First Hosford House Rises, Second House Confirms Violation

PORTLAND, Ore. – The first of two new houses that are replacing a demolished 115-year-old home in the Hosford neighborhood has taken shape, with the second permit issued last week confirming the developer violated delay exemption regulations.

The site, located at the corner of Southeast 21st Avenue and Ivon Street, was reported on by the Portland Chronicle in March and April, when a 1900 home that had been purchased for $480,000 in February was demolished by developer Structure Redevelopment, registered to Natalie Rudnitsky in Clackamas.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

The permit had been applied for and issued on March 9. The now-standard 35-day delay was not triggered, a common exemption when a developer applied to replace the demolished house with just one new structure rather than splitting the lot for multiple houses.

Demolition of the house began in March. A permit for a new house at 2080 SE Ivon St. was issued on May 1.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

However, back in January the city had received an application for confirmation of underlying lot lines on the site that would split the 5,000-square-foot lot into two. The site is zoned R2.5, meaning there can be one residence per 2,500 square feet of land in future land divisions, so in this case reopening lot lines does not circumvent current zoning regulations.

But the developer applying for construction of a second new house on April 21, well after the demolition had occurred and well after the city waived delay and notification requirements, would indicate a violation of the demolition delay exemption.

The sidewalk on Southeast Ivon Street has been torn up with no posted signage or barricades. Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

This has occurred at other sites reported on by the Portland Chronicle in the past, and as yet developers who violated this exemption have not faced any sanctions from the Bureau of Development Services. In all cases reported on by this publication the project has continued as planned.

Accordingly, the construction permit for the second new house was issued July 7.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle