Amend Residential Demolition Delay – Housing Preservation Code to remove the Historic Preservation League of Oregon, dba Restore Oregon (amend Code Section 24.55.200)
The City of Portland ordains:
Section 1. The Council finds:
- The Bureau of Development Services (BDS) promotes safety, livability, and economic viability through efficient and collaborative application of building and development codes.
- BDS administers Portland City Code (PCC) Title 24, Building Regulations. PCC Chapter 24.55, Building Demolition, regulates building demolitions within the City.
- When the Demolition Ordinance was initially adopted via Ordinance No. 187017, Restore Oregon requested that they be notified of all residential demolition permits that BDS received.
- Restore Oregon has indicated that they no longer wish to receive such notification.
- See Exhibit B for emailed request from Restore Oregon to be removed from demolition notification.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- Amend Code Section 24.55.200 as set forth in Exhibit A.
Official Record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
This ordinance amends Portland City Code (PCC) Title 24 Chapter 55.200 – Residential Demolition Delay – Housing Preservation, by removing reference to the Historic Preservation League of Oregon, dba Restore Oregon, from section 24.55.200.
PCC 24.55.200, Demolition Delay – Housing Preservation (Demolition Delay Ordinance), requires notice and a delay in issuing demolition permits for single family residences. Subsection 24.55.200(D)(1) requires the Bureau of Development Services to notify the Historic Preservation League of Oregon, dba Restore Oregon, via mail within 5 business days of any completed application for residential demolition permits. Restore Oregon has requested to no longer receive these notifications.
In late 2014, the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) initiated discussions with the Portland City Council to revise the regulations governing the demolition of single-family housing units within Portland. Although initial outreach efforts were conducted, opposition from various neighborhood associations prompted the Council to request broader stakeholder engagement. Acting on this directive, BDS expanded its outreach to include, among others, Restore Oregon, an organization committed to preserving historically significant residences. Over time, the focus of subsequent revisions of the demolition ordinance (Ordinances 187711, 188259, 188802, and 189012, effective June 13, 2018) has shifted toward asbestos and lead-based paint mitigation and enforcement. These revisions have been in support of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s implementation of requirements to deconstruct instead of demolishing homes built through the 1940s, reducing the demolition pace of historically relevant structures. Combined, these efforts have significantly reduced the number of residential demolition permits for salvageable historical homes. This ordinance, at the request of Restore Oregon, reflects an update attuned to the evolving landscape of preservation priorities and regulatory demands.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
This ordinance has no budgetary impacts and would not impact staffing levels. Any changes in work resulting from this ordinance is expected to be performed using existing resources.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
No community involvement was conducted in the development of this ordinance because the removal of Restore Oregon from City Code is at the request of Restore Oregon.