February 02, 2005
The Year Of Our Inevitable Relocation
Setting Our Sights On Downtown
One of our goals for the year is finally to move into downtown Portland after eight years (come March) living in various parts of Southeast. Given the financial constraints inherent in publishing this site as a full-time endeavor, this is something of a long-term goal, beginning with simply trying to get a sense of the possibilities in advance of when the time comes.
That image over on the right is one location we almost pursued. With one bedroom apartments of comparable square fotage to what we have now, for slightly more money but with utilities included, our initial interest was piqued. Then we realized that if we lived there, Portland Communique would be headquartered across the street from The Oregonian, one block away from the Oregon Historical Society, and a very short walk to City Hall -- and we very nearly drooled ourselves rabid.
Of course, the best laid plans and all that. As it turns out, the Rose Friend (that's the building's name) is on the same block as the Ladd Carriage House -- which has been in the news of late because the entire block is owned by the First Christian Church, and they want to tear it all down and redevelop the block.
Now, it's entirely possible that had we ever reached the stage of actually going to look at the place, we never would have wanted to live there anyway. But given the plans for that block, scratch even investigating this possibility off the list. With all the uncertainty that comes with this site, we certainly don't want to move to an apartment only to have to relocate all over again because a church wants to tear down and/or move historic structures.
And so, the preliminary search goes on, as we continue to check listings to get an early feel for the types of places and parts of downtown worth looking at when the time comes.
Althought we just did just notice one place that's within spitting distance of our downtown satellite office, which would be highly amusing because as it stands today, we live three blocks from our neighborhood branch office. Go figure.
Comments (12)
Randy Leonard on 03 Feb 2005
Et Tu Brute!
Erik Sten on 03 Feb 2005
biX!,
Here's a plug for a service that the Bureau of Housing and Comm. Development put together a few years ago that you and readers may find helpful.
It's www.housingconnections.org The website is a free service that lists both private and subsidized affordable housing throughout the region.
See what you think. It's a partial answer to the problem people have traveling all over the region to see what's available. We've actually sold the design to a couple other cities. We hope to eventually include an application that would be accepted by a variety of landlords, thereby saving application fees and time.
Love to hear feedback from you and others.
Erik Sten
cab on 03 Feb 2005
Good luck with the house search. Its a shame that that beautiful old apartment is going to be torn down. Especially when one block south a willing seller would sell his surface parking lot and gas station to the church for development, eliminating the need to demolish TWO historic downtown Portland buildings. This is one issue the city should stick its nose into. Those two buildings can and should be saved. The city could help turn a parking lot eyesore on the park blocks into a public good. Someone needs to sit down with the church and pray some sense into them.
The One True b!X on 03 Feb 2005
And, hey, if any property management company out there would like to trade a sitewide sponsorship for a break in rent....
pdxchicka on 04 Feb 2005
OK, pardon my ignorance, but how can a building that has been put on the national historic building registry get demolished (or even threaten to?)
Ladd owned the Carriage House from 1883 to 1927. Since then, it has been used for offices. First Christian bought it in 1970, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
I thought that one of the benefits of being on the registry, was a protection of some sorts from this exact kind of thing. What am I missing?
cab on 04 Feb 2005
God spoke to the church leaders asking them to demolish two historic buildings for more parking. Who can argue with God. I wish God was a Mcminamins fan. I think both those buildings would make a great pub and hotel. God can always build his parking one block south and actually have a positive impact on the neighborhood. Commissions who read this stuff anyway you can step in and try and save these important buildings?
pdxchicka on 05 Feb 2005
Well according to the Oregonian article, PSU stepped up and said like 'oh no, not those beautiful buildings. well if worst comes to worst, we'll relocate them (which would cost 750,000$)' which is nice and all of them, but it shouldn't be necessary and to do so. How can First Christian legally threaten to demolish them in the first place??
Randy Leonard on 05 Feb 2005
"I thought that one of the benefits of being on the registry, was a protection of some sorts from this exact kind of thing. What am I missing?"
PDXChicka and CAB-
You may recall that the council had some intense hearings last year on a subject known as "demolition denial". It was directly related to property owners who apply for demolition of a building that the city wants to save for historic and cultural reasons.
The Ladd Carriage House is a prime example. The church actually applied for a demolition permit before the new ordinance took effect. They have the right under the law to take down this historic and culturally significant building.
However, we have been in negotiations with the church to move the building to another location.
I do believe we will be successful.
I do not know where the apartment house is in the discussion.
If you would like more information on that, ship me an email to my city email address:
rleonard@ci.portland.or.us
If requested, I will look into it and let you know the status of the apartment house.
I hope this helps.
allehseya on 05 Feb 2005
I was in a very similar situation back in D.C. when I stumbled upon an organization called Artspace based out of Minneapolis that aims to “create, foster, and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations.”
I think you qualify as a ‘new media artist’, personally.
The way it worked back in D.C was that artists were put on a waiting list while either the buildings were developed or other artists moved out of existing space. As the units are indeed affordable (either rent controlled or based on income) – artists weren’t moving out.
In any event, you may already be aware of this – the Everett Station Lofts building (in Old Town Chinatown) is owned by Artspace. I don’t know any artists in there so I don’t know what the process/waiting list /rental prices are but you could try contacting the Resident Manager: David something or other via e-mail: dhhagood@aol.com or contact Artspace about any other property they may own in Portland.(www.artspaceusa.org.)
cab on 06 Feb 2005
Thanks Randy, Its good to know people are working on this. I just wish the church would work a deal with the property owner directly to the south. The owner of that property, a gas station and parking lot, has said in the past he is willing to sell. If a buyer could be found for the carriage house/apartment building then that money could be used to purchase the gas station lot for the church development (Other churches in the neigborhood also looking for parking could be involved). A win win opportunity exist here if the church would be a little more open minded about what these historic buildings mean to the city. Instead of moving a historic building maybe PSU and another developer could be found to work this deal. Its a long shot, but having walked around this block often it's obvious that both these buildings are worth saving and add to our city.
The One True b!X on 08 Feb 2005
Alternatively, were I to stay on the eastside, it would have to be somewhere smack in the midst of the Central Eastside Industrial District, but I'd have to be sold on the idea by a compelling specific.
David Shaff on 10 Feb 2005
Randy has asked me to look into the status of the the Ladd Carriage House and Rose Friend apartments (including alternatives the chuch may wnat to explore). We will update you when we have more information.