2024 ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE CENTER CANDIDATE SURVEY RESPONSES
Olivia Clark Candidate for City Council in District 4
LIVABILITY: Stewardship of Portland’s built environment is a key quality of life issue. The preservation and reuse of existing buildings is an important component of sustainable development and helps to maintain strong, livable communities.
Q1
Agree: [No comment]
ADAPTIVE REUSE: Do you think the conversion of empty or underused commercial buildings (e.g., offices or warehouses) into new uses can advance two important objectives:
a. alleviate Portland’s affordable housing shortage;
b. help to revitalize the city’s downtown.
Q2
Agree: However, many newer buildings do not lend themselves to an easy transformation to housing. I do think that the ground floor spaces need to be activated with arts & culture activities. We can look to the experience of other cities who are doing this.
SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE: Building reuse, instead of demolition and replacement, equates to taking thousands of cars off the road (EcoNorthwest Study). Promoting reuse should be an important component of achieving Portland’s sustainability goals.
Q3
Agree: [No comment]
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES: To make building conversion and reuse economically feasible, many believe we need better financial tools, such as a state rehabilitation tax credit – a tool used by 39 other states. Would you support making that a priority on the City’s legislative agenda?
Q4
Yes: We need multiple tools to make this work and a tax credit is a good start.
DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS: We need more affordable housing. However, proposed zoning changes (e.g.significant increases to building height and scale) can incentivize demolition, displacement, gentrification, and erasure of cultural heritage. How concerned are you about these potential negative consequences?
Q5
Somewhat concerned: I am very concerned about cultural heritage and gentrification. We don’t have a great track record in this regard. I want to pursue cultural districts like San Francisco. We need to find the right balance between competing policy goals. I marked “somewhat concerned” as an expression of the need for balance.
PLANNING KNOWLEDGE: How familiar are you with Portland’s Comprehensive Plan, zoning codes, land use regulations, and current policies for historic properties?
Q6
Somewhat familiar: There is always more to learn and I reserve the right to be smarter tomorrow!
INFILL DEVELOPMENT: In Portland’s historic areas, it’s important that new infill construction fit with surrounding context and retain the districts’ unique qualities and identity.
Q7
Agree: [No comment]
CONSERVATION OF PORTLAND “MAIN STREETS”: Portland’s unique identity is due in large part to its many distinct and diverse neighborhoods and “streetcar-era main streets.” Many were the original main street when these areas were separate cities before being annexed into the larger City of Portland. Recent rezoning, increased height limits and no historic protections make these areas vulnerable to demolition. Would you support the creation of mini-Conservation Districts (typically 1 or more blocks) to help retain these iconic commercial main street centers?
(For Reference: Conservation Districts have greater flexibility than Historic Districts given that they still allow for growth and change but can support more context-sensitive development. New Conservation Districts would have demolition review for contributing resources, objective design standards, and the height limit of the zone).
Q8
Yes: I am very supportive of preserving and enhancing our neighborhood main streets. I believe there is much more we could do to better activate them. I would like to see cultural districts as well.
TOURISM: Historic buildings and public spaces are a significant economic asset as a major attraction for tourism. What priority should this be given when planning and setting policy?
Q9
High: Our historic and cultural history is a draw. We can and should be doing more to preserve, enhance and market them. A major public space is our park blocks which we must preserve. I’m concerned about their future and the future of the statues that have been displaced.
Q10
BONUS: Tell us your favorite building, neighborhood, or place in Portland.
RESPONSE: I’m quite partial to the beautiful old homes in the alphabet district but love where I live on the river in Johns Landing. I also love the old Masonic hall and am so grateful it is part of the Portland Art Museum.
