Hales: Demo rule changes on tap

City vows to tackle 'demolition epidemic' threatening livability

Mayor Charlie Hales is convinced the city needs to act quickly to prevent more historic homes from being demolished and replaced with infill developments.

The existing system is not working. When historic homes are replaced by one or two new ones, you lose the character of neighborhoods, Hales says.

According to Hales, staff members in his office have already begun meeting to discuss policy options. He expects to announce one or more proposals soon.

It will be a matter of weeks, not months, Hales says.

Hales says he became convinced of the problem during the July 31 City Council meeting that turned into a lively forum on demolition and other growth-related issues. It was originally scheduled so the council could receive annual reports from two commissions that advise on related matters, the Portland Landmarks Commission and the Portland Design Commission.

But preservationists and neighborhood activists alarmed by the increasing number of residential demolitions took the opportunity to present their concerns to the council. And both commissions supported their testimony, with local architect Brian Emerick, chairman of the landmarks commission, declaring Portlands livability is threatened by a demolition epidemic.

Hales praised those who testified for presenting a compelling case that existing city policies intended to preserve historic properties are not working, especially now that the economy is improving and many people want to live in close-in Portland neighborhoods that contain a large number of older homes that can be replaced.

It was an excellent hearing. The people who testified made a very reasonable case that something should be done to save historic home and the answer is yes, says Hales.

Still, there are a number of challenges for Hales.

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Hales: Demo rule changes on tap