The Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve the demolition of the historic Yamaguchi Hotel, also known as the former Blanchet House, picture above. On July 28th, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve the demolition of the historic Yamaguchi Hotel (former Blanchet House), a rare and very significant building to the Japanese American/AAPI […]
Most Endangered Places Spotlight: Santiam Pass Ski Lodge
Listed as one of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places in 2018, the Santiam Pass Ski Lodge has made much progress on its path to restoration thanks to the Friends of the Santiam Pass Ski Lodge and the Forest Service. The Lodge was constructed between July 1939 and February 1940. It is located in the Central Cascades […]
Future Success Secured
In the past year, Restore Oregon has made great strides towards protecting and preserving the places that make Oregon livable and sustainable. This is an update on two of the places that were on the 2016 list of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places and have now progressed toward the ultimate goal of a long-term viable use. The […]
A Ticking Clock
One of Pietro Belluschi’s landmarks faces demolition in downtown Salem. Despite its listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Pietro Belluschi’s First National Bank of Salem building will likely be demolished by September 6th. Constructed in 1946, the building’s design follows a mid-career trend in the work of Oregon’s foremost modernist and features the […]
Wooden Jewel Box on the Southern Coast
Placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, and named one of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places that same year, the 1896 Lindberg House in Port Orford is a stunning example of the Queen Anne style and shingle-siding craftsmanship. The house was designed and built by John Peter Lindberg between 1892 and 1896, and […]
Saving the Ermatinger House
When it comes to Oregon history, it doesn’t get much more significant than the Ermatinger House. In 1845, Francis Ermatinger built for himself a federal style residence in what is now downtown Oregon City. Ermatinger was a powerful and influential figure in early Oregon history, serving as a chief trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company, […]
Saving the Powerhouse
We saw the Bull Run Powerhouse for the first time in 2008. Sitting on the Bull Run River northeast of Sandy, the generator room was roaring with four turbines generating 22 megawatts of electricity like it had since 1912. PGE was about to decommission the powerhouse by removing two dams that supplied its water. Due […]
A New Day Dawns for Sonrise Chapel
It was July 2013 and we had just completed the sale of our North Eugene property to the Nature Discovery School, a private Christian school. When school leaders commented on how they were going to need a chapel for bible study, we piped up and told them to check out the “free” church recently featured […]
Rebirth of Egyptian Theater—Many More to Come?
After three years of intense community advocacy, Coos Bay’s beloved Egyptian Theatre is shining bright once again. The downtown landmark was listed as one of Oregon’s Most Endan gered Places® in the spring of 2011 fol lowing its closure due to structural safety concerns. At the time of its listing as an Endangered Place, the theater […]
A Case Study in Preservation Law: Christie School
Only 62 designated Landmark buildings remain in Lake Oswego. Today, the community faces the sixth public hearing in three years regarding the delisting or major alteration of a Landmark property: the 106-year-old Christie School. Until recently, delisting applications were based on city code which allows removal of designation only if specific criteria are met. However, […]