Historic Districts are collections of properties designated for their historic significance by the City or National Park Service. This page provides a summary of the primary HRCP proposals applicable to Historic Districts.
Historic resource review criteria
Alteration, addition, and new construction proposals in Historic Districts are subject to a discretionary review known as historic resource review. The approval criteria for historic resource review are most often district-specific guidelines such as the East Portland/Grand Avenue Historic District Design Guidelines, but for some districts (such as Irvington and Kenton) the approval criteria are more general. The proposed code changes do not include changes to district-specific guidelines but do recommend changes to the more general criteria to provide increased clarity and options in situations where district-specific guidelines do not apply. In areas where multiple sets of criteria apply, the proposal provides additional clarity on the applicability and hierarchy of the criteria that must be met for project approval.
Historic resource review thresholds
Proposals subject to historic resource review are assigned a procedure type, with smaller projects assigned a lower procedure (i.e Type I) and larger projects assigned a higher procedure (i.e. Type III). These types correspond with application fees, timeline for review and the assigned decision-maker. City staff are the decision-makers for Type I and Type II applications and the Historic Landmarks Commission holds hearings and make decisions for Type III applications. The proposed amendments change these thresholds to better align the impact of proposed work with the type of procedure. Importantly, the proposed amendments recommend new buildings smaller than 5000 square feet be reviewed by staff and not the Historic Landmarks Commission.
Historic resource review exemptions
The existing code provides a list of activities that are not subject to historic resource review because of their minimal impact on the historic features and characteristics of Historic Districts. Existing exemptions include certain maintenance, repair, mechanical and vent work. The proposed amendments expand the list of exemptions to allow certain solar panels on all rear- and side-facing roof slopes, detached accessory structures, removal of service chimneys, replacement of non-historic windows and several other common improvements to proceed without review.
Increased opportunities for adaptive reuse
Many contributing resources in Historic Districts have the potential to be adapted to new and creative uses without harming significant historic features. Additionally, the presence of historic resource review ensures that alterations and new construction in Historic Districts will be designed to respond to the historic characteristics of the District. Allowing for the reuse of historic resources and infill on developable sites provides economically viable options for rehabilitation, increases public access to historic places and provides opportunities for interpreting the past through the lens of contemporary values. The proposed changes would allow both contributing and non-contributing resources to be used in ways not otherwise allowed by zoning, such as additional housing types in residential zones and certain retail and office uses near transit. Additionally, requirements for providing on-site parking would be removed.
Streamlined process for garage demolition
Today’s regulations require a Type IV (City Council) procedure for demolition review to remove historic contributing accessory structures in Historic Districts. The proposed changes would reduce the procedure type to Type II (City staff) to reduce the time and cost of removing or replacing historic garages and sheds and, when historic accessory structures are proposed for replacement with a new building, allow for the demolition and new construction proposals to be reviewed together through one Type II procedure.
New rules for building relocation
New resource type for districts listed since 2017
The Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted new Administrative Rules in January 2017 pertaining to the protection of properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Districts listed in the National Register after January 2017 are proposed to be renamed as National Register Districts, to be consistent with the State Rules.These National Register Districts would be subject to demolition review, but not historic resource review. These areas include Laurelhurst and Peacock Lane and, if listed in the future by the National Park Service, Eastmoreland.
Proposals to demolish contributing buildings in Historic Districts are subject to Type IV (City Council) demolition review, with existing approval criteria relating to 1) economic hardship and 2) the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The proposed amendments reduce the procedure to Type III (Historic Landmarks Commission) for proposals to demolish contributing buildings in National Register Districts and, unlike Historic Districts, completely exempts proposals to demolish accessory structures from demolition review. Furthermore, the proposal expands the demolition review approval criteria in National Register Districts beyond the Historic District criteria to include additional criteria related to mitigation and housing opportunities.