Remember the bad old days when one day there was a house next door and the next day it was being crunched, catching you completely by surprise? Or when demolition delays granted by the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) to neighborhood associations and preservation organizations for the purpose of seeking alternatives to destruction of viable established homes could somehow suddenly and without notice be nullified by developers? Or when demolitions were conducted with seemingly little or no attention to environmental fallout, followed by construction of replacement homes incompatible in scale and price? Well, folks, “the times they are a-changin’” with respect to demolition/development in Portland, but unlike in Dylan’s revolutionary era, these changes are taking place incrementally and within the system. The reality in our neighborhood is this: although those “bad old days” are nowhere near completely behind us, significant progress has and is being made, thanks in great part to the persistence and political savvy of groups like United Neighborhoods for Reform (UNR)—the BWNA-initiated grass-roots activist group with backing from nearly half of Portland’s neighborhoods—pushing BDS, the City Council, and even the state legislature for timely enactment of needed reforms.
But enactment of reforms is only half the battle. Getting word out about the new rules of the game is equally key. To that end, here’s a simulated Q & A to assist:
Will I be notified ahead of time that the house next door is slated for demolition?
Yes. “Demolition Delay/Major Alteration and Addition Ordinance” (Title 24 of the building code) went into effect April 20, 2015 and requires BDS to mail notices of pending demolition permit applications to addresses within 150 feet of the proposed demolition site and requires owners of the property to post door hangers on surrounding properties at least five days prior to demolition activity. Additionally, “recognized organizations” (like BWNA) must be mailed notices as well. Regarding major remodels, the property owner is required to notify by e-mail and post door hangers on surrounding properties 35 days before issuance of the building permit.
Is it possible to delay demolition in order to explore ways for saving a house?
Yes. You have 35 days after a demolition permit application has been submitted to appeal to BDS for a guaranteed additional 60-day delay for exploring plausible alternatives to demolition. Also, the $1318 fee to cover the cost of a Code Hearings Officer will be waived if the appeal is filed through your neighborhood association.
Are demolition sites inspected for hazardous materials? Is debris recycled?
Well, hopefully. Inspections for asbestos and lead-based paint are “self-certified.” UNR advocates mandatory certification by independent experts. As for “deconstruction” (recycling of post-demo materials): BDS=recommended/UNR goal=mandatory.
Anything in place to discourage demolitions and guard against incompatibility?
Not yet, but it’s one of Mayor Hales’ stated priorities for 2015, and a task force has been launched, with UNR participation, to craft a height and footprint limit ordinance.