2024 ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE CENTER CANDIDATE SURVEY RESPONSES
Chris Henry 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: Yes, this stewardship and preservation is central to my signature issue: Cascadia Ready. The shameful lack of earthquake preparedness measures taken by city hall to date has left many our historic buildings at risk of impending 'demolition by earthquake.'
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: Absolutely - this is the obvious place to start for both issues. Converting and retrofitting existing structures rather than demolishing them is essential to minimize waste and meet the urgent requirement of getting Cascadia Ready before it’s too late.
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: Absolutely! I am taking a pro-environmental approach to every aspect of city government. These considerations are so often neglected by developers. And I strongly believe that built and natural environmental stewardship can and should go hand in hand. Instead of chasing the 'new' inexpensive new developments, we can ecologically harmonize our historic buildings with new rooftop gardens, flower beds, and fruit trees throughout the city streets to meet our climate goals and beautify the city.
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: Absolutely, and my proposal for a municipal bank would uniquely complement these tools. A Public Bank for Portland should prioritize loans for projects that reuse historic structures, while leveraging the tax credits to make such projects more feasible.
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
Very concerned: All of these risks must be seriously considered, especially when for-profit developers use the promise of affordable housing to line their own pockets. Meanwhile, our city has thousands of empty homes - and mandating that these be filled should be the first priority. I would also support the creation of housing vouchers to bridge the affordability gap for existing complexes.
PLANNING KNOWLEDGE: How familiar are you with Portland’s Comprehensive Plan, zoning codes, land use regulations, and current policies for historic properties?
Q6
Very familiar: The plan needs to be strengthened by integrating more explicit incentives for seismic retrofitting of historic properties. Currently, there’s a gap in policies that would ensure these culturally significant buildings will survive in the event of an earthquake. Zoning incentives and a dedicated fund for this purpose can combine both goals into one.
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: This is important not only as common sense design (aesthetically speaking), but also to protect against gentrification.
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: [No comment]
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: This seems like a no-brainer to me. The issue was also raised at an event we attended at the Portland Chinatown Museum. There are major efforts underway by cultural organizations to join together to preserve Portland's history and support tourism, but until now this vision has been totally ignored by the previous city council.
BONUS: Tell us your favorite building, neighborhood, or place in Portland.
Q10
RESPONSE: Northwest 23rd Ave (with the beautiful lights, shops, and trees)
