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PORTLAND, Ore. – The 124-year-old Frederick V. Holman house, which was issued a demolition permit in March, is proposed to be replaced by a 10-story mixed use building with roughly 150 residential units and ground-floor retail space.
The 1892 house is located at 1500 SW Taylor St. Public records list the owner as KHK LLC, registered to Christopher Kent.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
As previously reported by this publication, the city received an application to demolish the house on March 4. The applicant was listed as Mike Doran of Skanska, which also serves as the contractor, and because the house is dual-classified as commercial as well as residential, it was not subject to the 35-day demolition delay and the permit was issued the same day.
It has not yet been torn down, but a recent application indicates the developer’s plan for the site.
The developer is proposing to build a 10-story, 150-unit building with retail space and two levels of underground parking, according to an early assistance application submitted May 20 by Kurt Schultz of SERA Architects.
Current overhead from Google Maps
Preliminary floor plan drawing from development application
The historic home to be torn down was constructed by Edgar Marks Lazarus, a prominent architect who also designed the Vista House on Crown Point.
The house was owned by Frederick V. Holman, a well-known Portlander who practiced law, was involved with rewriting the Portland city charter multiple times, and gave Portland its enduring nickname of the “Rose City,” according to a history of Portland by Joseph Gaston published in 1911.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Because of the building’s architecture as well as its association with Holman, it was included in the historic resource inventory compiled by the city in 1984. The inventory listing indicates Holman was president of the Oregon Historical Society for 20 years in the early 1900s.
Image from historic resource inventory listing
Although it was formerly solely a residence, the property is now partially classified as a commercial office building. It is now home to Kent & Johnson LLP, a legal firm.
As the permit has been issued, the demolition could take place at any time.