PORTLAND, Ore. – Three buildings constructed 132 years ago will be demolished in the Northwest District, despite all three structures being included on the city’s historic resources inventory.
The buildings are located next to another under-construction apartment complex that saw the demolition of an office building last year.
Located at 1323, 1327 and 1339 NW 19th Ave., the buildings were all built in 1884 according to city records. Between the three of them they sit on two tax lots making up 10,000 square feet of land.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
The house at 1323 NW 19th Ave. was built by the Richards family in 1884, according to city records, and was included on the city’s 1984 historic resource inventory due to its architectural significance, particularly the “gable roof,” “exterior finish of drop siding,” and “pent-roofed porch with turned posts and fancywork brackets.”
Photo credit: Historic Resource Inventory
It is an example of the Queen Anne Vernacular style of architecture.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
The south side of the house at 1323 NW 19th Ave. photographed last summer. Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Its neighbor to the north at 1327 NW 19th Ave., also built in 1884, was included on the inventory due to its architectural significance for similar features. It is an example of the same architectural style as its neighbor, and was also built by the Richards family.
Photo credit: Historic Resource Inventory
According to records the two houses had a historic resource rank of III, meaning a 120-day demolition delay would have been required if the house were still on the inventory. The listing is considered voluntary by the city, and property owners are allowed to remove their buildings from the listing which negates any demolition delay or other measures the designation would have triggered.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Rank III is the weakest of the three rankings, but still indicate the property would have been eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places as a part of a historic district.
The building at 1339 NW 19th Ave. was also built in 1884 by the same family. As a commercial building, it was included on the historic inventory as an “excellent” example of the Western Falsefront Vernacular and the Italianate styles of architecture. In 1940, the listing indicates, the building was in use as Sullivan’s Grocery.
Photo credit: Historic Resource Inventory
The commercial building was listed as a Rank II building, meaning it would also be subject to a 120-day demolition delay and would have been eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
More information about the history of the buildings is available at Historic Preservation Club.
The county has not recorded any recent sales of any of the properties, but on Aug. 16 the Bureau of Development Services received applications for demolition of all three structures.
The owner of both houses is listed as Sowders LLC while the owner of the commercial building is listed as Raspor LLC.
The applicant on all three demolitions is Eric Buschert of GBD Architects, and the contractor is Lake Oswego Insulation.
Looking inside the building at 1339 NW 19th Ave. Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
None of the demolition applications were subject to the 35-day demolition delay period, because all three are listed as commercially-zones properties. The commercial building on the corner has been issued a demolition permit, while permits for the house demolitions are listed as “under review.”
There are no permits yet indicating future plans for the site.
Directly to the south of the properties, a six-story, 58-unit apartment complex is under construction also by GBD Architects. That redevelopment began with the demolition of a 1956 office building, reported on by this publication last year.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor