Challenges of mixing old and new buildings in Portland – DJC Oregon

Challenges of mixing old and new

A project proposal for the Historic Alphabet District calls for an update to the existing Buck-Prager Building and construction of two new buildings.

Historic preservation can cut both ways for developers.

Some profit handsomely from adaptive reuse projects. Others become stymied by regulations that restrict what can be done with a historic structure.

One project in Portland’s Historic Alphabet District, at 1727 N.W. Hoyt St., falls into both categories. There, Northwest Housing Alternatives plans to renovate the existing Buck-Prager Building at 1727 N.W. Hoyt St. and construct two new buildings nearby. In total, the project would provide 148 housing units.

The project does not yet have an official moniker and already has drawn neighborhood opposition. Even earlier, a 2014 attempt by Gerding Edlen to demolish the Buck-Prager Building was denied by the city.

Now, the project is set to return before Portland’s Historic Landmarks Commission for design review on Aug. 27. The project team is eager to gain the go-ahead needed to proceed beyond the design phase.

To read the full article by Josh Kulla – DJC Orgon- click here