Heather Flint Chatto |
Thursday, May 23, 2024
A New Era at the Architectural Heritage Center
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Can There Be New Chapters?
Loyalty and Hamilton Buildings |
The recent auction of two historic Portland office buildings offers
further evidence of the economic trauma affecting a downtown now lacking the
employees and shoppers that used to dominate the central city.
A closer look at the stylish Hamilton
Given frontages on both Alder and Third Avenue, one has to
wonder whether the Loyalty Building could be converted to apartments. Conventional wisdom says “no,” the work would
be far too expensive.
But wait! An article
in the May 6 New Yorker magazine, “Design for Living,” discusses in detail how a New York developer, Nathan Berman, has found
success transferring obsolete office towers “into warrens of one- and
two-bedroom apartments.” Since 1917,
Berman has converted eight former office towers into some 5,000 apartments. The tallest is 30 stories.
The Loyalty Building seems to offer an attraction lacking in
newer office towers. It has operable
windows on both frontages, which should be a bonus for residents liking fresh
air that isn’t blown in by machinery.
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Celebrating the South Park Blocks
Robert Wright, Wendy Rahm and Brooke Best celebrate a rare achievement |
Several of Portland’s most dedicated preservation enthusiasts met in the South Park Blocks for the celebratory unveiling of a plaque recognizing the park’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places.
Under direction of downtown residents Wendy Rahm and Walter Weyler, the
Downtown Neighborhood Association took on the task in 2021, summoning
volunteers to take on the necessary detailed research. Ultimately, preservation consultants Best and
Kirk Ranzetta steered the nomination through the state and national channels.
The 50-year plan also would remove on-street parking in front of four churches that face the South Park Blocks. The planning committee that approved that recommendation did not include any representatives of the churches – certainly some sort of breech of reasonable planning policy.
What happens to the 50-year plan is not known. The city lacks funding to start carrying it
out at present. The National Register
listing would prevent use of any federal funds for making changes without a
formal historic review. And one wonders
if a new 12-member City Council that comes to power in 2025 might decide not to
carry out a flawed plan approved by its predecessor.
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on History’s email list by writing “add me” to fredleeson@hotmail.com
Friday, May 3, 2024
Trying to 'Fix' Rosemont Commons
Despite its 107 year history, many Portlanders have never seen one of the city's most charming Georgian revival buildings that sits at 597 N. Dekum St.
The building itself probably is not in jeopardy. One suspects that condominium developers
would relish a chance to convert it to market-rate units. Designed by one of Portland’s best-known
architects of the era, Joseph Jacobberger, the building stands as “an excellent
example of twentieth century Georgian style architecture,” according to a
history compiled for the National Register of Historic Places.
The city’s development arm, then called the Portland
Development Commission, acquired the site in 1998. The PDC engaged in extensive talks with the
Piedmont Neighborhood Association to devise plans for the 7.6 acre site. The neighborhood pushed hard for senior
housing, and the PDC complied.
Join Building on History’s email list by writing “add me” to fredleeson@hotmail.com
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A century-long tradition of banking in Portland’s most elegant business location will end Nov. 30 when U.S. National Bank permanently clos...
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Encouraging work is progressing on S.E. Foster Road to restore a 108-year old theater building into active use as a performing arts venue....