PORTLAND, Ore. – A house in the Laurelhurst neighborhood has been demolished, and recently-filed permits suggest the developer may have violated the demolition delay ordinance.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The house was previously profiled by the Portland Chronicle in December and January.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The demolished house was built in 1917, and purchased by Vic Remmers‘ Everett Custom Homes for $601,300 in October.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Everett Custom Homes applied for the demolition permit on Nov. 18. It was approved and issued the same day, with the permit referencing a replacement house on the site. According to city code, the 35-day demolition delay is waived if “there is a concurrent proposal to replace the existing residential dwelling with only one single family dwelling” (emphasis added).
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The city received an application for a new two-story single-family home on Oct. 22. The address listed for that construction is 3823 NE Couch.
Permits filed this week, however, suggest the lot will be split with two houses being built rather than only one.
The city received a public registry application to “confirm 2 lots” and to move the property line on Jan. 29. The next day Everett Custom Homes applied for new construction on another two-story house with an address of 115 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
One of the houses is listed as being built on a flat lot, while the other lists a slightly sloped lot. This would indicate the permits refer to two separate new houses.
The new permits suggest a violation of the demolition delay ordinance, as Everett Custom Homes did not apply for construction on the second house until the demolition was complete.
The Portland Chronicle was unable to determine if there is any official enforcement action that would be taken in a case like this.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle