Custom House: GPL staff met with members of GSA (Government Services Administration) and staff of our congressional delegation at the Custom House this week to discuss the current Public Building Reform Board review of the Custom House, it’s potential recommendation that the federal government dispose of the building, learn more about the disposal process, and to build support for the preservation and increased public access to the building regardless of the outcome of this process. Stay tuned for more updates as additional information becomes available.

Advocacy in Bayside: GPL joined staff from the City of Portland’s Planning and Historic Preservation departments to present to the Bayside Neighborhood Association at their September meeting. We shared information about historic designation in Portland, why it’s beneficial, and the process. GPL has been active in Bayside over the years in many different ways, and we offered to work with any residents who are interested in pursuing preservation opportunities. We are scheduling a follow-up meeting with Bayside residents to further discuss preservation tools and processes.
Cassidy Point: Hearts of Pine has filed with the City of Portland for a zoning map amendment to rezone a portion of the parcel at 97 Cassidy Point Drive from Waterfront Port Development zone to B-5 Urban Commercial zone, and to allow stadiums among permitted uses. Details about the application can be found here. GPL will be gathering more information about the project, its impact to the working waterfront, and any relation to the future of the historic Portland Expo and adjacent sports complex.

Williston-West Church: Located at 26-32 Thomas Street in the West End Historic District, the 1877 High Victorian Gothic style church building is both a contributing structure to the district and an individually designated landmark. After years of vacancy, the building is now being converted to condos with limited changes to the exterior. At the September 2nd meeting of the Portland Historic Preservation Board, a workshop was held to consider the applicant’s request to remove several stained-glass windows to install operable, clear-glass windows in the new residential units. The Board agreed that the stained-glass windows are character-defining features and discussed what flexibility exists in the standards to approve removal of some of the windows. They requested more information be provided at the next meeting to justify the removal of each of the windows identified by the applicant for replacement. In our comments, GPL supported replacement of the minimum windows necessary to allow for residential use, and encouraged the applicant to carefully remove and salvage the windows, and to consider retaining windows on site in common areas as art and documenting each window that will be removed with high resolution photography.