The Portland Historic Landmarks Commission will present their annual State of the City Preservation Report this Wednesday, November 18, at the 2pm meeting of the Portland City Council. The presentation provides a unique opportunity for the public to show their support for historic preservation and testify in favor of several important initiatives that would better protect threatened historic resources across the city.
The 15-page report highlights several recent accomplishments and lays out priorities for better protecting historic resources in the future. Among other challenges, report authors cite the need for “a larger coordinated effort between Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and the Landmarks Commission to address achieving better balance between the need for growth and protecting the quality of our existing vintage neighborhoods. We would like to see density focused on urban corridors and intact vintage neighborhoods preserved wherever possible.” Following the presentation, Council will invite testimony from the public.
of United Workmen Temple from the Historic
Resource Inventory highlights a code loophole
that deserves action from the City Council.
Wednesday’s meeting also provides an opportunity to call on elected leaders to close an egregious loophole that allows owners of buildings on the Historic Resource Inventory to circumvent long-established provisions for demolition delay.
Restore Oregon will provide testimony opposing the recent removal of two prominent downtown properties from the Inventory and strongly request the Council introduce an ordinance closing the loophole. A vocal showing of community support at Wednesday’s meeting will help ensure that the Council advances this much-needed change to the code.
The meeting takes place November 18th at Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, and is expected to last from 2-4pm.
