PORTLAND, Ore. – Construction of a four-story apartment building is in progress on SE Hawthorne Blvd., on the former site of an Ethiopian restaurant and a local music venue.
Jarra’s Ethiopian Restaurant and Langano Lounge closed last spring, after Petros Jarra and Ainalem Sultessa, founders of the restaurant and owners of the building, made the decision to redevelop the property.
For many longtime Portlanders, Langano Lounge represented “a part of Portland that is rapidly fading from existence,” wrote Willamette Week.
Demolition of the two-story 1904 building occurred over the summer.
Construction began shortly after. The new mixed use development will be four stories and will contain 30 apartment units, with ground floor retail.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The contractor on the project is Rob Yorke of RJD Inc.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Yorke founded Yorke Construction, which later became Yorke & Curtis, in 1988. He retired in 2012. RJD Inc. lists Erik Timmons as its registered agent and secretary, and David Curtis as its president. Both are principals at Yorke & Curtis.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The applicant on the project is Carrie Strickland of Works Partnership Architecture, a design firm involved with a number of current Portland projects.
Rendering of the future development. Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Works Partnership Architecture recently applied for a five-lot land division at 57th and Burnside, the current site of a one-story commercial building home to A Good Locksmith.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Jarra and Sultessa retain ownership of the building at 15th and Hawthorne under the business name Langano Apartments LLC.