Neighbors protest Northwest house demolition

The 1902 Goldsmith house at Northwest Quimby and 24th Avenue is on its way out. A demolition crew returned on Saturday, May 3, stripping the inside of the historic home, removing lath and plaster from every surface.

The city of Portland reversed itself Friday, May 2, reissuing a demolition permit so that the house can be removed without delay. Developer Marty Kehoe, who bought the building and 10,000-square-foot lot in March for $1.5 million, will have it torn down and replaced with seven townhouses. Members of the Northwest District Association have opposed the demolition, saying they were told of it too late to influence proceedings.

I asked the neighborhood association to rescind its objection and find a buyer so the house could stay, but they didnt do anything, Kehoe said Monday. So I got my attorneys to talk to the city and rescind the demo permit.

Keho said neighborhood association officials told him they might have found a buyer for the old house, but that word came too late, the demolition permit has been re-approved.

Kehoe said the association was vague about the buyers name and price, and he did not want to delay demolition only to find out there was no buyer.

Kehoe also said he rejected the association suggestion that he save the old house and cram four townhouses into the remaining space.

NWDA President Phil Selinger issued a statement Saturday, May 3, saying the group was "appalled" that the "city would abruptly reverse its correction of an incorrect reading of the code," and that "Mr. Kehoe would appear to seek neighborhood support, and then immediately abandon those efforts once the city removed the neighborhoods primary leverage in the form of a demolition delay."

Once the house has been stripped it will be torn down with a backhoe within weeks.

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Neighbors protest Northwest house demolition