PORTLAND, Ore. – A 95-year-old single family home in the Richmond neighborhood has been demolished, with a permit issued for a single replacement house but with previous permits suggesting there may be an upcoming delay exemption violation.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The 1920 home, located at 2247 SE 30th Ave. and reported on by the Portland Chronicle in January, was 2,301 square feet in size and was situated on an 11,480-square-foot lot.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The property sold on Jan. 15 for $825,000, with the new owner listed as Victor E. Remmers and Everett Custom Homes. This represents one of the highest prices paid for property containing a house that was later demolished that has been covered by the Portland Chronicle. The most recent sale prior to the January transfer was in 1988, when the property sold for $34,286, representing a $790,714 increase in value over those 27 years.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
On Dec. 31 the developer applied for demolition of the 1920 home. The permit was issued the same day, stating that the demolition was not subject to the demolition delay and citing a single replacement home that would waive the demolition delay.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
One week prior to the demolition the city had received a single application for new construction of a two-story house with a tuck-under garage.
However, on Sept. 11 the city received an early assistance application for “demolition of existing house, lot confirmation of 3 lots and development of 3 new single dwellings,” suggesting that there will be more than the single house cited as the replacement home which waived the demolition delay requirement.
In addition to the three potential houses seeming to be more than the 11,480-square-foot property’s R5 zoning (one residence per 5,000 square feet of land) would allow, this early assistance application presents an issue when considered in conjunction with the delay waiver.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
According to city data, demolition delay is required if, among other things, “the proposal is to replace the demolished residential dwelling with more than one residential dwelling.” This appeared to be Everett Custom Homes’ plan for the property as of September, suggesting at the very least a potential upcoming exploitation if not violation of the exemption criteria.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Besides delaying the demolition for at least 35 days, while a house is under demolition delay the developer must inform the relevant neighborhood associations and must post notice of the impending demolition on the site for a minimum of 30 days, according to the Bureau of Development Services.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
This is one of several recent issues with delay exemption cases the Portland Chronicle has reported on recently, others occurring on Southeast 33rd Avenue and Southeast 39th Avenue.
For more information, call the Bureau of Development Services Code Violations & Enforcement department at 503-823-2633.