231-2024

Attached is the Annual Report of the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission State of the City Preservation Report for 2023. 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 22 times in 2023. 

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 Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to discuss the LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project, the Housing Regulatory Relief Code Project, and the Montgomery Park to Hollywood Northwest Plan Character Statement, as well as from ODOT for the Section 106 Report for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project. Briefings were also held regarding the restoration of the Thompson Elk Fountain, Deployment of Belgian Blocks in the USPS Broadway Corridor Master Plan area, and Lighting in Historic Parks.

The primary focus of this 2023 State of 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 and the economic and development downturn that have followed.

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. The Commission will also discuss the need for the City to ensure its compliance with state law in the preservation of historic resources.

Lastly, the Commission will also highlight its project of the year – a unanimously approved conversion of the former First Church of Christian Scientist Historic Landmark into a club with restaurants, spa and bar, and construction on of a new, detached, six-story hotel on a vacant parcel within the Landmark boundary in the Alphabet Historic District.

Led by the 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 Chair Smith 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 2023.
Exhibit B: A document tracking Commission meetings and Historic Review-related work for the year.