We are pleased to announce that the 2011 City-wide Historic Survey has been selected to receive an Oregon Heritage Excellence Award as an outstanding example of how to integrate historic resources and historic building survey into larger planning efforts in Oregon. The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards recognize individuals, business, and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of Oregon Heritage.

A big thank you to Painter Preservation (Diana Painter, Chrisanne Beckner), Oregon City Historic Review Board, Chris Dunlop, Oregon City GIS Coordinator and the Oregon City Planning Division for pursuing this unique project. As of today, Oregon City has surveyed all the structures located within the Urban Growth Boundary that are over 50 years old. This information will help inform future planning efforts such as the Transportation System Plan and the South End Concept Plan and better incorporate heritage planning into the long-range planning process. The survey data will soon be accessible in OCWebMaps and can be used by consultants, staff and the general public.
 

The awards were presented at 7 p.m. April 27 at a dinner at The Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill.

“The award recipients represent the diversity of efforts to preserve Oregon’s heritage,” said Kyle Jansson, coordinator for the Oregon Heritage Commission. “They also serve as models for others for how to make the most out of available resources.”

The recipients were:

-- Astoria Bicentennial Celebration, Astoria, for its year-long success marking Astoria’s 200 years of history and heritage.

-- Bob Boyd, Bend, for his scholarship, creativity and enthusiasm in helping people forge meaningful connections with the history of the High Desert region for 30 years.

-- Chambers Railroad Bridge, Cottage Grove, as an exceptional example of the preservation of a unique and significant cultural landmark that boosts heritage tourism, local transportation, and heritage efforts.

-- Clatsop County Housing Authority, Astoria, for its excellent work in making the Owens-Adair building safer and more energy efficient while retaining the building’s historic character.

-- Oregon City 2011 Citywide Historic Building Survey, Oregon City, as an outstanding example of integrating historic resources and historic building survey work into comprehensive planning efforts.

-- Liisa Penner, Astoria, for her efforts in preserving, promoting, and disseminating the history of Clatsop County and fostering an appreciation for local history.

-- World War II Veterans Historic Highway, Central Oregon, as an outstanding partnership to honor World War II veterans and promote the history and heritage of Oregon’s involvement in the war effort.

The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards are a project of Oregon Heritage, part of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which includes the Oregon Heritage Commission. This year’s awards were  presented in conjunction with the joint Oregon Heritage Conference/Northwest Archivists Annual Meeting.

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The project was completed with funds from a Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. The Oregon City Planning Department hired Painter Preservation & Planning  to undertake the project, which began with an open house with the Historic Review Board on January 25, 2011. The project was comprehensive in scope and included the following components:

• The survey records for 86 existing Oregon City individual historic landmarks were updated.

• New surveys for approximately 1,750 properties that are over 50 years old were added to the State’s database of inventoried properties. Many of these properties were developed in the post-war period and had never been documented. The complete survey database will be accessible on the city's website within the next couple of months.

• A survey report was prepared that included the results of these surveys and a historic context statement for Oregon City’s mid-century Rivercrest neighborhood, as well as a discussion of mid-century residential architectural styles in Oregon City.

This Phase I report additionally included a review of Oregon City’s historic preservation program, with recommendations for future preservation activities.

Phase II of the project, which took place in July and August of this year, involved documenting and researching two city-owned properties, the 1954 Oregon City Municipal Elevator and the 1938 McLoughlin Promenade. Prepared by Chrisanne Beckner and Diana Painter, this information will be used in the future to prepare National Register Nominations for these civic properties. The initial Phase II project was to provide additional information for properties interested in obtaining local designation. Unfortunately, no individual property owners wanted to move forward with designation this summer.

A strong focus of this year’s Historic Review Program Update was on properties that date from the mid-century (1935 – 1965) throughout the city, including properties that have been part of annexation processes over the last 25 years. This research provides the city with a historic record of its development throughout the mid-20th century, helps identify historic buildings that may be eligible for local designation and provides important base information for future long range planning efforts. More information about the post-World War II-era in Oregon City and its mid-century residential styles and their characteristics can be found in the Phase I Survey Report.

The Historic Review Board will be adopting the survey by resolution at the October 25, 2011 HRB meeting. The City Commission may also adopt the document by resolution later this year. Please note that the adoption of the report does not place additional regulations on your property. Oregon State Statute requires owner consent for local historic designation.
 

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Christina Robertson-Gardiner, Preservation Planner at 503.496.1564 or crobertson@orcity.org .

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Frequently Asked Questions about
Oregon City’s Historic Preservation Program

What is a CLG city?
A city that has been designated a Certified Local Government or CLG has been recognized by the State of Oregon and the National Park Service (NPS) as a city that has a historic preservation program that meets NPS guidelines and is therefore eligible to receive funds for historic surveys and other preservation activities.

How will the results of this survey be used?
The results of this survey will be used to update and maintain the inventory of existing and potential historic properties in Oregon City. The survey for Oregon City’s existing 86 locally designated properties will provide information to the city as to whether these properties may still be considered historic under city and state guidelines. The results of the survey for older properties in Oregon City that have not been previously surveyed will provide invaluable information on how the city grew and will identify areas that still retain a sense of distinct historic identity. While some properties may end up with a local designation, the real value of this project will be the breadth of information that can be utilized in future planning projects such as updates to the Transportation System Plan, adoption of future neighborhood plans, or revisions to existing utility master plans.

If a house has an inventory form, does that mean it is historic? What makes a building “historic”?
An inventory form can be created for any building. Oregon City currently has inventory forms for both historic and non-historic buildings. Historic designation is bestowed on a property that has applied for local designation though the Land Use process. Oregon City has over 500 locally designated properties. When properties are locally designated, the city has review authority for exterior alterations to the site. Interior alterations do not require historic review. Buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places are usually locally designated as well. National Register designations are separately processed though the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the National Park Service (NPS).

How can I apply for local designation? What if I don’t want my property to be locally designated? Oregon State Statute requires owner consent for local historic designation. That is, you are only designated if you want to be. Contact Christina Robertson-Gardiner for more information on the designation process.

Can I make changes to my property if it is locally designated? All exterior alterations require review by either the Historic Review Board or Oregon City staff, depending on the extent of the project. No formal review is required for maintenance and repair, if it meets the adopted guidelines.

Are there any grant monies for rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of historic properties in Oregon City? Yes, Oregon City maintains a 50/50 matching grant program for locally designated properties. The grant pays for such projects as window repair, siding repair and the restoration of missing features. The grant does not pay for regular maintenance projects (such as painting) or interior work. http://www.orcity.org/planning/historic-preservation-grant

Are there tax benefits for locally designated historic properties? No, only buildings listed on the National Register may take advantage of the Oregon Special Assessment Program. Contact the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office for more information. http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/SHPO/tax_assessment.shtml

How can I find more information on Oregon City’s Historic Preservation Program? The Oregon City Planning Divison website contains a large amount of historic resource data and information relating the Preservation program. (www.orcity.org/planning).

How can I become involved in historic preservation in Oregon City? The city is always looking for people interested in local history and preservation. Contact Christina Robertson Gardiner for more ways to get involved.