Thanks for making the Notary Event a success!

The 83 notarized objections we collected on January 14th helped us convince the
Buckman Historic Association to delay the official Historic District nomination.
You can read their press release

In the meantime, I am suspending actively collecting objections, and working with BHA to see if we can get the
city to reduce the fees and improve the process to more accurately reflect our community's desires and values.
If you would like to assist in this effort, or provide input, please let me know.
 

In the News

Daily Journal of Commerce
The Oregonian
 

Links

Objection Form
December SE Examiner Article
Portland Historic Review Information
Portland Historic Review Fee Schedule
Portland Code 33.445 - Historic Resources Section 33.445.320 is the most relevant
Email Us
Call Us at (971) 285-4643
The Buckman Historic District
- Will require historic review fees for external property changes
    Fee minimums are $1050, $1903, $4899 and more
    Fees apply to all structures, new and old
- Will create a 54+ day waiting period for historic review
- Will subject owners to arbitrary historic review decisions
- Will prevent the installation of visible solar panels and eco-roofs
Whole and partial property owners who want to prevent the Buckman Historic District must file notarized objections
 
Selected Quotes from Irvington
"Ask Irvington residents how this all worked out for them... After much acrimony by any who understood all the ramifications...we are now to understand that it is simply that the fees associated with historic design review are too high. That is certainly true. But the greater loss is in the new restrictions against improvements not in keeping with the aesthetics of the Irvingtonians in charge. Want to put up solar panels? Good luck. Want to put up a satellite dish? Better be NO part viewable from the street. Want a new door...new windows...better start saving up because there will be few options."
"HoloceneMan" comment on Oregonian article
 
"We just went through Irvington Historical Design review this summer. It's important to note that it's not just a problem of fees, the statutory requirements also impose significant project delay (minimum 6 weeks, up to 8) or longer if there is an appeal; which the neighborhood association gets to file at no cost whereas it is additional cost if the homeowner requests. To me, this creates an unnecessary element of uncertainty in the mind of a homeowner wishing to make an improvement. As your article suggests the whole process currently serves as a disincentive in terms of encouraging small improvements which is all that a lot of residents can afford. The fees are in addition to the standard BDS permit costs so it's a double whammy in terms of encouraging non-permited work."
Tony Jones comment on Portland Architecture blog post