Historic Resource Torn Down, Replaced by Attached Housing

Part of a series on 4524 N Michigan Ave.

Historic Resource Torn Down, Replaced by Attached Housing

PORTLAND, Ore. – Attached housing is rising on the former site of a contributing resource to the Mississippi Conservation District, after the 93-year-old house was approved for demolition last fall.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Located at 4524 N Michigan Ave. in the Humboldt neighborhood of North Portland, the demolished house was built in 1921. It totaled 867 square feet in size and sat on a 6,000-square-foot lot.

The property sold to Metro Homes Northwest LLC in 2013 for $200,000. This development company is registered to Heidi Root.

In January 2014 the developer applied to demolish the 93-year-old house. The applicant on the tear-down was Josh Patrick of Metro Homes Northwest LLC. The contractor was listed as Affordable New Homes LLC, registered at the same address as Metro Homes Northwest LLC.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Affordable New Homes LLC is registered to Randall Palazzo, who has been embroiled in controversial development practices in the past, and has had a long list of construction companies registered in his name over the years.

Because the Michigan Avenue house was a contributing resource in a conservation district it was subject to “a 120-day delay period to allow time for consideration of alternatives to demolition, such as restoration, relocation, or salvage. Photographic documentation of the resource and evidence that the applicant responded to any relocation or salvage offers is required. The City has no authority to deny demolition after the delay,” according to the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

In July 2014 the city approved the developer’s application to split the lot in two for multiple units of attached housing. Four months later the demolition permit was issued.

Photo credit: Portland Chronicle

Along with the house all trees on the property were removed.

In place of the one-story 93-year-old house Metro Homes Northwest LLC is constructing multiple units of attached housing. Each is a two-story unit with a tuck-under garage.