The burning of one building and the closing of another have me saddened for the architecture but heartened by the spirit of the people closest to them.
First there is Morningstar Mission Baptist Church, which tragically burned down last week to the horror of its loyal members and the delight of TV news crews eager to capture the spectacular visuals of its flames. The Morningstar was a Northeast Portland institution, and church leaders say their insurance policy will not be enough to cover rebuilding costs. Luckily, as of last Wednesday - just two days after Monday night's fire, $16,000 in donations from area businesses, including $10,000 from The Heathman Hotel, had been received. (Donations may be made to the Morning Star Catastrophe Relief Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank branch.)
What was also heartening was the more than 500 people who showed up yesterday for services in a tent outside the burned church. I doubt Morningstar usually was getting 500 on an average Sunday, so it's great to see that the community has swelled around the chuch in its time of need.
Meanwhile, another treasured community building still stands but is about to have the life removed from it. Recently I was contacted by two people who's children attend Rose City Park Elementary, also in Northeast Portland. It's a beautiful old brick schoolhouse, supported by an active group of parents. But the Portland school board voted this spring to close Rose City Park it and send students to the kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school being created at Gregory Heights Middle School, two miles east.
Rose City Park Elementary is one of 17 buildings the district is changing to the K-8 model. Parents face not only the loss of their school as a successful educational realm, but also their kids having to a move to a new building that they believe will not replicate the same amount of character.
This isn't necesarily the time or place to debate the budget-cutting efforts of the Portland Public Schools, but it's a shame such a fine piece of local architecture, and one the community gets good use out of, has to be sacrificed. What's equally troubling is that Rose City Elementary is likely to sit unused for a long time and eventually be torn down. If PPS is going to close these institutions, I'd like to see a more active role by the city to make these abandoned school buildings into something new and of value to the community. Why not have the Portland Development Commission take RFPs from developers willing to preserve the original structures? Last year when Hurricane Katrina brought a lot of Louisiana and Mississippi refugees to temporary shelter at the former Washington High School in Southeast Portland, I spent a few hours there and found myself really frustrated that this fine old building has sat vacant for so long.
It goes to show that for all the talk I and others start about condos and courthouses, many of the most vital and treasured buildings we have are humbler but far more entrenched community landmarks.
The school sounds like a good candidate for adaptive reuse - say affordable condos or apartments. I know that idea has been floated for other old schools like Washington High. In my mind a much better idea than tearing it down only to build the same.
While on the topic of endangered local buildings, I urge people to help save the Morris Marks House at 1134 SW 12th. It may not be of humble design but it is one of the only remaining Italianate houses in Portland's downtown area. The architect, Warren Williams also designed The Old Church and the other Marks' house at SW 15th & Harrison. The house on 12th needs to be moved and rennovated. Hopefully nobody is offended by this shameless plug.
Posted by: val | February 12, 2007 at 04:00 PM
Val, I walked by and took a look at 1134 SW 12th today. A cyclone fence now seperates it from the sidewalk, but no sign whatsoever seems to offer any information about what plans for this building may be in the works.
My feeling is that it would be a very great loss if this house isn't moved and renovated. It's bad enough that the house has to be moved from its location here where its been for as long as I can remember....easily 30 years that I know of.
Portlandmaps.com (the city's map service)doesn't offer any information about the house. The number and summary tab brings you a picture of the apartment bldg directly to the north of it, and gives specs about that building, but none related to the house. The permits/cases tab gives info about inspections related to the house going back about 2 years; mildew, liens, dangerous building referral, etc. Visibly, the house has been kind of neglected of late.
If you've go more info, please share it.
Posted by: ws | February 16, 2007 at 08:15 PM
This Morris Marks house is in its original location but is part of a tax lot that includes the apartment building next door - which explains why no info on PortlandMaps. Recently I attended a discussion on this house at the Architectural Heritage Center and apparently there are no specific plans for the property but the owners do want the house moved so they can eventually redevelop the site. At least they aren't talking of tearing it down immediately. The house is a bit run down but retains much of its original character, especially on the exterior. There are discussions supposedly occurring to possibly move the house to a triangular pice of land in the vicinity of SW 6th & Broadway - just on the south side of I-405.
Local preservationist & relocation expert Clem Ogilby is involved but clearly there needs to be more attention drawn to the plight of not only this house but potentially the nice but small apartment building next door.
Its sad that we are losing or facing the threat of losing buildings like these almost weekly in Portland - and with little support or even public knowledge of the damage. How many people out there realize that recently at SW 5th and Jackson, 3 houses were taken out - one of which according to PortlandsMaps, dated to 1874! Sure it had been covered with siding and remodeled but many of those things can be undone and how many houses from 1874 are still standing in this city?
Its truly sad that in a city so well known for its creativity, there are repeated failures to use that creativity in preserving our past.
Posted by: val | February 17, 2007 at 11:52 AM
McMenamins has shown us some possibilities when it comes to reusing older buildings. let's not let this one go by way of the wrecking ball.
Posted by: m conroy | February 17, 2007 at 06:18 PM