Behind-the-scenes movement continues on stalled Park Avenue West Tower

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Construction on the Park Avenue West Tower in downtown Portland, shown in April 2010, is suspended for now. The developer is preparing plans for a reconfigured with a greater emphasis on housing. (Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian)

The developer of the Park Avenue West Tower is continuing to seek city approval for a reconfigured version of the recession-stalled project but says it’s not days away

parkavenuewest.april28.2010.JPG

Construction on the Park Avenue West Tower in downtown Portland, shown in April 2010, is suspended for now. The developer is preparing plans for a reconfigured with a greater emphasis on housing. (Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian)

The developer of the Park Avenue West Tower is continuing to seek city approval for a reconfigured version of the recession-stalled project but says it’s not days away from starting work again as one report suggested.

The Daily Journal of Commerce reported on Friday that the TMT Development planned to have workers at the downtown Portland site “within the next few days for cleanup and prep.” The building industry publication cited the city planner overseeing the project’s permits.

TMT President Vanessa Sturgeon said workers will not be on-site this week or next, but she declined give a specific timeline.

The company still has a valid permit to build a 26-story office tower on the site, located at 728 S.W. Ninth Ave., a block west of Pioneer Square.

But meanwhile, it’s seeking a new permit to add several floors to the plan, bringing it to 30 stories, and devote part of the building to residential use. (In an iteration prior to construction, the project had also been approved as a 33-story tower that included residential condos.)

The Service Employees International Union Local 49and Adelaida Maza had filed an appeal seeking to block the proposal. But TMT pulled its application prior to a hearing scheduled for Thursday and submitted another. The new application outlines the same project but will undergo a more rigorous review.

“It’s an important project, so we’re taking every precaution,” Sturgeon said.

Construction on the tower started just as the economy turned sour in 2008, but TMT plowed ahead without financing in place. Work was halted in 2009 as it became clear the recession would be deeper than TMT had imagined.