The Standard Dairy is located in Portland's historic Eliot neighborhood, one mile from downtown Portland. The developer transformed this rundown dairy building by demolishing the seismically unstable portions of the building and retaining what was stable. Approximately half of the residential units and all of the commercial units sit on the original foundation, whose nooks and crannies give the units character. The rmaining residential units use a design reminiscent of the foursquare home design that was popular in Portland in the early 1900's.
Common patios provide gathering places for the residents.
Zoning enables tenants to run home businesses out of their units and some have retail shops operating the street-level spaces connected to their apartments. The development features hydronic heating, double and triple pane windows, passive solar, rigid insulation, and other features to conserve energy. All of the businesses in the commercial units are locally owned and operated, and many are co-ops that share staff and spce. Most workers live in the surrounding neighborhoods, so they can get to work without driving. Neighbors frequently walk to the complex to eat, do their laundry, work out, rent videos, or view the art galleries.