Good News in Beaumont-Wilshire

 

When you see all the peeling paint, the scraped landscape and the big mess at the garages, you have to wonder why this article is about good news.

 Well, the new roof is a hint.  Thanks to the excellent reporting of Doug Decker in the Hollywood Star neighborhood newspaper, we know that the distinctive “turret house” on Northeast Wysteria Drive is being renovated by a brother-sister team already experienced in accurate historic restoration.  The roof was their logical starting point, given interior water damage clearly visible in at least two rooms of the house that suffered many years of deferred maintenance.

Kyle Lindros, of Bend, and Amber Chang of Portland, bought the well-known house last January for $565,000, according to property records.  That amount is likely less than half of the four-bedroom house’s value after it is properly restored.  Chang, who lives nearby, no doubt brought the investment opportunity to the attention of her brother.

The house is well-known visually because it is a can’t-miss sight for motorists as they serpentine half-way down Northeast 42^nd Avenue from the Alameda Ridge to the flatlands below.  It was built in 1928.

  If all goes well, Chang and Lindros hope to finish the renovation project by mid-2027.  But given their knowledge of construction schedules, they told Decker they are more concerned about doing the job properly than by meeting a deadline.  By late 2027, however, the distinctive home likely will be available to a new purchaser.

----Fred Leeson

 No AI is used in production of this blog.  You can join Building on History’s email list by writing “add me” to farovrpar463@gmail.com

Shush, People

 In the end, the unspoken “public be damned“ strategy didn’t work for Portland’s Office of Arts and Culture when it came to changing the placement of the Abe Lincoln statue in the South Park Blocks. Mayor Keith Wilson quickly arrived a different decision, declaring that the historic statue will be returned to the pedestal where it stood for 93 years as a well-known feature of downtown Portland.

 The mayor’s decision came two days after the Office of Arts and Culture held an unusual public meeting in which citizens who cared were told they could not speak their opinions about the proposal to place Lincoln at ground level.  “That is not part of the program this evening,” the moderator said. “It’s clear we won’t have time to hear everyone’s opinions.”

Instead, the crowd of approximately 200 people listen to four “experts” – three of whom knew little about the Lincoln statue that had been toppled by a criminal episode in 2020.  Instead, they spoke in more detail about a statue of York, a Black member of the Lewis & Clark expedition, and how the goal of public monuments was to encourage inspiration, dialogue and discussion.  But what about relocating Lincoln to the ground rather than his original pedestal, as proposed by the arts office?   Inspiration, dialogue and discussion apparently don’t relate   to “decision.” These experts liked to talk, not make decisions.  As one said, “We’re not here to talk about Lincoln.”

 The evening event had been billed as a “Public Conversation” about city monuments.  But the conversation, if one can call it that, was limited to written questions.  The arts office said it had started holding discussions about Lincoln’s placement as early as 2023, but none of those events was widely advertised and none involved public testimony.  Those sessions did disclose views of people who found fault with Lincoln, and the proposal to remove that statue from its pedestal was a “middle path,” one expert said.

During the session, a former Portland city commissioner with a strong interest in the arts, wrote me a note saying, “An expensive multi-year process without one public hearing.”

The statue is expected to return in 2027.  Some context about Lincoln’s life will be added near the statue, although the wording and methodology have yet to be determined.  Given the rampant use of cell phones, the strategy likely will include a Quick Response Code that would bring up facts about his life and politics.  Deciding what to include or exclude will be a fight for another day.

 ---Fred Leeson

 No AI is used in production of this blog.  You can join Building on History’s mailing list by writing “add me” to faroverpar463@gmail.com

 

 

A New Element in the Lincoln Statue Dispute

 

A potential legal threat landed on the desk of Portland Mayor Keith Wilson just days before the city attempts on Sept. 8 to justify its proposed demotion of the Abraham Lincoln statue from its historic pedestal in the South Park Blocks.

 A letter from Portland attorney Carrie Richer, who concentrates on land use and historic preservation matters, says moving Lincoln to ground level could violate state and city regulations concerning protection of historic properties.

 “Installing the restored Lincoln statue separate from, and below, its original base will directly violate its statutory obligation to ‘conserve the property’ and ‘assure that such property shall not substantially altered.’ Whether these actions are intentional or based on willful ignorance, the fact remains that the City’s practice with respect to monuments going back to the Thompson Elk Fountain, has been nothing short of a disgrace.  The City’s clear conservation obligation is to restore the sculpture atop its historic base, where it has peacefully kept watch over Lincoln Square in the Portland South Park Blocks for nearly 100 years.”

Richter’s clients are preservation advocates William J. and Kit Hawkins and Aubrey Russell.  All three played key roles in convincing the to restore and return the David P. Thompson elk statue and fountain to its historic location earlier this year.

Richter wrote, “Both state and local regulations require the City to prioritize conservation of its historic properties over unsupported claims of public preference. The public, including numerous historic architects, preservationists, and stakeholders, has tried tirelessly to engage with City staff and have been stonewalled in those efforts.

“The public is desperate for a forum where alternatives to demolition can be discussed and where public opinion can be made known. Please instruct your respective bureaus not only to comply with state law and local preservation program requirements, but also to be transparent and forthcoming about their intentions with respect to the protection of historic resources.

The city Office of Arts and Culture has scheduled a public meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept 8 at the Mark Building, 1119 SW Park Ave. to discuss the statue's placement.  It is not clear how much time will be available for public comment.

Richter noted that returning the statue to its pedestal does not eliminate any changes.  “For example, additional interpretive signage could provide greater historic context, offering a more complete picture of Abraham Lincoln’s life and of the social protests that led to Lincoln’s toppling in 2020.”

The letter does not include any legal threat, but invocation of the city and state preservation rules suggest that judicial review could be possible if the city persists in make a mistake.

---Fred Leeson

 No AI is used in creation of this blog. You can join Building on History’s email list by writing “add me” to faroverpar463@gmail.com