Mark Madden Demolishes 1910 Home

PORTLAND, Ore. – A 104-year-old house in the Sellwood–Westmoreland district has been demolished, and will be replaced by multiple units of housing.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

The single-family home was located at 5442 SE Milwaukie Ave., at the corner of Milwaukie and Harold. Built in 1910, it was 1,452 square feet on a 4,228 square foot lot.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

The one-story house sold in June for $350,000. The last time it had sold was in 1997, for $80,000.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Mark Madden of WDC Properties LLC was the buyer. Madden is a notorious multifamily developer across Portland’s west side in particular, although the Portland Chronicle has previously profiled another of his properties under construction in Sellwood. Madden is also behind a project in Goose Hollow which required demolition of a 130-year-old home.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Madden applied for a demolition permit on the home on the corner of SE Milwaukie and Harold in September. It was subject to the 35-day demolition delay, since he plans to replace it with multiple housing units.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

In place of the former home, Madden plans to build a three-story apartment building with 11 units. The permit lists four single-story units to be built on the first floor, and six two-story units on the second and third floors. The Portland Chronicle has determined that this does not add up to the 11 units initially described.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

While Madden is complying with the permit’s requirement for a fence to be erected around the demolition, debris are strewn across the sidewalk and parking strip outside of the fenced area.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle