Progress at Two Historic Libraries

 

Albina Library

Two Portland architectural gems dating back to the Carnegie library era of the early 20th century are advancing with renovation projects that will inspire renewed library activity when finished in 2025.

 The larger project involves the Albina library at 216 NE Knott St. where a two-story addition behind the 1912 Spanish renaissance building will substantially expand facilities and activities.  The original building was designed early in the career of Ellis Lawrence, who for many years commuted between Portland and Eugene where he led the University of Oregon architecture program.

North Portland Library

The second historic library undergoing renovation is the North Portland library at 512 N. Killingsworth St.  It first opened in 1913, following the design of Josef Jacobberger who is best known for his work for the Catholic Church.  The North Portland library even shows some religious influences with its flattened gothic arches and elegant beams on the second floor reminiscent of a cathedral’s nave.

 Both buildings originally were funded by grants from Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy steel magnate who decided that his vast wealth could improve communities by erecting new libraries devoted to residential neighborhoods, rather than larger central city buildings.

 Both the Albina and North Portland libraries show the welcoming fundamentals insisted upon by Carnegie’s management team: Stairs rising from the sidewalk and electric lights generally flanking the doorway.  The theory was that visitors were to be “uplifted” and “enlightened” by their arrival.

 In all, Carnegie funded seven libraries in Multnomah County.  Three remain in the Multnomah County system, St. Johns, Albina and North Portland.  Two others, East Portland and Arleta, later were sold by the county and the last, South Portland, is used as a city Parks & Recreation office.

 The Albina project is expected to be finished in the second half of 2025; the smaller North Portland work is scheduled to be finished before next spring.  The new Albina space will include community meeting rooms and spaces devoted to teens and children.  North Portland will include a Black cultural center and a new outdoor space.

 Since both buildings are designated city landmarks, the plans had to be approved by the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission.  While that level of regulation was mandatory, the Multnomah County library staff should be complimented for their appreciation of, and dedication to, their beautiful historic architectural inventory.

 ----Fred Leeson

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A 'Tasty' Architectural Treat

 

The best outcome for any landmark building is for it to continue thriving with its original use.  Case in point: Helen Bernhard Bakery.

This Northeast Portland “institution” famed for its cakes, pastries, rolls and breads, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.  Helen Bernhard, the wife of a Lutheran minister, started a cake business from her home as a hobby in 1924. 

As years rolled ahead, the Bernhard residence at 1725 N.E. Broadway was expanded twice to accommodate business growth.  Then, in 1939 – the height of the Great Depression no less – the bakery expanded into a new building next door 1717 N.E. Broadway, where today it continues to serve a grateful breadth of customers.

With its gambrel roof and multi-paned front windows, one might think the retail shop is a remodeled Dutch colonial house since those were common residential features of the time.  Not so.  At closer inspection, the ovens and baking equipment sit in a larger portion of the same building behind the gambrel roof.  The building was designed by Richard Sundeleaf, recognized for his industrial and residential work over a 60-year career in the Portland area. 

The former Bernhard residence next door 

Helen Bernhard died in 1968.  After she retired, two generations of her descendants operated the bakery before selling in 1988.  Since then, the successful enterprise is being run by the second generation of the purchasers in 1988.  

A century of success is an amazing landmark for any small business.  While it is the goodness of the baked goods that draws in customers, entering an attractive, well-designed historic retail space adds to the pleasure of a visit.  May it stay thus for years to come.

---Fred Leeson

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Good News/Sad News

 

A Portland company renowned for saving and finding new uses for historic buildings has added another notch to its entrepreneurial belt with purchase of the four-story former Taft Hotel.

Through no fault of the McMenamin brothers, their purchase of the 117-year old building became possible after the sad failure of Portland’s disjointed systems for managing housing for troubled residents afflicted by personal tragedies including homelessness, mental disabilities and drug issues.

Until its closure late in 2021 because of management issues and maintenance problems, the Taft Hotel had provided housing for 70 low-income seniors, many suffering with mental and behavioral issues.

The $1.5 million purchase by the McMenamin brothers amounted to an interesting business opportunity, since the Taft building at 1337 SW Washington St. abuts the rear of the company’s popular Crystal Ballroom venue fronting on W. Burnside.  Purchase price for the 37,000 square foot building with 70 housing units and ground-level retail spaces amounted to no more than a single upscale Portland house.

The building had been owned by Reach Community Development, a non-profit low-income housing provider.  The Taft had been leased to a for-profit management company that walked away, citing building maintenance and other complaints.  

Mike and Brian McMenamin have built an eating, drinking, entertainment and lodging empire since 1984, by concentrating heavily on restoring historic buildings. Besides the Crystal Ballroom, their notable Portland-area venues include a former elementary building (Kennedy School) a funeral home (Chapel Pub) and county poor farm (Edgefield Lodge.)

The company speaks little to the press and keeps its plans tightly held.  The obvious opportunity at the Taft building is renovating into a boutique hotel since it sits close to the Crystal Ballroom and another McMenamin property, the Crystal Hotel, less than two blocks away.

While loss of the low-income housing is a blow to Portland’s fragmented low-income housing community, sale to the McMenamin chain could be an encouraging sign for downtown Portland, where numerous storefronts and office units remain vacant stemming from the COVID epidemic and downtown’s problems with unhoused campers and drug users.

The Taft building, completed in 1907, was designed by Portland architect Edgar Lazarus, who owned it until his death in 1939.  Lazarus also designed the nine-story Electric Building is best known for the Vista House at Crown Point, which takes advantage of magnificent views high above the Columbia River highway in eastern Multnomah County.

The Taft reflects what some historians call the "Chicago school" of architecture, with the tri-partite windows and wide spandrels.  The building was known for many years as Hotel Ramapo until changing to the Taft Hotel nameplate in 1955.  It because a residential care facility in 1985/86.

While the interior of the Taft building is reported to be in awful condition, the building has already been retrofitted with earthquake bracing which rates as a plus for the buyers.  That alone, along with the McMenamins’ reputation for undertaking responsible preservation projects, could provide the Taft building with many honorable decades ahead.  

 ---Fred Leeson

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