Update: This week, demolition crews began deconstructing the fire-damaged home at 7645 SE Division Street. Neighbors have waited years for this uninhabitable structure’s removal. The new owners of this property have not yet announced plans for this half-acre lot. However, this recent demolition work is the first step towards redevelopment.
Article originally published on April 17th, 2023.
A 2021 fire destroyed substantial portions of the 1922-era home at 7645 SE Division Street. Even before the fire, the derelict single-family residence attracted squatters, causing issues for adjacent neighbors. Now the property’s new owners have plans to demolish the 1,926-square-foot home and detached garage while preserving the basement cavity for future development on the nearly half-acre parcel. The recent property sale and permit applications could indicate that site’s redevelopment is finally underway.
Image from Portland Maps
Since the turn of the century, the home has sold six times, with the most recent exchange occurring last February. The new owners intend to reuse some of the existing structures on the property. In addition to retaining the basement footprint, half of the home’s driveway will remain post-demolition, acting as a parking pad. The Residential Multi-Dwelling zoned property is expansive and could support a large number of homes. The 2019 remodel plans will likely no longer apply to any future project. However, retaining the basement could indicate an interest in rebuilding a similar structure on the site.
Regardless of future redevelopment planned at this location, the demolition should remove a nuisance structure. With the proposed deconstruction just months away, residents bothered by the detraining building should see relief from a problem property. 35-Day Demo Delay concludes on May 17th. After that, the City can issue the permit, and crews could remove the fire-damaged building by Summer. Expect to see future coverage of this site when the owners submit building permits for the new housing coming to this property.
The owners of 1003 NE 71st Avenue plan to triple the housing density at this 1951-era property while retaining the original home. They recently applied for a Middle Housing Land Division, creating three parcels. Demolition crews have already removed a free-standing garage to make way for the two new single-family residences.
1003 NE 71st Ave seen with garage before demolition
The site’s new layout will use a cottage cluster arrangement, with Parcel 3 occupying the back third of the original lot. Developers centered Parcel 2 on the northern property line, extending 26 feet across the lot’s 45-foot width. Pedestrian access and utilities will route to each new two-story home through a doglegged private easement pathway that passes the existing house on Parcel 1 to the north and then cuts across the lot’s width to pass Parcel 2 on its south side. All properties will share a drywell for rainwater management.
Cottage clusters became permissible in July 2022 as part of the Residential Infill Project 2 (RIP2) after Portland’s City Council adopted the zoning code changes. Homes do not need direct street access or a private road leading to the lots. All pedestrian access comes from easements, and residents share open space between the properties. This configuration creates an environment where more residences can populate a neighborhood without requiring the demolition of existing homes. Additionally, the new smaller houses are individual real estate, allowing people access to a more affordable entry point to home ownership.
Project managers submitted building permits months before the land division application so construction could proceed before officials separate the parcels. However, RIP2 expedited the land division process to increase homeownership options for middle housing. Look for construction to begin as soon as the city approves the building permits.
Cement masons recently completed foundation work on four townhomes under construction along NE 74th Avenue near NE Glisan Street. In January, demolition crews deconstructed the 100-year-old single-family residence at 423 NE 74th Avenue, making way for these new homes. The street-facing unit spans the building’s frontage with a full-width porch, making the development look like a large house.
This townhome development is located just south of the Mt Tabor Villas apartment building that opened in 2020 and across the street from the Glisan Landing affordable housing project under construction. Multifamily housing is already well-defined on this street, and this builder could have displayed the density without seeming out of place. However, the design of this two-story building should blend in with the single-family homes on the block. The front of the structure features a symmetric design with a walkway leading to the centered front door. The three other homes are accessed from a side-yard walkway and will remain mostly hidden from passersby.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustrations
The three back units all feature identical floor plans with an open first-floor layout. The kitchen at the back of the main level features a wrap-around counter, creating some separation between the Dining/Living Room areas. A powder room is tucked under the staircase leading up to the second floor. Designers placed two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a laundry closet on the top level. One of the bathrooms is hallway accessible, and the other is reserved as an ensuite.
Deconstruction of 100-year-old single-family residence at 423 NE 74th Avenue
The front unit shares mostly the same arrangement. However, its first floor has a larger half-bath and a more defined Living Room area. In addition to having a four-by-thirty-foot front porch, it offers residents 100 more square feet of living space.
Expect construction at this site to continue through the year’s end, with completion likely in early 2024. Onsite parking is not planned for this development, making these homes best suited for families using transit or other driving alternatives. Street parking on this block is limited based on its current configuration.
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For several years, the St. Peter and Paul Episcopal Church community investigated using their land at 247 SE 82nd Avenue for affordable housing. This week, church officials announced plans to discontinue religious services at the site and turn the property over to The Episcopal Church in Western Oregon (ECWO) to begin the site’s transformation towards that goal. A final celebration in the sanctuary will occur at 5 p.m. on December 3rd, with an open invitation for the community to attend. After several years of additional planning and permitting, demolition crews will raze the building at the nearly 100-year-old site to make room for residences.
The small congregation has long made the building and property available to supportive groups serving the vulnerable. As the housing crises forced more Portlanders onto the streets, adding attainable housing to the property along 82nd Avenue aligned with the faith group’s goals. Early concepts called for partial demolition of the building while retaining worship space or creating a new mixed-use structure. However, the economics and efficacy of adding housing to a shared site ultimately seemed unfeasible for the under-resourced congregation. Recognizing the urgent need for housing and St. Peter and Paul’s uncertain financial position led to the proposed dissolution.
The ECWO leadership will vote to dissolve this Montavilla church alongside two other Oregon congregations at their Annual Meeting on October 28th, 2023. The building could continue to have secular uses in the intervening years before its deconstruction. Ultimately, ECWO wants to provide a sustainable and accessible community resource in its place that addresses the housing, services, and relational needs of the neighborhood. However, until the project breaks ground, it is important to its new caretakers that the space remains active and useful. For two decades, Rahab’s Sisters has offered a safe drop-in center for female-identifying people marginalized by sex work, addiction, or poverty. That group intends to continue those efforts uninterrupted and could work from the building until they find a new permanent location. However, ECWO will determine what groups will have future use of the building within the coming weeks.
St. Peter and Paul’s Rector, Reverend Sara Fischer, understands that the classic church model has become financially unsustainable for smaller congregations, particularly those serving the poor. However, that societal shift will not impede her commitment to the community. A dedicated structure is not a requirement of Rev. Fischer’s work, and she intends to continue uncoupled from a building while staying embedded in the community. Overall, Rev. Fischer is excited to see the structures of her faith reimagined to support the immediate needs of vulnerable people. “I think that for churches, it’s really the wave of the future to use the property for something like affordable housing,” said Rev. Fischer. They need to “figure out how to be in a relationship with people providing some of what the church has to offer, but not the traditional churchy things.”
Rev. Fischer (center) image provided courtesy St. Peter and Paul Episcopal Church
Substantial change for the St. Peter and Paul property will come years from now, near its 100th birthday. The first church building was erected at the site in 1926 as the St. Peter Episcopal Church and School, seven years after its founding. The St. Paul Episcopal Church was established in 1895 to serve the small town of Woodmere and later merged with the Montavilla congregation in 1968. At that time, the name changed to reflect the union. The next few years will see programs anchored at this site find other locations within the area while maintaining a connection to those seeking their services.
This transition is not occurring without some sense of loss. Around 20 worshipers will need to find their path to another congregation or expression of faith. A century of documents and records will transition out of the neighborhood to the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon’s care. Most notably, the demolition of the iconic church on 82nd Avenue will change the streetscape.
Despite the losses and years of impending change, the community will likely perceive this transition as positive. Providing affordable housing is overwhelmingly supported by Portlanders and is perceived as a critical step in addressing problems plaguing the city. The contribution of St. Peter and Paul’s land and ECWO’s commitment to creating around 100 attainable residential units should move the city closer to sheltering those living on the margins and provide a humane solution to the housing emergency.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Rahab’s Sisters was in the building for just one decade. They have operated there since 2003.
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The new owners of the Cherry Grove Mobile Home Park will soon demolish the 1931-era single-family home on the property to construct a new tenant laundry room and two additional Recreational Vehicle (RV) parking pads with utility connections. Bexco Property purchased the parcel at 9035 SE Division Street in August 2020. The sub-30-unit site offers a mix of mobile homes, studio apartments, and RVs.
1931 era single family home scheduled for demolition
According to a City of Portland inventory of Manufactured Dwelling Parks, the Cherry Grove site began operation in 1946, offering cost-effective housing to the neighborhood. This location is one of two Montavilla properties where people can rent or park mobile dwellings. When correctly managed, mobile home parks provide an essential niche in the housing ecosystem. These renovations indicate an investment in the property amenities while adding to the available unit count.
The old house on the property is stripped and ready for deconstruction. Demolition crews must wait until a 35-holding period elapses on October 13th. Then, they will level the single-story building and fill its basement cavity. Once the area is clear, construction workers can build the new tenant laundry room and RV parking pads.
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Recently, the auto-wrecking salvage yard at 9245 E Burnside Street closed permanently with a handwritten note on the door reading “Closed going out of business.” The property owners sold the expansive land to a developer last week, and that buyer will construct 16 single-family homes on the nearly one-acre parcel. Cleanup crews are working to remove the remnants of the site’s industrial past ahead of redevelopment.
Image from Portland Maps with MV News illustrations
Each two-story home will have an attached garage and offer residents just under 1,500 square feet of living space. The 400-foot-long property has vehicle access along its eastern edge via an unpaved alleyway that extends from E Burnside to NE Glisan Street. Developing the homes fronted on the alley would allow for 25-foot wide lots with 15-foot wide structures, similar to traditional split-lot skinny infill housing.
Burnside Used Truck Parts was the primary business at this location. Several other entities used this address for automotive repair services and vehicle acquisition. According to the business’s now offline website, the wrecking company began operation in 1949. The decades of vehicle salvage at the site have left substantial vehicular debris on the property. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality cited the business for improper tire storage earlier this year. However, that infraction is minor, considering the type of work practiced at the site over the years. An excavator is on site clearing the back lots and reworking the base soil. The developer will demolish the office building after the city approves those permits.
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Nearly six months after applying for demolition permits, crews working for the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church have begun removing the three derelict houses on SE 92nd Avenue. Heavy equipment and workers removed two homes and one detached garage from the 1.4-acre property. Only a single home and its fire-damaged detached garage at 2340 SE 92nd Avenue remain standing, awaiting permit approval.
The Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Portland purchased the three neighboring properties to the south between 2007 and 2013, boarding them up four years ago. In February, the church administrators applied for demolition permits and received approval for the structures associated with 2320 SE 92nd Avenue and 2328 SE 92nd Avenue. The remaining buildings on the corner property recently suffered fire damage but have not yet received city approval for their deconstruction. Expect to see demolition resume after the building’s owner receives final permission.
Aerial view from Portland Maps showing the three large lots totaling 1.4-acres
Update November 1st, 2023: Demolition crews are deconstructing the single family home and its fire-damaged detached garage at 2340 SE 92nd Avenue. It is the last of three houses owned by the adjacent Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church being removed.
On Tuesday, June 13th, at 6 p.m., the Portland Public Schools (PPS) Board will hear public comment and consider the permanent closure of the Harrison Park Community Garden. Community gardeners and Jade District residents who rely on the public green space have initiated a petition urging PPS to reconsider their decision. Removing this urban micro-farming location will severely limit garden access for the culturally diverse population in the community and hamper district initiatives to expand green spaces.
In 2015, the Jade District group initiated the Harrison Park Community Garden‘s creation. It filled a gap in green space for area residents and made urban farming more accessible with multilingual sign-up sheets and instructions. The City of Portland has a long history with community gardens dating back to 1975. Portland Parks and Recreation (PP&R) operates 60 Community Gardens located throughout Portland. However, those facilities are not always reasonably accessible to every Portlander. The closest alternative to the Jade District location is the Berrydale Community Garden, whose limited space may not support the displaced gardeners.
The community garden supporters sent a letter to the PPS Board outlining the importance of the space and suggesting alternatives to a full closure and removal of the public green space. In the public letter, the authors explain that “many residents who utilize the garden do so to grow culturally specific varieties [of produce] that they are otherwise unable to find in Portland. It allows lower-income residents, renters, and those living in apartments to be able to access healthy nutritious foods at a lower cost than grocery stores.” They ask that people support the petition and come to the School Board Meeting held at 501 N Dixon Street or email letters to publiccomment@pps.net.
PPS is removing the garden to make way for expanded education space. If the board does not overturn the PPS staff’s decision, demolition of the now overgrown garden will occur sometime next month. People interested in providing comments should do so before Tuesday at 6 p.m. and look for updates regarding this community garden in the coming weeks.
PortlandMaps Image with Montavilla News illustration showing garden boundary
By
Jacob Loeb
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This week, demolition crews began deconstructing the former Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) building at 432 NE 74th Avenue. Last month, crews removed asbestos and cleared large portions of the asphalt parking lot surrounding the old television studio. Next week, project participants and funders will gather to officially commence construction on the 137 units of affordable housing planned for this site.
Developers split the residences across a pair of four-story buildings. The combined site will contain a wide assortment of apartments, from studio units to four-bedroom homes. The first building under construction is named Beacon at Glisan Landing. The bar-shaped building offers 41 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless, low-income individuals earning at or below 30% Area Median Income (AMI). Catholic Charities of Oregon will own and operate this site with development support from Related Northwest.
As work is underway on the northwest corner of the expansive half-block property, crews will break ground on the second building called Aldea at Glisan Landing. That larger U-shaped building is co-owned by Related Northwest and Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). This structure will provide 96 apartments, with 41% of units available to people with a 30% AMI.
The Glisan Landing affordable housing development is part of a 2018 voter-approved Metro Housing Bond. Aldea and Beacon represent the sixth and seventh bond-created projects that put the regional housing effort on track to bring over 1,540 affordable homes to Portland, surpassing initial expectations. Ground floor commercial space included in these buildings will offer an onsite cafe with a culinary employment training program run by Stone Soup PDX.
Rendering of Beacon at Glisan Landingcourtesy Related Northwest
These housing developments represent years of planning and community outreach with funding from Oregon Metro, Portland Housing Bureau, and Oregon Housing & Community Services. Over half the units offered in the Aldea building are family sizes with two, three, and four-bedroom homes available. Project planners made significant efforts to include onsite parking for residents, dedicating a large portion of the ground floor to vehicle storage. This design choice and other community-supporting amenities responded to neighbor requests. Construction crews expect to complete work on these buildings by May 2024. Expect temporary sidewalk closures and other building-related disruptions in the project area over the next 12 months.
Glisan Landing Groundbreaking ceremony June 12th, 2023
By
Jacob Loeb
Disclosure: The author of this article served on the Montavilla Neighborhood Association board during the community outreach phase of this project’s development and participated in some of those conversations.
Housing project’s site plan
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At 2 a.m. on April 6th, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) responded to a fire inside the former Elks Club at 711 NE 100th Avenue. The David Douglas School District owns the derelict building and planned to demolish the 1975-era community hall sometime this summer. Several past fires had caused damage to the building, preventing firefighters from entering the structure safely. Consiquentullay, crews employed a defensive fire attack strategy, working to contain the fire from outside.
Image provided courtesy Portland Fire & Rescue
Although PF&R did not enter the burning structure, firefighters forced open exterior doors to ensure that the building was clear of occupants. Emergency workers reported no injuries due to this two-alarm fire. PF&R received reports of people running away from the abandoned building before crews arrived but did not observe it themselves. This fire generated a massive volume of smoke, and the collapsing structure posed a hazard for those working around the building. Crews extinguished the fire before noon, but PF&R staff remained on site to monitor the smoking rubble for flare-ups.
Photo by Greg Muhr, provided courtesy Portland Fire & Rescue
The David Douglas School District intended to demolish the 12,852-square-foot building since buying it in 2015. Over those intervening years, the building has suffered a fair amount of vandalism and has housed many squatters. This property will eventually support a new school, but that work is several years away and dependent on future funding. Demolition workers who intended to start work on this site before the fire must shift plans to deal with the new site conditions. However, the result will be the same, with the building removed and the basement filled in. Expect to see that work expedited as the remaining structure is potentially dangerous in its current condition.
By
Jacob Loeb
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