Tell Legislators to either FIX IT or VOTE NO! HB 2007 claims to support affordable housing, but in its current form this bill will do more harm than good by: Incentivizing demolitions of existing modest-priced housing. Providing no meaningful incentive to build more affordable homes. Usurping local control over zoning without sufficient public process. Stripping […]
Creswell's Old Schoolhouse: Linking the Past to the Future
Creswell’s old schoolhouse has stood at its current location since 1900, but its’ history goes back further. It was Creswell’s first school when it was built in 1874. Creswell itself had just been platted in 1871 from property donated by two adjoining landowners. The school was two stories high with one classroom downstairs and one […]
Nominations Open: Restore Oregon DeMuro Awards, Most Endangered Places
2017 DeMuro Award Nomination The DeMuro Award honors extraordinary examples of the rehabilitation and reuse of historic buildings, homes, public spaces, or landscapes, and compatible infill development that enhances historic districts. Nominated projects may be large or small, urban or rural, and those selected will display exceptional quality, creativity, problem-solving, and impact. To nominate a […]
Let’s Celebrate 40 Years of Saving Places that Matter to You!
It’s Restore Oregon’s 40th Birthday! Since 1977, Restore Oregon (formerly known as the Historic Preservation League of Oregon, HPLO) has been saving places that matter throughout Oregon. From one of our early preservation advocacy efforts at the historic Crater Lake Lodge, to historic conservation easements and relentless legislative advocacy, to educational workshops and tours, we […]
Restore Oregon Warmly Welcomes Our Summer Intern, Victoria Hensley
Restore Oregon Welcomes Victoria Hensley, the Summer 2017 Preservation Programs Intern! Victoria joins us from Murfreesboro, Tennessee where she is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Public History with a focus on historic preservation at Middle Tennessee State University. While in graduate school, she works at the Center for Historic Preservation on MTSU’s campus. […]
Legislative Watch: Restore Oregon Testimony re. HB 2007
Restore Oregon tirelessly advocates on behalf of our collective Oregon heritage and historical preservation. Part of our recent legislative policy action is to provide input on HB 2007, which aims to solve the affordable housing crisis impacting many communities throughout Oregon. Though HB 2007 started out with good intentions, Restore Oregon is very concerned that […]
Misguided Attempt to Boost Affordable Housing Will Create More Demolition, Strip Protections from Historic Districts
UPDATE: Executive Director Peggy Moretti testified on May 25th to the House Committee On Human Services and Housing in Salem. More details as we learn them. Scroll down to the bottom for relevant articles and OpEds. Call to Action: Email Your Opposition to HB 2007! In an extreme example of good intentions degenerating into bad outcomes, a bill […]
Ankeny Blocks Development Design Submitted to Landmarks Commission for Review
Guidelines adopted last summer are shaping the design of a mixed-use development slated to replace a parking lot at Southwest 3rd and Ash. The surface lot/building site is one of the Ankeny Blocks located within the Skidmore/Old Town Historic District. The Skidmore/Old Town Historic District, first listed in the National Register of Historic Places back in 1975, became […]
State Legislation Aimed at Offsetting Seismic Retrofit Costs
With mandatory upgrades proposed, will it be enough to avoid demolition of historic buildings on a massive scale? Seismic retrofitting for Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (URMs) is mandated in earthquake-prone cities from San Francisco to Tokyo. In Oregon, it is not – but that may soon change. With the dire predictions of the Cascadia quake […]
Save Milwaukie High School
Annabella Gelmetti, a Milwaukie High School student, brings us her testimony which was delivered to a public meeting hosted by the North Clackamas School District regarding the proposed demolition of the Milwaukie High School. A bond measure was passed which could be used to renovate the school, but instead a new building is proposed. Built […]