Projects

Client: City of Salem, Oregon
Project: Historic Preservation Planning Consulting
Building History provides ongoing historic preservation planning to the City of Salem, which has no permanent preservation planner on staff. Our team provides expertise in preservation issues and interprets city code and guidelines for the planning department and members of the public. We are also preparing a National Register district nomination for a historic Salem neighborhood. Our expertise in historic preservation, planning, and architectural history, and our creative and proactive approach to addressing issues within the Salem planning department have provided value to the city.


Enterprise Planing Mill

Client: City of Astoria, Oregon
Project: Popular Guides for Rehabilitation, Preservation Plan Development
The Building History team designed and wrote a series of informational guides to various historic design issues, such as window repair and replacement, additions, and signs. These guides distributed by the city to owners of historic buildings. The topics selected were specific to the city and reflected commonly asked questions and contentious issues. We have recently begun a new contract with Astoria to assist the city in the development of a Historic Preservation Plan, including public and staff input.

Client: City of Portland Bureau of Water Works
Project: Mt. Tabor and Washington Park Reservoirs Security and Deferred Maintenance Design
Building History is a part of the team selected to design security for several historic open reservoirs listed in the National Register and located within two parks that are also listed on the National Register.

Our role is to advise the team of engineers and the Water Bureau on issues of historic preservation and meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s standards, and reviewing plans and drawings for compliance to all historic preservation regulations. We also represent the team at Historic Landmarks Commission meetings and other review meetings.


House in Willamette Neighborhood
of West Linn


Client: Beam Development
Projects: Fairmount Hotel, Auto Freight Transport Building and Service Station of OR and WA, Enterprise Planing Mill, Olympic Cereal Mill, Harrison Court Apartments
Building on a long-term relationship with Beam Development as historic preservation consultant, Building History assisted the owner/developer in preserving and rehabilitating six historic commercial properties in Portland. We advised the developer on appropriate rehabilitation projects, preservation techniques, adaptive reuse of industrial buildings, and the requirements of the state and federal historic property tax reduction programs, and researched and prepared National Register nominations, Oregon Special Assessment applications, and Federal Historic Tax Credit applications for each building. We also acted as liaison between Beam Development and the city and state agencies reviewing the applications, and successfully advocated for creative solutions to critical issues.

Clients: Commercial Property Owners
Projects: Portland Buddhist Church, Fliedner Building, Telegram Building, Esquire Hotel, Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building, Palestine Lodge
As a consultant to numerous historic building owners and developers, I prepared National Register nominations, Oregon Special Assessment applications, and Federal Historic Tax Credit applications. I also advised developers and architects regarding appropriate and acceptable rehabilitation options. I represented my clients and local and state review board meetings, and acted as a liaison between them and various governmental agencies.


Mt. Tabor


Clients: Historic House Owners
Projects: Boschke-Boyd House, Herbert Makarkey House, Nicolai-Cake-Olson House, Pipes Family House, Rosenfeld-Schnitzer House, Baruh House, Armstrong House, Seufert House

As a consultant to historic house owners, I complete National Register nominations and Oregon Special Assessment Applications, and act as a guide through the process of entering these programs. I also advise them regarding appropriate and acceptable rehabilitation options under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, and act as an advocate for them to the City and SHPO staff.