The existing hierarchy
Since the 1980s, the City of Portland’s regulations have generally grouped designated landmarks and districts into two categories (Historic and Conservation) and documented-but-undesignated resources into two categories (Ranked and Unranked). Until a change to State Administrative Rule in January 2017, all resources listed in the National Register of Historic Places were automatically identified as either a Historic Landmark or Historic District at the local level. This automatic Historic-level designation also resulted in automatic application of design and demolition protections.
The 2017 change in State Administrative Rule requires local governments to continue to automatically apply demolition protections to resources listed in the National Register in the future, but no longer requires application of design protections to National Register listings. This change provides an opportunity to redesign Portland’s hierarchy of historic resource types — and, consequently the protections that apply to the different levels — as well as to revise the procedures and criteria by which resources can be added to and removed from the hierarchy in the future.
The recommended hierarchy
The recommended zoning code amendments incorporate the new State Rule and respond to public feedback by establishing a more intentional framework for the designation and protection of historic resources—both those designated today and those that may be designated or have their designation removed in the future. The recommended changes to the resource types and hierarchy of protections simultaneously provide consistency for resources that were designated in the past—Historic Landmarks stay Historic Landmarks and Conservation Districts stay Conservation Districts—and amend the applicable protections for resources at each level to more intentionally differentiate between the types. The recommended hierarchy can be thought of as three tiers of designated resources – Historic (gold standard), Conservation (silver standard), and National Register (bronze standard) – and a single type – Significant Resources (eligibility standard) – for resources determined eligible for future Historic, Conservation, or National Register designation.
Previous to the change in State Rule in 2017, National Register listing and the automatic Historic Landmark or District designation that came with it effectively served as Portland’s gold standard for historic resource designation and protection. With the proliferation of residential National Register Districts in recent years, broad public concerns have been raised regarding the automatic application of protections to National Register listings. While State Rules require the City apply demolition review to National Register resources, the recommended new hierarchy establishes National Register resources as the floor of the designated resource classifications, elevates City-listed Conservation resources to the middle tier, and retains existing and City-designated Historic resources as the gold standard for designation and protection. Proposed listing and removal criteria would allow designated resources—for example the Broadway Bridge or Benson High School—to move up or down the hierarchy based on the resource's historic significance and the appropriateness of protections when considering other community values.
Historic Landmark recommendation (gold standard)
A Historic Landmark is a structure, building, portion of a building, site, tree, statue, sign, or other object or space that the City has designated for its special archaeological, architectural, cultural, or historical merit. Historic Landmarks include resources listed by the federal Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places before January 2017.
Demolition Regulations: Demolition Review (Type IV)
Design Regulations: Historic Resource Review
Special Use Incentives: All
Listed by: Either the Historic Landmarks Commission or City Council, as recommended by the Historic Landmarks Commission
Removed by: Either the Historic Landmarks Commission or City Council, as recommended by the Historic Landmarks Commission
Number as of September 2020: 725
Conservation Landmark recommendation (silver standard)
A Conservation Landmark is a structure, building, portion of a building, site, statue, sign, or other object or space that the City has designated for its special archaeological, architectural, cultural, or historical merit.
Demolition Regulations: Demolition Review (Type III)
Design Regulations: Choice between Historic Resource Review or Community Design Standards
Special Use Incentives: All
Listed by: Either the Historic Landmarks Commission or City Council, as recommended by the Historic Landmarks Commission
Removed by: Either the Historic Landmarks Commission or City Council, as recommended by the Historic Landmarks Commission
Number as of September 2020: 12
National Register Landmark recommendation (bronze standard)
A National Register Landmark is a structure, object or, site that was listed by the federal Keeper of the National Register and has not been identified by the City as a Historic Landmark or Conservation Landmark. The National Register Landmark type is new to the zoning code and includes all individual properties listed in the National Register since January 2017.
Demolition Regulations: Demolition Review (Type III)
Design Regulations: None
Special Use Incentives: None
Listed by: National Park Service
Removed by: National Park Service
Number as of September 2020: 10
Historic District recommendation (gold standard)
A Historic District is a geographic area that the City has designated for its archaeological, architectural, cultural, or historical merit. Historic Districts include resources listed by the federal Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places before January 2017.
Demolition Regulations: Demolition Review for contributing resources (Type IV; none for most accessory structures
Design Regulations: Historic Resource Review
Special Use Incentives: Many
Listed by: City Council, as recommended by the Planning and Sustainability Commission
Removed by: City Council, as recommended by the Planning and Sustainability Commission (following a joint hearing with the Historic Landmarks Commission)
Number as of September 2020: 17 (comprised of 3,751 contributing resources and 1,192 noncontributing resources)
Conservation District recommendation (silver standard)
A Conservation District is a geographic area that the City has designated for its special archaeological, architectural, cultural, or historical merit.
Demolition Regulations: Demolition Review for contributing resources (Type III; none for most accessory structures)
Design Regulations: Choice between Historic Resource Review or Community Design Standards
Special Use Incentives: Some
Listed by: City Council, as recommended by the Planning and Sustainability Commission (following a joint hearing with the Historic Landmarks Commission)
Removed by: City Council, as recommended by the Planning and Sustainability Commission
Number as of September 2020: 6 (comprised of 2,208 contributing resources and 986 noncontributing resources)
National Register District recommendation (bronze standard)
A National Register District is a collection of properties that has been listed by the federal Keeper of the National Register of Historic and has not been designated as a Historic District or Conservation District. The National Register District type is new to the zoning code and includes all districts listed in the National Register since January 2017, including Laurelhurst, Peacock Lane and, if listed by the National Park Service in the future, Eastmoreland.
Demolition Regulations: Demolition review for contributing resources (Type III; none for most accessory structures)
Design Regulations: None
Special Use Incentives: None
Listed by: National Park Service
Removed by: National Park Service
Number as of September 2020: 3 (comprised of 1,340 contributing resources and 458 noncontributing resources)
Significant Resource recommendation (eligible standard)
A Significant Resource is a structure, building, portion of a building, site, statue, sign, district, or other object or space that the City has determined to be significant for its archaeological, architectural, cultural, or historical merit but has not been designated as a landmark or district. Rank I, II, III resources identified in the 1984 Historic Resource Inventory are Significant Resources.
Demolition Regulations: 120-day demolition delay
Design Regulations: None
Special Use Incentives: None
Listed by: City Council, as recommended by the Historic Landmarks Commission
Removed by: City Council, as recommended by the Historic Landmarks Commission
Number as of September 2020: 898