Tag Archives: preservation planning

Laurelhurst Neighborhood RLS

In spring of 2018, PMA completed a Reconnaissance Level Survey (RLS) of the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Over 1,800 properties were surveyed. Data from the survey was used to prepare a historic district nomination of the neighborhood. A great deal of research was necessary to understand Laurelhurst’s general historical context prior to beginning survey fieldwork involved in the RLS. We began by reviewing all previous documentation that has been collected of the neighborhood—including historic tax and permit records, Sanborn maps and other graphic data, articles from historic newspapers and periodicals, and the City of Portland’s Historic Resource Inventory. We also reviewed context statements that had been written for earlier historic district nomination efforts, and primary source documents that had recorded Laurelhurst during its early stages of development.

Founded in 1909-1910 on what had been William Ladd’s Hazel Fern Farm, Laurelhurst was developed to be a combination of pastoral English “garden suburbs” close to the city, with a more formal Beaux-Arts radial layout. An eclectic variety of architectural styles, from “fairyland” bungalows to quaint English cottages to the more classic Dutch Colonials, was chosen as a set of prototype designs for the creation of this Streetcar-era, community-centered neighborhood. To this day, most of these homes still exist and create a pleasing variation of historic styles predominantly from the 1910s to the 1930s along the pedestrian-friendly public streets and sidewalks.

DOWNLOADS: Architectural Styles | Architects and Builders

Clark County Poor Farm Historic District

Peter Meijer Architect, PC (PMA) was retained by the Clark County Community Planning Department to write and submit a National Register nomination for the Clark County Poor Farm Historic District. PMA consulted with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation regarding the National Register eligibility of the Clark County Poor farm and worked with Clark County staff to prepare a National Register of Historic Places District nomination for the Clark County Poor Farm Site. The nomination involved a district boundary evaluation and explanation, along with a thoroughly researched and detailed description of the district and its resources, the historic context and the overall historic significance the district.

PMA conducted on-site fieldwork to gather physical data to describe the district and its character-defining resources and features. The nomination addressed the 7 aspects of historic integrity: location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, association and feeling and how these aspects highlight and impact the significance of the district.

PMA supplemented the physical descriptions with research that supports the historic context and will develop a narrative that describes the district’s significant history and National Register eligibility. Research included local sources such as newspapers and the Historical Society, state records on poor farms, and the development history of the surrounding area. PMA’s research combined past studies to develop a thorough and effective district nomination. Clark County Poor Farm was added to the National Register on January 7th, 2013.

City of Hillsboro Cultural Resource Inventory (CRI) Update

Peter Meijer Architect, PC (PMA) led and conducted a selective Cultural Resource Inventory update of residential, agrarian, and early commercial structures in the historic community of Orenco for the City of Hillsboro. These properties were generally built in the early 1900s.

The CRI update included:
• Site visit to each location
• Review of historical information
• Uploading the information to the Oregon Historic Site Forms
• Review and approval of the completed forms by the City and by SHPO
• Revisions as necessary to meet SHPO standards

Research into the Orenco community, which was a “company town” outside of Hillsboro, depended on multiple primary sources including deeds, census forms, photographs, and maps. Earlier research was verified and expanded on. Full Oregon Historic Site Forms were then completed for each individual property and subsequently uploaded to the City of Hillsboro property inventory database.

Olympia Mid-Century Modern Survey

Peter Meijer Architect developed a Reconnaissance Level Survey within the City of Olympia of approximately 400 residential properties built between 1945–1965. As part of the process, PMA identified those resources eligible for National Register of Historic Places listing.

In conjunction with the survey work, PMA, in collaboration with City of Olympia, presented the findings to the City of Olympia Heritage Commission and general public. Products included complete Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) short forms and entry into the DAHP database, a written report summarizing survey findings, photographs of each resource, and historical and geographic context overview. All work was completed in accordance with DAHP’s “Standards for Reconnaissance-Level Survey.”

To see the full report, please visit: Architectural Survey of Olympia’s Mid-Century Homes

OHSU Auditorium Building Exterior Condition & Interior Assessment

The Auditorium Building was designed by the architect Ellis F. Lawrence and constructed in 1939. The University of Oregon (now Oregon Health and Science University) had hired Lawrence to design other buildings on the campus with the vision of creating an “acropolis of healing” on top of Marquam Hill.
The condition assessment included the exterior facade of the Auditorium Building and categorized the need of repair into three priority levels.

Building Envelope Corrections:
• Level 1 Priority Repairs should be completed in order to prevent further damage to the building. Many of these repairs are necessary to solve water intrusion problems.
• Level 2 Priority Repairs are repairs to damaged areas within the building. The repairs are designed to maintain building materials and to extend the lifespan of the materials.
• Level 3 Priority Repairs are associated with rehabilitation of the space to create greater historic integrity.

Additionally, PMA collaborated with Heritage Conservation Group, LLC, to survey and document the cultural heritage holdings in the Auditorium building.

OSU Historic Preservation Plan

The Oregon State University Historic District is located within the main campus, and reflects the development of the main campus from its beginnings in the late 1880s as the state’s first land-grant educational institution, through post WWII (1957). OSU received The Getty Foundation Campus Heritage Grant, which assisted the OSU Foundation in writing and procuring funding for a campus-wide Historic Preservation Plan (HPP). The HPP was created to support specific preservation goals of the university, including the preservation of its historic resources.

PMA was the lead consultant of this multifaceted project responsible for several documents in conjunction with the Historic Preservation Plan including:

An Intensive Level Survey (ILS) of the Corvallis Campus
A National Register nomination for the OSU Historic District
Design Guidelines for the Historic District
City of Corvallis zoning code review
The graphic design and layout of campus signage for visitor orientation
Produced and designed a Campus Walking Tour Brochure