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Posts tagged ‘Historic Preservation League of Oregon’

Dec 30

Help Pass the Revitalize Main Street Act and Save Oregon’s Historic Buildings!

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Since the Historic Preservation Act in 1966, state and federally funded tax credits specifically directed towards supporting historic preservation and rehabilitation projects have become the financial backbone for many ventures.  Oregon is currently one of five states that, while having an income tax, does not offer such incentives for preservation related construction.

With your help Restore Oregon hopes to turn that around when they bring the Revitalize Main Street Act to legislation in the January 2015 session.  Once passed the Act would lead to a 25% state tax rebate on historic preservation and rehabilitation construction projects.

What’s in it for Oregon?

While it’s easy to see benefits for individual buildings, a study by EcoNorthwest determined that with just a $10.6M investment by the state of Oregon we would see 1,369 jobs generated per year, a $2.3M net increase in property taxes to pay for public services, and a $35.8M net increase in the state GDP by 2018.

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What are the Rules?

  • The 25% state tax rebate can be applied to any costs directly related to the historic rehabilitation.  This includes any costs incurred during construction, but does not cover superfluous purchases such as hotel lobby chairs or drapes.
  • Funding would come from money generated by the state income tax at a yearly capped amount.
  • If passed, this 25% state tax rebate can be used in conjunction with the 20% federal Historic Tax Credit.
  • There must be a minimum investment of $10,000.

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Who Can Use It?

  • The credit can only be applied to income producing properties such as apartments, theaters, hotels, factories, stores, etc.If any portion of the structure being rehabilitated is non-income producing, any work done in that area would need to be separated out from the remaining cost of the rehabilitation and would not count towards the tax credit.
  • The credit can be used on properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  This includes approximately 2,600 buildings in 77 Oregon towns.
  • Only work done within the guidelines outlined by the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for an appropriate rehabilitation may be applicable.  An addition to a historic building may be allowed so long as it is reversible, but any costs incurred do not count towards the state tax rebate.

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What are the Benefits?

While there are tangible benefits to preserving our historic landscape that include a sense of identity, community pride and aesthetics, there are also many economic benefits on a state and local level.

  • Thriving main streets and historic attractions bring in tourists who give an added boost to the local economy.
  • Several studies have shown that construction waste can make up more than half of a city or town’s overall landfill composition.  Simply put, the reuse of existing buildings will keep more waste out of our nation’s landfills.
  • The rehabilitation and maintenance of older buildings create more sustained jobs for local businesses, while new construction materials are increasingly comprised prefabricated parts that are shipped in.
  • One study from Profiting from the Past: The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Georgia showed that between 1992 and 1996 the rehabilitation of historic properties created 7,550 jobs, $201 million in earnings, and had a total impact of $559 on the state economy.  as our current economic outlook brightens, imagine how the Main Street Revitalization Act could keep creating jobs and keep Oregon’s economic growth headed in the right direction!

Arciform and Versatile Wood Products are proud sponsors of Restore Oregon and the Revitalize Main Street Act, but they need public support to get the ball rolling in the right direction.  Click here to show your support and learn more about the Act so we can start saving Oregon’s historic buildings!

Jun 17

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Progress on the Smokehouse Restoration

Arciform owner Richard De Wolf spent the last few days volunteering to help restore one of Oregon’s Most
Endangered Places, a historic smokehouse.
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Here’s a report from the field about their progress:

We’ve had a great few days at the smokehouse. Here is a brief report of what we’ve found and done.
When we got there, the building was leaning seriously forward and to one side. My heart sank as I thought it might have been way too far gone. I didn’t even want to take a picture. The owner had the church group come out and “clean out” the smokehouse, which sounds exciting, but they also removed some of our structural support and staircase. The staircase was the only thing giving the building shear strength. Well, we didn’t let that get us down. We had it back up and straight by lunch, but that ate into our labor hours by 1.5 man days. Now that we had the structure straight again, we started doing pin point measuring and got all four corners level and plumb.

It really started looking great, at least to those who had seen it within the last twenty or so years. We are making headway! Then, we cut the rotted studs ends and put a new plate under the long wall on the right side of the building. (All of my directions are if you have your back to the main house and you are looking at the sliding doors) We then added a temporary shear panel to the interior of that wall to give the building rigidity that it never had. The opposite long wall was destined to be re-framed, so we removed that wall completely after shoring up the rafters and adding three replacement floor joists. When we got deeper into the removal, we found evidence that the side door was added later, so we made the bold decision to frame the new wall without the doorway. The door was set to the side for safe keeping.

Another bold move was that when we found that about two-thirds of the front wall had been replaced with new framing, or that the few old studs that were left had been rotted up about four feet, we decided to cut the lower portion of the studs out behind the new ceiling joist. This way, plans can be made for future use as to how the doors would want to be installed. Either for convenience, or historical accuracy, the groundwork has been laid to make and implement a quick and easy application. A new sill plate has been installed to aid in this.

All of the framing being used is vintage barn wood of the same species and compatibility with the rest of the structure, When necessary to mill the wood to new dimensions, we placed the cut side towards the siding side so the fresh cut wood is not visible or distracting from the appearance. While digging, we noticed lots of remnants of the original brick infill foundation and used that material and other brick from the property to dry set supports for the new pressure treated sill. The original structure appeared to be above grade which allowed air to flow in from the ground level, probably to aid in circulation for the action of the smokehouse.

A new top plate timber was created with matching notches to receive the wall studs. Three or four new rafters will be installed tomorrow, and the skip sheathing will be installed with new old barn wood where appropriate. New fasteners, where appropriate were hidden.

The intent is to leave the smokehouse free standing and framed completely. The temporary support beam and bracing will be removed Thursday. Siding, original wood, the doors and window will be left in the structure after back-filling and raking the dirt floor. The plywood shear panels will be left as a measure to continue and protect the building. These can be removed in the future as they were installed with screws. (the original studs had many nail and screw holes, so this did not deter from the originality of the structure.) Arciform will re-asses the finances and if there is money left over, will provide and install standard galvanized agricultural metal roof panels to protect the building. Traditionally, the building would have had wood shingles.  This will be done during the summer season when our work schedule opens up again between jobs.

We can’t wait to see the finished restoration of this historic smokehouse. We’ll keep you posted.

Apr 18

Celebrating Saul Zaik

(This kitchen was restored by Arciform for the owners of the Feldman House, a home built by architect Saul Zaik in the ’50s that is considered a quintessential example of the Northwest Regional Modernism style.)

One of the pleasures (and challenges) of working in older homes as we often do, is the weight of history that can hang over each renovation and restoration choice we make with our clients.

Each space has its own distinct personality, and sometimes that personality shines straight through from the original builder’s intent. Other times, the space has been papered over with updates that mask the original style and purpose of the home. In every case, we must strike a balance between:

1. Recognizing that a home is a living building that must first and foremost serve the needs of the family living in it.

2. Respecting the fact that a home also has a unique history and perspective that adds to its value and should be preserved whenever possible.

Sometimes you get lucky and have the opportunity to work on a home whose architect’s purpose and design goals are so clear, thoughtful, practical and beautiful that 60 years later the home still feels fresh and new.

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(Here is an image from of the Feldman House kitchen before the renovation. )

arc18-1f(Here’s a similar view after the restoration was completed. Like many of our projects, our goal here was to integrate needed updates as subtly as possible into the existing space. If you can’t tell where the original elements end and the new things begin, we have done our work well!)

Saul Zaik, a Portland architect responsible for many iconic houses in the style that has come to be called “Northwest Regional Modernism,” creates  homes that are full of personality distinctive style and yet prioritize the comfort of the people who inhabit them and the landscapes on which they are sited.

Portland Monthly explains:

Mid-century modernism is a popular style, often seen as retro, a look back or a revival of something that started more than half a century ago. But in some ways, here in Portland, there’s nothing retro about it. Northwest Regional Modernism is simply a vibrant approach to architecture and design. It thrives, continues to evolve, and is aging gracefully.

change(This image, of Saul Zaik’s personal residence, perfectly illustrates that combination of human scale and connection to the NW environment that was a hallmark of his work.)

Brian Libby, a passionate Portland architecture advocate,  shares this insight into Saul Zaik’s take on Northwest Regional Modernism on the blog PortlandModern:

Asked if he thinks northwest regional is a valid style, Zaik’s response comes without hesitation.

“It is absolutely valid,” he says. “It is site-oriented in terms of sun and weather. It respects the vegetation of the site. Our attitude was that the best thing you can do is something nobody can see as they drive down the street. Well, I shouldn’t say that. Maybe it is better to say that it is something discreet. I think it has to do with a northwest lifestyle. Our clients were outdoor people, who appreciated the landscape and wanted to be connected to it and to preserve it.”

In addition to many distinctive Portland residences, Zaik was deeply influential in the design of some of Oregon’s iconic resort locations, including Sunriver, Salishan, Timberline Lodge (for their 1960’s addition) and the adaptive restoration of the Crater Lake Lodge grounds. Chances are, if you have vacationed in Oregon, you’re experience has been enhanced by his unique sense of place.

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About the Feldman House

One of Zaik’s first houses to come out of this period, the circa-1956 Feldman House, is one of his most celebrated and one he still recalls fondly. Built for Philip Feldman, heir to Mt. Hood Borax Company, the structure has a cantilevered, low-pitched gable roof and vertical tongue-and-groove cedar siding. Its broad overhanging eaves express the sheltering element that Zaik brought with him from his University of Oregon studies and which he considered fundamental to the style.

“It is extremely modern in using very flush surfaces and wide panes of glass,” notes architect Don Rouzie, one of Zaik’s longtime collaborators. “It is very simple. It doesn’t jump out at you as being this terrific thing. But you get in there, and it’s just awesome. You realize what northwest regional means.” The house was honored by the Oregon chapter of the American Institute of Architects and was featured in an issue of Pacific Architect magazine. It was also was featured on the 2008 Street of Eames Homes Tour and garnered much praise as a crowd favorite.

We deeply enjoyed participating in the preservation of this iconic Portland residence and we are delighted to join with the Historic Preservation League of Oregon to celebrate Saul Zaik on their upcoming Mid-Century Marvelous Tour of several key Zaik residences on May 11th.

Unfortunately the Feldman House is undergoing some additional restoration and will not be available for viewing on the tour, but there are several other Zaik houses (including his own personal residence) that will be showcased.

We encourage you to check out the tour, which is a fundraiser for the important preservation work being carried forward by the Historic Preservation League of Oregon.

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ABOUT THE MID-CENTURY MODERN SAUL ZAIK HOUSE TOUR

When: May 11th 10 am to 4 pm

Cost: $40 per person  ($30 for HPLO members)

Buy Tickets Here.

Details from the Historic Preservation League of Oregon:

Take advantage of a unique opportunity to visit six outstanding Northwest Regional Modern homes designed by Saul Zaik.

Tour goers will appreciate the beauty of these houses and how they take full advantage of their wooded locations. They are all recommended by Saul himself and include his own home.

Check in at the Portland First United Methodist Church in Goose Hollow (1838 SW Jefferson) where, at 1pm, we will also present a lecture on Saul’s work and the Northwest Regional style.

This will be a driving tour. The homes are in Portland’s west hills and there are some steep driveways and walkways.

After the tour there will be a “Snappy Hour” ’60s themed costume party and cocktail hour, where tour goers will have an opportunity to meet Zaik and ask questions about the homes on the tour.

We  hope you will join us in celebrating this true icon of Northwest architectural style.

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Mar 28

Let’s Go to the Theater!

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What stories does your house have to tell? What role does your neighborhood, its unique history and the larger community play in defining what happens to your home, even after you buy it?

Preservationists, neighborhood associations, neighbors and families collide in this award winning hit Portland Center Stage comedy about the complex life (and impending demise) of a nearly 100 year old home in Chicago.

You are cordially invited to join Anne, Richard and the Arciform crew at the April 30th 7:30 pm performance, which will feature a post-show discussion about preservation in Portland’s changing neighborhoods.

Here’s the details from PCS about the performance and the discussion, which will include Arciform owner Richard De Wolf.

Join Arciform  at Clybourne Park
with a post-show discussion about preservation in Portland’s changing neighborhoods
April 30th at 7:30 pm
Portland Center Stage
Save $10 with Special Offer Code: ARCIFORM
Buy Tickets for the April 30th Performance Here

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Details: Clybourne Park explores the transition of one home in a Chicago neighborhood from a middle-class suburban structure in 1959 to a dilapidated urban building in 2009. It’s new owners just want to tear it down and start over. But should it be preserved?

On April 30 join experts in the field of historical preservation, who’ll share their thoughts about the house in Clybourne Park.  Panelists include Peggy Moretti, Executive Director of the Historical Preservation League of Oregon; Cathy Galbraith, Executive Director of the Architectural Heritage Center; and Richard De Wolf, HPLO board member and owner of Arciform.

We hope you will join us for this fascinating performance and discussion.

Click here to purchase your tickets online and don’t forget to use the code “ARCIFORM” to save $10 off per ticket!

We look forward to hearing  your thoughts after the show!

Mar 21

Saving a Piece of the Oregon Trail

There’s a great blog post today on Preservation Nation on the efforts to preserve the “Pioneer Mother’s Memorial  Cabin,” a historic remnant of the Oregon Trail that is in danger of literally being washed into the Willamette.

This piece of history is in imminent danger of falling into the Willamette river and being lost forever.

Arciform is working with the Robert Newell House Museum to create an extensive project plan and arrange for the cabin’s deconstruction and reconstruction of the structure in a safer location.

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Why worry about an old building on the verge of falling into the river? The post explains:

“There are very few log cabins left, as you can well imagine, and even though this one isn’t an original log cabin from the 1840s and ’50s, it represents that structure,” says Judy Van Atta, director of the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Cabin and the nearby Robert Newell House. “Everything within the cabin is an artifact that came across [the country] on the Oregon Trail, so it represents our beginnings here in Oregon and for the nation, the westward movement.”

The cabin was dedicated in 1931 and sits on a piece of land originally claimed by Robert Newell, the first man brave (or crazy) enough to bring a wagon overland into the Willamette Valley and a pioneer of the Oregon Trail in the 1840s. Today, the site serves as an educational experience for thousands of school children each year to learn about the Oregon Trail, Oregon government, and other elements of the state’s history. Read more here.

As a teaching tool, a historic structure like this can literally “ground” kids in their native soil, illuminating the hardships and opportunities that brought settlers to the state and the way those challenges continue to impact how the state functions today.

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To save the building, the Robert Newell House Museum will need to deconstruct it log by log in order to extricate it from the property without disturbing the soil and trees of the protected park land it sits upon.

The “un-building” process should itself provide an extraordinary opportunity to learn and teach about the historic building techniques that helped form the architectural history of Oregon.

Read all about the Memorial Cabin (and how it impacts the lives of Oregon’s kids) here.

We are excited to participate in such an important preservation project.

You can help! Contribute to the costs of saving the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Cabin here.

Photos used in this post were by Ronald Peterson.

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