HISTORIC PRESERVATION IMPACT STUDY PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 2ND, 2023

The Historic Preservation Impact Study report, first requested by the City Council in the spring of 2021, has been completed by Jon Stover & Associates, economic development consultants. It was provided to the City Council as a communication on October 2nd.

The study looked at trends from 1990 forward in historic districts, on the peninsula as a whole, and City-wide.

Key findings from the report are:

  • Historic housing stock in and out of historic districts is valued by Portland residents and has a price premium, but historic district designation does not significantly increase comparable home prices or rents.

  • There is no indication that historic district designation leads to displacement.

  • The retention and renovation of existing housing has led housing densities in historic districts to increase at similar rates elsewhere in the City.

  • The increased rate of renovation over demolition and new construction lowers the use of building materials and results in significant carbon emission reduction and landfill diversion.

  • Median gross rent rates in Portland's historic districts have grown at a nearly identical rate as the City overall since 1990.

  • Historic districts have become more racially diverse since 1990, at a similar rate to the City.

  • Residential vacancy rates in historic districts on the peninsula have remained similar to the citywide average.

  • Historic districts on average have a much higher housing density per square mile than both the City overall and elsewhere on the peninsula.

The City Council Meeting where it was presented by Planning Department Director, Christine Grimando, as a communication is available here by clicking on Meeting Media tab on left for 10/02/2023 City Council meeting at minute 13:50 in following link: Special City Council Meeting • City of Portland Meetings & Agenda Portal • CivicClerk

The report may be found here: Trends in Portland Historic District Final.

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Munjoy Hill Historic District Finally Designated by City Council

on April 11, 2021

thanks to those who JOINed MHNO IN overwhelmingly SUPPORTING HISTORIC DISTRICT PROTECTIONS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH AT the planning board public hearing. The final planning board deliberation and vote was postponed one week, then postponed indefinitely by the pandemic. it Was rescheduled to be taken up by the Planning board again on August 11th. Thanks to those who submitted written statements to the planning board prior to that meeting. on August 11th, the planning board voted to support the recommendation for designation of a historic district on munjoy hill, but with a divided 4-3 vote.

the matter moved to the City Council for a final decision. a city council workshop was held on november 9th, followed by a regular city council meeting on november 16th which was to be a public hearing. The City Council decided to postpone the public hearing and vote until February 1, 2021. The length of the delay was intended to allow time for the 3 new council members, starting the beginning of december, to have time to learn about the proposal.

ON February 1st, the council designated the several individual landmark buildings, but voted 4-5 not to approve the historic district. On february 22nd, Councilor zarro moved for a reconsideration and to postpone further action until April 4th, which carried 5-4. on April 4th, before the council reached the matter, there was a widespread loss of internet, causing the meeting to be postponed one week. on april 11, 2021, the council passed a resolution to request a report be commissioned on the impacts of historic districts in portland (9-0), and passed designation of a munjoy hill historic district, with the boundaries as rec0mmended by the historic preservation board on a 5-4 vote (with Mayor snyder and councilors ray, dion, thibodeau and zarro in favor).

WHY IS IT NEEDED? Howard Reiche, Jr., author of “Closeness: Memories of Mrs. Munjoy’s Hill”, a memoir about the Hill in the 1940s, comments on new construction on Munjoy Hill in the following video. His comments were made during the Munjoy Hill Family Festival on September 28, 2019. Photos appearing in the video were selected by the filmmaker, Carolyn Schwarz. For more information about the proposed Munjoy Hill Historic District, please click on About and Issues.

 

The observations of Howard Reiche, Jr. bring home the importance of retaining the character of the Hill. Thanks to those who joined us in support of the Munjoy Hill Historic District, on Tuesday, March 10th before the Planning Board and again with overwhelming letters of support prior to the August 11th continuation of the Planning Board meeting. The Planning Board voted in favor of recommending the designation of a historic district on Munjoy Hill, but it was a 4-3 (Mazer, Dundon, Chann) vote. The final decision will be made by the City Council. It is anticipated that there will be a City Council workshop on November 9th, and a City Council vote on November 16th.

Portland’s Historic Preservation Board unanimously recommended a Historic District for Munjoy Hill, as has the Board of MHNO. We believe a Historic District will give our neighborhood important tools for managing change in our neighborhood — just as it has the West End, Western Prom, India Street, Deering/Parkside neighborhoods, and other areas of Portland that already benefit from its protections.

We understand that a Historic District is not a magical fix-all. Still it will help to:

  • Prevent landmark and contributing buildings from being demolished,

  • Maintain the visual character and diverse economic fabric of our neighborhood,

  • Ensure that even new buildings are compatible with the character of the Hill.

Historic District is not a new concept. The West End has enjoyed its benefits for almost 30 years. Our less elegant neighborhood of 19th century workers’ homes is equally deserving of protection. For more information about the proposed Munjoy Hill Historic District, click on About, Issues.