Natural Remodeling, the book by Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner
• Drugstore Cowboy, the 1989 Gus Van Sant film
• Portland City Walks, a walking guide book to Portland by Laura O. Foster
• Portland’s Green Home Tour ’06

AKA, “The New Orleans Building”

This architecturally distinct 1907 building has 24 units overlooking a wonderfully landscaped gated courtyard. This is a one bedroom condo nestled up in the quiet back corner with views of the West Hills and courtyard front porch for relaxing and outdoor dining. Beautiful wood floors, period moldings, porcelain tile counters, stained glass and clawfoot tub give the sense of timeless, enduring integrity. The floorplan includes an entry area to separate the space and an open flow from living to dining and kitchen spaces. The bonus space has been used as an office, a nursery, or a large walk-in closet.[[Show as slideshow]]Between NW 23rd and NW 21st, this Nob Hill location has access to everything. With a walkscore of 98 out of 100, try to think of something you can’t get to within minutes! Contact David, if you’d like to schedule your tour of the Irving Classic Condo or learn more about the great energy efficiency upgrades that have been completed. It is so hard to find period finishes like these with modern day efficiency!

Contact David for more details on energy efficicency upgrades and green remodeling.

"Cully Grove will be a multi-generational group of individuals and families who enjoy sharing our lives with our community. We’re working to create an old-fashioned neighborhood in a new-fashioned way." -www.cullygrove.org

Fun + Farm (big gardens) + Spirited Community + High-Performance Homes = the new breed of urban cohousing. It’s Cully Grove. Located on about 2 acres on NE Going, Cully Grove nestles 16 homes and an abundance of common amenities. They’re taking reservations now, and it’s already over 50% reserved. The founding members will be at Rose’s Ice Cream (5011 NE 42nd Ave.) on Sunday, May 15th, 4:00-5:30. Stop by to check out their site plan and floor plans and get a feel for their vision. In the meantime, take a moment to check out their talented team of inspired community developers and designers.

phase 1 @ Sage Green, listed at $224,900 and 226,900

Located on Watershed Ln, just a stone’s throw from 149th & Farmington in Beaverton, the homes at Sage Green deliver a level of function, amenity and security beyond what most people in the world will ever experience. Sage Green demonstrates that zero-net energy is possible and accessible for mainstream builders and buyers in today’s new home construction industry. Because a Sage Green home produces as much energy as it needs, it’s effective insurance against future energy price inflation. A Sage Green home is a model for how we can meet growing housing and energy demands in ways that actually improve our collective circumstances. They have an informative site to explain some of the details of how they achieve this level of performance. I’d recommend taking a look. If you’d like to schedule a guided tour, contact me. I’ve toured these homes a couple times, and I must admit, this is a remarkable feat to offer homes of this performance and design at such a price. I’d love to show you around and  share some  of their  cutting edge  systems .Listed by Shauna White at Keller Williams. For exclusive buyer representation, contact David Todd.

With this in mind, reconsider the following opportunities:

• own a view HOME on NW Cornell for $315,000
• own a LOT with a commanding city and mountain view for $200,000
• own the whole thing, a home on a double lot on NW Cornell for $515,000
• DESIGN a build-to-suit minimalist+ landmark home with stunning views at an amazing location with instant access to the city, Forest Park, and freeways for getaways!

If minimalist+ is not for you, we invite you to bring your builder and architect to assess the great potential on this site. Contact us for further information or to schedule a site visit.

FOR SALE: 541 SW Maplecrest Ct., Portland, OR 97219, listed @ $529,950, call David for more details

This home is the amazing result of many minds being drawn together to create a superior high performance home. Taking its name, the Leapfrog House, from the notion of “greening further than most people dare to green,” this home aims to go beyond common expectations for how a home can perform. Each day that it awaits it’s buyer, someone is out there spending too much money on utility bills. I’ll save the mechanical details for their site, which outlines the construction techniques, mechanicals, and materials that you could pour over for hours. In essence, the home is intended to have the smallest carbon footprint possible–in the construction phase and over the course of its life. They thought of everything and did most everything–from harvesting almost all of the framing lumber and timbers at FSC-certified forests within a couple hours of Portland to burying two cisterns that store about 6,000 gallons of rainwater that can be filtered and sterilized for all uses in the house and for irrigation.

The almighty mechanical wall that makes this home perform exceptionally well

The floor plan allows for a multitude of lifestyles and living arrangements. The main living spaces are open and loft-like, with a couple loosely defined spaces that could used for multiple purposes. The plans also include nearly 600sf of space for an accessory dwelling unit  (ADU) above the garage, if that is what the buyer chooses to do. Or, it could be a home office, an art studio, a yoga and exercise space, or a massive master suite (if you’re so inclined). As it stands, it’s a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with multiple bonus spaces that can adapt to different uses over time.

I highly recommend a tour, if you’d like to get a better sense of what sets this home apart. Contact me to set up a guided tour.[[Show as slideshow]]

If this type of home appeals to you and you’d like to explore other options within the Portland market, you can set up a search here, or contact me for a customized residential market search. This home is listed by Sandi Sheets @ Windermere Real Estate.