Roundup: HP Program Gets a Big Gift, Time to Nominate Endangered Places, and HPLO Talks Historic Schools

[Brandon Spencer-Hartle]

So, for this week's Friday Preservation Roundup I'll just start with the big news of the week. On Monday, the University of Oregon announced that Art DeMuro, president of Portland's Venerable Group and HPLO board member, has offered a significant gift to boost the 32-year-old Historic Preservation Program. This is great news in a lot of ways. As a recent alum of the graduate program, the added faculty, research opportunities, and student support will be welcomed improvements to the growing program. While we at the HPLO don't know the specifics of how the program will operate in Eugene and Portland in years ahead, I'm confident that the gift will mean an even closer relationship between students and the HPLO's work on statewide preservation issues. For those that would like to know more about the gift, here's a video of Art talking about his decision to invest in the Preservation Program; we hope others indeed heed his call to join in supporting the future of preservation education in Oregon.

So, while the gift is big news, it's not the only preservation happening around the state this week. Here's a roundup:

Bend. Arts Central is moving out of the Goodwillie-Allen-Rademacher House, meaning the National Register property will need a new steward. 

Eugene. A century-old house has been relocated across town and it seems no one can remember how old the city is--how Eugene of them. 

HPLO news. It's time to nominate places to the 2012 list of Oregon's Most Endangered Places. You've got until March 26 to get your nomination form in to HPLO HQ so start thinking about that unique place that is in need of technical assistance and resources for preservation. The announcement of the selected properties will be made May 22 at a benefit luncheon in Portland.

Interntown. Applications are now open to the University of Oregon RARE program, a unique paid opportunity to work with Oregon's Main Streets.

Jacksonville. The 1861 Catholic Rectory has seen some restoration, thanks to the Cultural Trust.

Lake Oswego. The DJC looks at landscaping around a relocated Belluschi house. 

Linn County. UO student Holly Borth is blogging about her ongoing survey of properties in Linn County. 

Mt. Hood. The Seattle Times looks at timberline's upcoming 75th b-day. 


Nationally. Nominations to America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places are due February 17. Also, you can now sign a pledge to support keeping the rehabilitation tax credit off of the chopping block. And, most critically, proposed cuts to federal transportation spending may severely cripple the preservation of covered bridges, train stations, and safe routes to historic schools. The National Trust for Historic Preservation says, "this could be one of the most harmful pieces of legislation for preservation progress seen to date." 

Oregon City. More headway is being made on the Ermatinger House, one of Oregon's 2011 Most Endangered Places.  

Portland. An 1891 house is for sale in Goose Hollow, the final wall of the Sellwood Carbarns may come down, the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation meets on Thursday and Friday in Old Town, and the HPLO's schools program is on for Thursday evening at Buckman Elementary. 

Roseburg. As we briefly mentioned a few weeks ago, a 1917 building is getting some needed weatherization. 

Washington. The Revitalize Washington conference is set for May 22-24 at Lake Chelan. If you're thinking about conferences, Oregon Main Street (HPLO will be a conference partner this year!) will meet October 3-5 in Corvallis and the National Trust will be in Spokane October 31-November 3. 

That's it for this week. Thanks Building Oregon for the University of Oregon photos.

Don't forget to come see us on Thursday in Portland for Adaptive Reuse of Historic Schools and stay tuned for updates about how you can comment on the federal transportation bill and other national issues. Have a great weekend and enjoy the sun!