223-2023

Report

Accept the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission 2022 State of the City Preservation Report

Accepted

Attached is the Annual Report of the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission State of the City Preservation Report for 2022.  This fulfills the Portland Zoning Code requirement for the Commission’s actions and accomplishments for each calendar year (33.710.060 E.)

The Historic Landmarks Commission is an active volunteer Commission, meeting 20 times in 2022. 

Current Issues before Council today:

Over the past year, the Commission processed Land Use cases, Design Advice Requests (a form of early assistance to customers) and briefings on significant matters including visits from the Albina Vision Trust for Rose Quarter planning , ODOT for the Interstate 5 redesign at the Rose Quarter, PBOT for Electrical Transformers in the Right of Way and for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project and BPS for the Historic Resources Code Project and South Portland Historic District Design Guidelines.

The primary focus of this 2022 State of the City Preservation Report is how retention and reinvestment in our existing built resources in general, and historic preservation in particular, can be key to the City’s success in continued recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Historic Landmarks Commission will present an overview of how existing and necessary programs can help utilize existing resources to address ongoing issues like the housing and climate crises. The Commission will highlight how historic buildings can be key models for office to housing conversions and how basic maintenance equates to both preservation of buildings and preservation of community.  The Commission will also highlight two notable projects approved in 2022 including a new major addition to the historic Albina Library and reinvestment in Old Town by Street Roots.

Led by the new Historic Landmarks Commission Chair, Andrew Smith, the full complement of the Landmarks Commission will be present for the presentation. I look forward to hearing more from Andrew and the rest of the Commissioners at their presentation and hearing your comments and questions.

Background, from 33.710.060:

HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION

The Historic Landmarks Commission provides leadership and expertise on maintaining and enhancing Portland's historic and architectural heritage. The Commission identifies and protects buildings and other properties that have historic or cultural significance or special architectural merit. The Commission provides advice on historic preservation matters, and coordinates historic preservation programs in the City. The Commission is also actively involved in the development of design guidelines for historic districts.

The Historic Landmarks Commission consists of seven members, none of whom may hold public elective office. All members must have demonstrated interest, competence, or knowledge of historic preservation. At least two members must have professional experience in historic preservation, local history, architectural history, or architecture. At least three of the additional members must have professional experience or working knowledge of historic preservation, local history, architectural history, architecture, landscape architecture, real estate, economics, construction, community development, urban planning, archeology, law, finance, cultural geography, cultural anthropology, cultural resources management, or related disciplines. The Commission may have up to two members at-large. No more than two members of the Commission may be in the business of buying, selling, leasing, or developing real estate for profit, or be officers of such a business. The members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

Powers and duties:

The Historic Landmarks Commission has all of the powers and duties which are assigned to it by this Title or by City Council. The Commission powers and duties include:

  1. Establishing, amending, or removing Historic Landmark and Conservation Landmark designations and amending Historic District and Conservation District designations in quasi-judicial reviews;
  2. Recommending the establishment, amendment, or removal of Historic Landmark and Conservation Landmark designations and Significant Resource identification to the City Council in legislative actions;
  3. Providing advice on the establishment, amendment, or removal of Historic Districts and Conservation Districts to the Planning and Sustainability Commission in legislative actions;
  4. Recommending design guidelines for Historic Districts and Conservation Districts to the City Council in legislative actions;
  5. Reviewing development proposals for Historic Landmarks and Conservation Landmarks and in Historic Districts and Conservation Districts in quasi-judicial reviews;
  6. Reviewing demolition and relocation requests for certain Historic Landmarks, Conservation Landmarks, and resources in Historic Districts and Conservation Districts in quasi-judicial reviews;
  7. Providing advice on historic preservation matters to the Hearings Officer, Design Commission, Planning and Sustainability Commission, Portland Development Commission, other City commissions and committees, and City Council; and 8. Initiating and coordinating historic preservation and public outreach programs in the City, including making recommendations on National Register of Historic Places nominations and making recommendations to other governmental agencies regarding historic preservation programs and issues.

Exhibit A: Annual Report of the Portland Historic Landmarks State of the City Preservation Report for 2022.
Exhibit B: A document tracking Commission meetings and Historic Review-related work for the year.

Impact Statement

Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information

The report is required by Portland City Code [Title 33] to fulfill the Annual Report requirement for its actions and accomplishments for each fiscal year.

Financial and Budgetary Impacts

The report is required by Portland City Code [Title 33] to fulfill the Annual Report requirement for its actions and accomplishments for each fiscal year, so no revenue or budgetary impacts will be incurred.

Community Impacts and Community Involvement

  • The annual report was discussed at Portland Historic Landmarks Commission work sessions which were open to the public-at-large and to those with various professional backgrounds.
  • As this annual report was vetted in public meetings, public involvement helped shape the report.

Agenda Items

223 Time Certain in March 15, 2023 Council Agenda

Accepted

Motion to accept the report: Moved by Rubio and seconded by Gonzalez.
  • Commissioner Carmen Rubio Yea
  • Commissioner Rene Gonzalez Yea
  • Commissioner Mingus Mapps Absent
  • Commissioner Dan Ryan Yea
  • Mayor Ted Wheeler Absent

Requested Agenda Type

Time Certain

Date and Time Information

Requested Council Date
Requested Start Time
3:00 pm
Time Requested
1 hour
Confirmed Time Certain