The La Grande Commercial Historic District is comprised of buildings which date from 1891 to 1948, and range from primarily vernacular in character to Italianate, Romanesque Revival, 20th Century Commercial, American Renaissance, and Modern. The buildings in the Historic District are significant for reflecting the early development of La Grande in relation to its local community and to regional trade and transportation throughout Northeast Oregon.

The City created the La Grande Commercial Historic District Conceptual Design Program with the goal of matching property owners with better preservation design resources and best practices to assist them in creating renovation and budget strategies for their historic properties that is in accordance with local preservation standards and guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and best practices for historic properties.

Our office was matched with a building owner within the Historic District and helped them build knowledge and awareness about appropriate designs, means, methods, materials, and costs for addressing their historic renovations. We provided conceptual-level façade renovations, including drawings, material suggestions, and recommendations for further due diligence by the owner.