Short answer to the question above: Not enough people to make the
Portland City Council change its mind about a 200 foot height ceiling it tried to impose in 2018.
After getting its wrist slapped by the Land Use Board of
Appeals and the Oregon Court of Appeals last year (see May 6 article below for
the background) the council held a hearing on May 28 aimed at resolving the
matter. Although a final council vote
will not happen until July, developers, architects, a lawyer and even some
members of the Asian communities expressed support for the 200 foot height.
Before the council adopted the 200-foot maximum in 2018, the
city Planning and Sustainability Commission had urged a 125 foot
limit. The Court of Appeals agreed that the council
had not provided justification for the taller height limit “preserving and
complimenting historic resources” as required by the city’s masterplan.
Joe Zehnder, chief planner, contended that city policies on
the pedestrian realm, building uses, infill and architectural detailing
provided the necessary justification.
Although the City Council is not expected to change the 200 foot height when it takes a final vote, this fight is far from over. Mayor Ted Wheeler said the Portland
Historical Landmarks Commission would continue to rule on height and massing in
an attempt to make new buildings fit the context of the rather tiny, ten square-block
district.
“The Landmarks Commission will continue to do our job,”
declared Kristen Minor, the commission’s chair, who objected to the 200 foot limit. But she added that when the council acknowledges the possibility of
excessive heights and bulk, “You send a message that our work is just an
obstacle to be overcome.”
Rulings by the commission can be appealed to the City
Council, but appeals have been rare historically. Developers don’t like losing the additional
time and money to undertake appeals.
When the difference might be between a five story building and 18
stories, that expense becomes less relevant. Minor's dedication to the Landmarks Commission's role suggests the strong possibility of new conflicts between the commission and the City Council when the economy revives.
When it was approved in the late 1980s, the district spanning Third to Fifth Avenues between
Burnside and Glisan Street contained buildings mostly one to four stories, Minor said. The
tallest was seven. Since then, new
buildings of eight and 16 stories have been added. Minor said 15 story heights are not
compatible with the district's historic context. Lynn Fuchigami Parks, executive director of the Japanese
American Museum of Oregon, said many Japanese recall seeing their businesses
and possessions wiped out quickly by internment during World War II. She said Japanese now envision “erasure” of
the neighborhood where they once had established a foothold. “This neighborhood means everything to the
Chinese community as well,” she said.
Raymond Cheng, a
director of the Lan Su Chinese Garden that lies just outside the historic
district, said garden officials
originally feared that 200-foot buildings would cast shadows impairing plants
and fish at the garden. He said the
board changed its position when it learned that shadow studies required by the
city would prevent those problems.
Helen Ying, chair of the nearby Old Town Community
Association, also supported the greater heights, as did James Wong, who
described himself as a property owner and developer.
Peggy Moretti, executive of Restore Oregon, a statewide
architectural preservation advocate, described the district as a “fragile
historic place that could be swallowed up by out-of-scale buildings.” She urged the city to find ways to help
owners brace their buildings against earthquakes and to require owners to make
improvements so buildings do not deteriorate from “benign neglect” to become eligible
for demolition. The prospect of taller buildings could be a disincentive for maintaining older buildings on valuable sites.
The council will hold a work session on July 2 to discuss
any possible changes. The odds of the
council accepting any lower heights likely are about the same as modern science proving the pandemic to be a hoax.
SOME FUN STUFF
While the pandemic endures, the Architectural Heritage Center is adding some interesting videos about Portland's architectural history. So far, Val Ballestrem, the AHC's education manger, has narrated these productions:
A.E. Doyle, one of Portland's most productive architects in the first half of the 20th Century
These videos run six and seven minutes each. If our architectural history interest you, these will be enjoyable "views."
When the Council voted for the taller height limits, two commissioners voted "NO": Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish. Fish's opposition was luke warm but Amanda's was very pointed and perhaps even disdainful of the proposal. Her impending retirement seems to have freed her to speak her mind on other issues too. She seems to have finally found her voice. And to that I say "You go girl!". It will be interesting to hear her reaction to the council proposal when it is again debated in July. I read that she is looking forward to spending her retirement with her "cat looking at wildlife in the backyard". I hope she gets tired of that real quick and somehow finds a a way to participate in land use and planning issues.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your perceptive comment. Historic preservation is always a struggle. There are times with Fritz has been with us and times when she's a'gin us. At least she was an "option" for us. On balance, I regret seeing her leave the council.
ReplyDelete