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WHEREAS, the Thompson Elk Fountain, also known as the Elk Fountain or The Elk, is a historical monument, fountain, and bronze sculpture located on SW Main St. between 3rd and 4th Avenues; and   

WHEREAS, the Thompson Elk Fountain was donated to the City of Portland by former Mayor David P. Thompson in 1900; and  

WHEREAS, the 3,000-pound bronze Elk Fountain was placed in a site that was a former feeding ground for elk that wandered down from the west hills of the City; and   

WHEREAS, the original installation of The Elk is between two public plazas, Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square, that comprise the Plaza Blocks in downtown Portland; and  

WHEREAS, two distinguishing features of The Elk Fountain include a bronze Hunting Elk sculpted by American artist Roland Hilton Perry, and an eastern-granite base and water-spouting fountain, which consisted of a top utility for humans and lower troughs for horses, dogs, goats, or other fauna, was designed and built by local architect H.G. Wright; and   

WHEREAS, the Elk Fountain is the second-oldest piece of Public Art in the City of Portland; and 

WHEREAS, the Thompson Elk Fountain has been an object of endearment and has served as a gathering place for Portlanders and a hub for activism for more than 120 years; and  

WHEREAS, on or about July 2, 2020, the Elk Fountain was damaged and subsequently removed from its original location; and  

WHEREAS, City officials went to great lengths to preserve The Elk in its entirety; and  

WHEREAS, return of The Elk will send a clear message that the City is committed to revitalizing the downtown core; and 

WHEREAS, the Portland Parks Foundation has graciously offered to hire a team with experience in architectural restoration, stone carving and masonry, and traffic design engineering to assess the remaining fountain parts, identify how new parts can be fabricated and adapted to recirculate the water used by the fountain, develop scenarios for how the right-of-way can be designed to address safety concerns; and provide a cost analysis for the full restoration of the Elk Fountain and street redesign; and 

WHEREAS, on February 15, 2022, the Office of Management and Finance submitted an application for Historic Demolition Delay; and   

WHEREAS, Council seeks to retain the local Historic Landmark designation; and 

WHEREAS, returning the Thompson Elk Fountain may trigger land use reviews under Title 33 and the Council cannot guarantee the outcome of the land use review; and 

WHEREAS, the Thompson Elk Fountain is an important piece of Portland History and, to the extent feasible, should be returned to its original state and location.  

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Office of Management and Finance is directed to withdraw its application for Historic Demolition Delay.  

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council directs the Office of Management and Finance to take all steps necessary, including applying for necessary land use reviews, to fully restore and return the Thompson Elk Fountain to its original condition and location to the extent feasible. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all applicable bureaus work in collaboration with the Office of Management and Finance in this effort.