This week, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Seattle-based Green Lab released a new report titled, "The Greenest Building: Quantifying the Environmental Value of Building Reuse." The 94-page report digs into a host of misconceptions…

A couple of  weeks ago Mark Bell of Classic Sash & Door came out to give Drew and I an estimate on traditional wood storm windows. Well, not all traditional. We asked him to include an estimate for the Marvin wood storms that have a metal insert with a screen, allowing for full ventilation without removing the storm windows. We are in a big old foursquare and intend to stay here, so as we get older we may not want to be scrambling up and down ladders with storm windows and when we do get…

What little summer we're getting this year is not going to last much longer. Soon, the familiar drizzle will be back and our focus will turn to keeping warm. The fleece, packed up not all that long ago, will come out along with the throw blankets as we cozy down with a good book or our favorite tv program and try to keep warm. …

16 SW Abernathy

Hello fellow HPLO members -- I'm an interior designer in Portland. We must relocate to CA for work... and so have listed our wonderful home for sale.

We have renovated a 1937 Art Moderne/Streamline home adjacent to downtown in Southwest Portland. We purchased the home about 5-1/2 years ago, and have conducted extensive improvements, including removing the layers of tar on the roof and installing a…

Thought I'd share a preview of the goals the HPLO is setting for 2011.  We'll post a more detailed list on the main website in the next week or so.

• Provide effective support of local issues with the guidance of our Regional Advisors.
• Build legislative awareness that preservation/rehabilitation = JOBS. 
• Convene a Preservation Roundtable to implement recommendations from our 2010 Special Report.
• Identify and help Oregon's Most Endangered…

One of the best things about the holidays is the opportunity to take stock of one's blessings. Despite what the media blasts at us 24/7 about the dismal state of affairs, the list of good stuff in our lives is a long one. I'm often struck by the bounty represented by historic resources - the richness of craftsmanship, authenticity, materials, and the STORIES they tell.…

We got a call last week from a real dynamo neighorhood activitist who is determined to protect her Mid-Century Modern community and its quality of life. Darla Castangna gave me quite an education on the Oak Hills Neighborhood in Beaverton. Its one of the first/best planned communities of the 1960s but I must confess to having no knowledge of it prior to our conversation. Over 600 homes were laid to out around a green open area with rec center, school, and church to create a connected,…