Four Stories Proposed to Replace 1909 Hawthorne Home

PORTLAND, Ore. – A house on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard sits on property proposed to be developed into a four-story apartment building.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

The property is located at 3423 SE Hawthorne Blvd. in the Sunnyside neighborhood. The house on the 6,835 square foot lot was built in 1909 and totals 2,664 square feet in size.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

While county data shows a property transfer in May 2014, there was no money involved: the property was transferred from ownership by the Gamil N. Takla Trust to the Victor Takla Living Trust.

Later in November 2014, Redfin showed an active real estate listing of the property, with an asking price of $925,000. The website lists the sale as “pending” since Dec. 16, although no price is given for the final sale. City and county data does not yet list this transaction.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

On New Year’s Eve the city received an application for early assistance with development on the property. The intake describes a new four-story, 26-unit apartment building on the property.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Real estate listings appearing on a number of brokerage sites announce that the property is “zoned commercial (CS) in the heart of the Hawthorne district. Oversized lot could allow for future commercial development??”

However, at the same time they acknowledge that “Owner spent approx. $70K in capital improvements over the past 5 years – New front porch, porch foundation, front concrete steps & retaining wall, interior & exterior paint, new appliances, Tile Entry, upgraded laundry room” (emphasis added).

The new owner has apparently opted for the commercial development path.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

There are no construction or demolition permits under review yet, but given the position of the residence on the lot it seems virtually impossible that the house would not be demolished or moved to make room for the multifamily complex.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

The house is officially categorized as a four-plex. A sign on on the house reads “Hawthorne Monkey Tail Apartments.”

The Portland Chronicle will have updates when the new owner is identified and permits are filed.