The Historic Review Board is investigating two preservation techniques that could prevent the loss of important historic structures in the city. Please join us to learn more about these preservation tools and the process for their adoption to the Oregon City Municipal Code.
Open House
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Pioneer Community Center
615 5th Street
Oregon City, Oregon 97045
5:30PM-6:30PM:
Open House
6:30PM-7:00PM: Presentation
7:00PM-8:00PM:
Open House
Can’t make it to the Open House but want to contribute to the discussion?
Fill out this survey form and drop off, mail or email the form to:
Christina Robertson-Gardiner, Associate Planner
City of Oregon City
Community Development Division
PO Box 3040
320 Warner Milne Road
Oregon City Oregon, 97045
Phone: 503.496.1564
email: crobertson@ci.oregon-city.or.us
If the community supports these efforts, the code revisions will be adopted through the Type IV Legislative Land Use process with public hearings in front of the Planning and City Commissions later this spring and summer.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Problems With The Existing Demolition Delay Sections Of OCMC 17.40-Historic Overlay
The existing code does not provide the City with the legislative authority to preserve its historic resources. Currently the city can only delay a proposed demolition for a structure which is a landmark or which is located in a conservation district or an historic district. The application requirements (drawings, findings, photos) in a demolition delay review are also hard to enforce as the applicant can stall the process and receive the demolition permit if they have patience and wait out the delay period.
Demolition delay was written to slow the demolition process down enough to allow an alternate proposal to be pursued. Usually this means that someone could step in to move the house before demolition. For commercial buildings, demolition delay is ineffective in preserving historic resources because these buildings can rarely be moved and the owner has determined preservation of the esource is not in their best interest.
Demolition Denial
Many cities across the nation and in Oregon are recognizing the link between the protection of historic resources and their economic vitality. Theses cities are adopting regulations allowing for denial of the demolition of historic structures in certain instances.
The threat of demolition denial can be as successful as the actual denial when attempting to preserve the City’s historic resources. A potential purchaser with the singular desire to demolish and replace the existing structure with out consideration to its historic importance may not commit to the purchase if the potential for denial is possible. This allows for the redevelopment of the property in accordance with the City’s desire to preserve its historical structures, while building for the future.
In our rapidly growing city, the pressure to teardown historic properties rather than preserve them is very palpable. Oregon City is just beginning to experience this pressure. Demolition denial also plays an important role in maintaining an affordable housing stock.
Demolition by Neglect
If a city can delay or deny the demolition of a historic structure, a property owner may allow a building to become an eyesore and fall into a state of disrepair. This is why the second tool- demolition by neglect- is needed to insure the City’s historic resources are preserved. “Demolition by Neglect” is the term used to describe a situation in which a property owner intentionally allows a historic property to suffer severe deterioration, potentially beyond the point of repair. Property owners have been known to use this kind of long-term neglect to circumvent historic preservation regulations.
Demolition by neglect codes allows a city to direct a property owner to maintain their historic buildings and require certain repairs if the city finds the building could be compromised if the repairs are not completed. Many ordinances allow for the city to make the repairs and lien the property, if necessary, to recover the cost of the project. The power of demolition by neglect does not come from the actual implementation of the ordinance, instead it comes from the threat of
using it. If a property owner knows the city can lien the property they will often chose to perform the work themselves at a lower cost.
