Looking Back — And Ahead

Dec. 30, 2024
By: Fred Leeson

von Homeyer House in 2007. (Source: Google Street View)

von Homeyer House in progress.

Portland’s 2024 historic preservation victories ranged from as small as a single house in the Alameda neighborhood to thoughtful renovation of the sprawling Benson Polytechnic High School campus.

Other success stories included completion of the Literary Arts building in the East Portland/Grand Avenue Historic District and major plans for upgrading Veterans Memorial Coliseum and creating a memorial for Chinese buried in a corner of Lone Fir Cemetery during a nasty era of ethnic discrimination.

The most novel project of the year was the 98-year-old single house in Alameda, where a couple living nearby bought the badly run-down von Homeyer residence and cleaned a several decades of “stuff” that had stuffed into it by two elderly brothers who spent their whole lives there.

Eschewing any dream of potential profit, Michael and Jaylen Schmitt set to work clearing out the mess – including seven junked cars – and planned a restoration that included reopening the front porch that had been enclosed since 1959.

The Schmitt’s undertook the expensive project because they feared the lot would be sold for development of a McMansion that wouldn’t fit the historic character of the surrounding blocks.  When finished early next year, the couple’s investment likely will exceed $1 million.  Whether they can break even on their heroic challenge of neighborhood preservation will depend on whimsies of the real estate market.

Celebration after Benson High School’s Remodel

Meanwhile, Portland Public Schools finished its sixth high school renovation with the re-opening of Benson High School.  The two-year project revamped much of the campus that had a number of seemingly odd additions plopped down since the original building was finished in 1916.

Fortunately, many original architectural elements were tastefully restored, including the entry foyer, auditorium, original gymnasium and the attractive brick primary façade.  The improvements are intended to give the high school several more decades of important technical education.

Benson High School Entry/Foyer After Renovation

Looking ahead, the Portland School Board faces an important decision about demolishing Cleveland High School in favor of a whole new building or renovating the historic building instead.  The board’s earlier decision favoring demolition could still be changed, given that the district in 2025 will be asking voters for additional bond money. 

While Cleveland’s interior is seriously outdated, the success at Benson and earlier projects at Franklin, Roosevelt and Grant High Schools could help the district change its mind about demolishing Cleveland if concludes that renovation is an easier sell heading into the bond election.

In other looming preservation matters, 2025 should see the completion of renovations at the historic Albina and North Portland branch libraries, and restoration of much- loved D.P. Thompson elk statue and fountain in downtown Portland.

And speaking of fountains, at some point the city’s new political leadership needs to make a conclusive decision about restoring the Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt statues in the South Park Blocks. Discussion among the new 12-member City Council could give us a significant “read” on their collective interest in historic preservation

Editor’s Note: Modernizing Cleveland High with the hybrid option (i.e. retaining and updating the historic 1929 portion, as well as adding a new addition) was estimated at an additional $10 million dollars. It’s rarely noted to the public that this is only 2% of the estimated $400 million dollar renovation budget. Perhaps this should be revisited to strike a better balance.

As Fred Leeson notes, we hope the school board can reconsider that the same goals can be achieved and retain important history associated with this school. Clinton Kelly, who donated the land for this school, was an important figure in Portland’s early history and the building has signifigant architecture that is eligible for national registry listing.

Fred Leeson is a former president of the Bosco-Milligan Foundation and a member of the foundation's Board of Advisors.