Often the biggest preservation efforts are unseen, behind-the-scenes struggles in the political and regulatory arenas.
Without the right policies, protections, and incentives, there is little to prevent the loss of the unique historic fabric that enriches our communities and, collectively, make Oregon, Oregon.
As the only statewide advocate for preservation in Oregon, we continually assess opportunities and threats, and muster the forces of our members and like-minded organizations to address them.
Restore Oregon’s Policy and Advocacy Committee includes perspectives from across the state and has set the following priorities for 2018:
Encourage historic resource inventories statewide.  The first step towards preservation is to become aware and appreciative of the historic assets right there in your community, and all that they embody.

  • Promote density without demolition.  Affordability, density and preservation go hand-in-hand.  Compatible infill, ADUs, and internal conversions, enable districts to evolve while retaining their historic character.  The most affordable housing is what’s already built!
  • Call for financial incentives for seismic retrofitting. As cities like Portland consider mandatory seismic upgrades, we need financial incentives to offset burdensome costs and avoid even more demolition.
  • Foster implementation of the Statewide Planning Goal 5 rule changes.  Workshops will help local agencies understand and roll out the changes for historic properties, including the requirement for public review before approving demolition applications.
  • Renew and/or Improve Special Assessment.  The program that freezes assessed property values of historic homes and buildings in exchange for owner investment in restoration will expire in 2020.  We’ll be working with the State Historic Preservation Office on updates to make it more effective, in preparation for renewal in the 2019 legislative session.

Longer-term areas of focus include:

  • Repealing or modifying “owner consent.”  Instead of a public process based on objective criteria to designate a property as historic (used in virtually every other state), the community has no voice in Oregon. A more balanced approach is called for.
  • Passage of a state rehabilitation tax credit program.  With the diminishment of the Federal Historic Tax Credit, it is more important than ever that Oregon join the vast majority of states who boost investment in preservation and economic development through a state tax incentive.

Admittedly, our advocacy agenda is a “big lift.”
Thankfully, we have an impressive committee of volunteers on board who have the perspective, the talent – and have generously carved out the time – to move these initiatives forward:

  • Brett Estes, City Manager, Astoria
  • Carrie Richter, Attorney, Bateman Seidel
  • Chris Bell, Cultural Resource Program Coordinator, ODOT
  • Doug Decker, Proprietor, alamedahistory.org
  • George Kramer, Principal, Kramer & Company
  • Jessica Engeman, Project Manager, Venerable Properties
  • Jonathan Konkol, Twist Design
  • Karen Karlsson, Founder and Principal, KLK Consulting
  • Kelly Cannon-Miller, Executive Director, Deschutes County Historical Society
  • Tricia Lipton, Consultant, Heritage Consulting (to be confirmed)
  • Peggy Moretti, Executive Director, Restore Oregon
  • Committee Chair: Matthew Davis, Principal, Architectural Resources Group
  • Staff Liaison: Katelyn Weber, Preservation Programs Manager

Future posts will share updates on our efforts – and issue alerts when your individual advocacy is needed.JTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwdHlwZSUzRCUyMnRleHQlMkZqYXZhc2NyaXB0JTIyJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuaWF0c3BheW1lbnRzLmNvbSUyRkFVUkElMkZBVVJBLmFzcHglM0ZQSUQlM0RQQTJGQzhGNTI2REY1NkJGRUQlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0U=