Laurelhurst has taken a big step. Over the past two weekends, expert consultants from PMA and neighborhood volunteers conducted the pilot phase of the historical field survey. Yes, the historic district nomination work has really, truly started! Explanation: for the Historic District nomination, we need to walk by every single house in Laurelhurst and take a photograph, record the architectural style and other information about the exterior of the house, and enter that information in a database for the State Historic Preservation Office. This is the historical field survey, formally called the "Reconaissance Level Survey" or RLS. Then the data will be made available to you and I, and we'l
Laurelhurst was represented at the recent panel discussion on Historic Districts, held at the Architectural Heritage Center. If you couldn't attend, see the AHC's blog post on the panel for a synopsis of the discussion and to download the presenters' slides. The slides about Laurelhurst's Historic District effort are here. Portland is growing. With that growth comes a need for more housing. The role of historic preservation in a growing city is now in the spotlight. Should our older, historic buildings and neighborhoods all be torn down to build blocks of apartment buildings? Most of us would say "no". Should historic buildings and neighborhoods stand apart, try to wall themselves off fr
This is pretty cool! We have already raised $33,291 and are at 48% of our fundraising goal. If you haven't donated yet, please consider doing so. If you have already donated, thank you and please think of the Historic District again when you can.
Thanks to everyone who enjoyed laughter, wine and community last Friday at the Laurelhurst Standup Comedy Night Fun-Raiser. Over 120 of our neighbors, and a few guests, raised over $10,000 for our Historic District Nomination. Special thanks to Peggy Moretti of Restore Oregon, Susan Rice and Art Krug, the LNA's Fundraising Committee, and all the volunteers who kept the wine and food flowing all night! Everyone we talked to had a great time and wanted to do this again. What do you think - a new annual tradition?
On October 3, a standing-room-only audience of activists, developers, city planners, and involved residents came to the UO White Stag building to see Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute discuss the role played by historic buildings and neighborhoods in shaping vibrant, livable, affordable cities. The talk was sold out and many were unable to attend, so we are happy to make this video available. McMahon's talk covered it all: historic protection, urban development, housing and affordability. He even mentions Laurelhurst!
The most in-depth coverage of the Residential Infill Project has consistently been from our smaller newspapers. Here is a recent article from the SE Examiner, RIP Follows The Money, Splits Southeast. "While most growth is intended to land along commercial strips, side-streets in Buckman, Kerns, Richmond, Sunnyside, across Laurelhurst, into the Tabors and down through Sellwood and even Eastmoreland, (plus others on the inner Eastside) are expected to absorb the heaviest load of multi-unit residential Infill that essentially eliminates single family neighborhoods." "“Residents won’t understand the impact of the Residential Infill proposal until it hits their neighborhood,” warned Michael Moli
