Yesterday afternoon, Portland City Council voted 4-1 in favor of demolishing the Kiernan Building, popularly known as the Dirty Duck Tavern building. In an astonishing move, the Council went against the recommendations of both Bureau of Development Services staff and the Portland Landmarks Commission. Since the implementation of new demolition review guidelines in 2004, no building listed as a contributing resource in a National Register Historic District, has met such a fate. Whether the City Council agrees or not, this was a precedent setting vote that could lead to future similar demolitions. Let’s hope that’s not the case, but now only time will tell.
