An Interesting Possibility?

 

Doom often awaits an old building when its “for sale” sign lists potential development possibilities instead of the structure’s own assets.  It’s a not-so-subtle hint that the value lies in the land, not the building.

Such may be the case at 1326 SW 12th Ave., where one of downtown’s few remaining wooden houses dating to the late 1800s is offered for sale at $689,000.  The building currently contains two apartments on the second floor, a framing shop on the main floor and a basement that has been used as a beauty salon.

The sales pitch celebrates the fact that the land is zoned for high or medium-rise condos or apartments, which could be coupled with retail or commercial service space.  In other words, goodbye old house.

Fortunately, the exterior of the house retains its original characteristics with a two-story bay and a double-sided entrance.  Though not n outstanding architectural gem, it represents the tasteful Italianate design in a balloon-frame residence that used to be common fabric downtown.  Many of its original interior details where shorn off in 1973 (if not earlier) when the upper apartments were remodeled.

If there is any hope for saving this building, it sits next door.  The northern neighbor is the more architecturally interesting John S. Honeyman house, now used as a law office.  These two neighbors were erected in 1890.  The Honeyman house is a Portland landmark as well as a member of the National Register of Historic Places.  These designations make its demolition much more difficult to achieve.lot. 

One would think that a developer really wanting to build a serious high-rise would need both lots; if so, the Honeyman acts as a protective shield for its neighbor on a 5,000 square-foot lot. 

In Portland’s real estate market, the asking price does not seem outrageous for a nice old building with two or three rental units plus office space.  A further bonus is a paved rear yard offering parking.

One wonders: Could an entrepreneur with a preservation bent see an opportunity to save this piece of “old Portland’ and make it pencil?

---Fred Leeson

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