PORTLAND, Ore. – A house built 124 years ago by a prominent architect in the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Southwest Portland will be torn down following the same-day issuance of a demolition permit early this month.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Located at 1500 SW Taylor St., the house was built in 1892, according to the University of Oregon digital library, although city of Portland records list a construction year of 1890. It totals 6,397 square feet in size on a 10,000-square-foot corner lot.
Although it was formerly solely a residence, the property is now partially classified as a commercial office building.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
The UO digital library gives some more details about the 124-year-old building. It was constructed by Edgar Marks Lazarus, a prominent architect who also designed the Vista House on Crown Point.
The Taylor Street house was owned by Frederick V. Holman, another well-known Portlander who practiced law and was involved with rewriting the Portland city charter multiple times, according to a history of Portland by Joseph Gaston published in 1911.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Gaston also writes that Holman “gave Portland the name of the Rose City.”
“He has left the impress of his individuality upon municipal affairs, upon the political and economic situation and upon the social life of Portland, which honors him as one of its pioneer residents and as one whose efforts have been most effective and resultant factors in the promotion of public progress,” Gaston concludes.
Holman died in 1927.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
In 1997 the property sold to KHK LLC for $692,500, the most recent sale on record. This LLC is registered to Christopher Kent.
On March 4 the Bureau of Development Services received an application to demolish the 1892 structure. The applicant is listed as Mike Doran of Skanska, which also serves as the contractor.
Photo of the house in 1971. Courtesy Oregon Digital.
Although the building is located in a central residential zone, because the building is dual-classified as commercial as well as residential, it is not subject to the 35-day demolition delay.
The permit was issued the same day.
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In July 2013 the city received an early assistance application for development on the site of the 1892 building. The application sought design review on a proposed 11-story development with 158 dwelling units to replace the existing building.
There have been no more recent land use review applications.
This site is located across from a six-story apartment building under construction by SERA Architects.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle contributor