What’s the Value and Impact of Oregon’s Historic Resources?

Oregon Heritage, which houses the State Historic Preservation Office and the Oregon Main Street program, has recently released three studies on the value and impact that historic resources have in our state: What’s Up Downtown? A Playbook for Activating Oregon’s Upper Stories, Economic Impacts and Value of Oregon’s Heritage Organizations and Events Report, and the Impact of Oregon’s Main Streets Report. From economic opportunities, to bolstering tourism, to anchoring our downtowns, historic buildings help keep Oregonians connected, active, and employed. 

 

Oregon Heritage, in partnership with the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research & Engagement (IPRE), recently released What’s Up Downtown? A Playbook for Activating Oregon’s Upper Stories, a report that inventories the status of core buildings in some 33 Main Street communities across Oregon – specifically, their upper floors — identifies reasons for their disuse, and outlines potential ways to rejuvenate the spaces. 

The most common problems with redeveloping upper floors were cost and the perceived complexity of code compliance.  The study found that even when resources are available to support redevelopment, they can be hard to find and access. The report recommends possible solutions by state and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and property owners, including:

• Track conditions of upper stories over time.
• Develop a strategy for upper-floor development.
• Improve property owners’ access to funding.
• Maintain existing and create additional financial support at the state and local levels.
• Support creative investment and financing strategies.
• Evaluate current building code and support responsible and flexible applications of the code.
• Organize and publicize existing technical resources.
• Collaborate with downtown development experts to remove the technical burden from individual property owners.
• Encourage collaboration at the local and between state and local actors.

In addition to the report, the project provides tools including an inventory guide, resource list, and templates for project planning. The project team completed a pilot inventory with the Lebanon Downtown Association and used it to develop the guide to be used in communities throughout the state.

 

To access the report and tools, funded in part by the Oregon Cultural Trust, visit the Oregon Heritage website at www.oregonheritage.org. For more information about Oregon Heritage contact Kuri Gill at 503-383-6787. To reach IPRE regarding their program and resources contact Aniko Drlik-Muehleck.

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The Oregon Heritage Commission released the Economic Impacts and Value of Oregon’s Heritage Organizations and Events Report evaluating economic activity in heritage collecting organizations (heritage organizations meaning libraries, museums, historical sites) and tradition events (heritage traditions are designated by the Oregon Heritage Commission and are events that have been happening 50 years or longer and meet certain criteria). The information in this report was evaluated using 2019 data due to anomalies in 2020 from the COVID-19 pandemic. Key takeaways of the report include:

• Heritage Organizations support Economic Activity throughout Oregon
  • Heritage organizations supported $196.3 million in total economic activity through labor income and business support through purchases of local goods and services and employee spending. 
• Heritage activities support tourism
  • Heritage organizations and Heritage Tradition Events drew 3 million visitors during the year. All nine regions drew at least 50,000 visitors (to organizations and events), and six drew more than 175,000 each.
• Heritage tourism is an important contributor for local economic development
  • Heritage tourism supported a total of 1,325 jobs and $55 million in labor income resulting in $147 million in total economic activity in Oregon.
• Heritage activities are valuable community assets
  • Heritage organizations and events have social and cultural capital that make them invaluable to their communities.

The communication tool that accompanies the report offers templates and methods for heritage organizations to incorporate data about their economic impact into their impact stories. These stories help them talk to state and local decision makers, partners, members, and other stakeholder groups about the importance of their work. 

This report and communications guide is the latest addition to the Sharing the Value of Heritage Toolkit, an ongoing effort of the Oregon Heritage Commission to compile data, resources, and guidance to help heritage groups recognize and communicate the value of their work. More information about the Oregon Heritage Commission and the Sharing the Value of Heritage Toolkit is available online at www.oregonheritage.org or by contacting Katie Henry at 503-877-8834 or katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov. 

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The Impact of Oregon’s Main Streets Report shares the story of how the Oregon Main Street Network strengthens community networks, bolsters the economy, generates state and local tax revenue, and fosters social connections across the state. The report includes the economic, fiscal, and community impacts of the key programmatic efforts of Oregon’s Main Streets, including:

•  Historic Preservation
•  Economic Development and Resiliency
•  Tourism and Customer Attraction
•  Placemaking and Public Realm Improvements
•  Partnerships and Program Operations.

The report quantifies the impact of the Network between 2011 and 2021, leveraging data provided by local program leaders of Main Street programs, state budgetary figures, Reinvestment Statistics, and IMPLAN, an industry-leading impact modeling platform. Findings in the report reflect the impacts of communities participating in the Main Street Track of the Oregon Main Street Network. Some of the key findings in the report include:

• Oregon Main Street strengthens community connection and culture. The network recognizes each community’s history, works to preserve local character, and creates inviting gathering places for social interaction.
• Oregon Main Street bolsters the economy. Between 2011 and 2021, the Oregon Main Street network helped generate $266 million in additional sales revenue throughout the state. As a result of this increased spending, 2,400 jobs were supported in or by Main Street businesses.
• Oregon Main Street helps generate tax revenue. Between 2011 and 2021, the State of Oregon invested $1.8 million in Oregon Main Street administration and generated $3.5 million in additional state tax revenues as a result of the on-the-ground work of Oregon’s Main Streets.

For additional information about the Oregon Main Street Network, visit www.oregonmainstreet.org, or contact Sheri Stuart at sheri.stuart@oprd.oregon.gov.