Commission: Building repairs are too costly

Another downtown building is likely headed for demolition.

Portland Redevelopment Commission during a special meeting Monday agreed that it would not take any additional action in an effort to save the building at 208 and 210 N. Meridian St.

The process toward demolishing the structure, which has significant problems with its roof and west wall, began in August, with Portland Board of Works declaring it unsafe. The board subsequently approved it for demolition and received bids, but subsequently agreed to give the redevelopment commission time to study the building and consider whether it is interested in getting financially involved to save it.

Redevelopment commission president Rusty Inman reported to the board Monday that in addition to the assessments from Silver Creek Engineering (Indianapolis) and SEBREE Architects (Carmel), Mike Schwartz of Limberlost Construction (Geneva) also walked through the structure and offered an opinion. His informal estimate came to $577,000, with an additional $100,000 in contingencies, to stabilize the structure, install electricity and utilities and remove the damaged floor from the north section of the building.

Joe Johnston of the redevelopment commission noted that those numbers are similar to a previous rough estimate of $700,000.

That led fellow redevelopment commission member Dave Teeter to ask about what the value of the building would be after such repairs. All agreed it would not come close to the amount spent to stabilize it.

“I just hate to see that go, but it doesn’t make sense,” said Teeter.

LeAnn Miller, who is renovating the adjacent building as the new home for her business Reclaiming Design, asked if there was a possibility of partnering on such a project with Portland City Council or another entity.

Consultant Ed Curtin of CWC Latitudes, who advises the redevelopment commission, said his preference would be to save the building but that the cost is prohibitive.

“In my mind, I can’t justify the commission expending those kind of dollars to deal with this structure,” he said. “My recommendation would be that the commission not pursue this any further.”

Redevelopment commission members Reda Theurer-Miller, Inman, Johnston and Teeter, absent Mike Simons, agreed with that assessment. 

The decision did not require a formal vote. The commission instead informed Mayor Jeff Westlake that it would not be moving forward.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur said the board of works would likely look at holding a special meeting this week to select a bid for the demolition of the building. The only qualified bidder for the project was JAShroyer Group, which agreed to reduce its initial bid by $60,000 to $189,000 because it is already in the city working on the demolition of the Bailey Building on Main Street.

Moving forward, Curtin suggested planning to get involved with buildings sooner so as to avoid them reaching the point of needing heavy investment in order to be salvaged.

“I think this can be a learning, teachable moment for us, that we can maybe be a little more aggressive than we’ve been,” said Inman.

Schemenaur noted that the problems with the buildings currently being removed did not happen in just a few years.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re the group of people that gets left holding the bag, but it’s because prior administrations, prior leaders didn’t step up to the plate and deal with the problem,” he said.

Theurer-Miller and Johnston suggested setting up action steps and a timeline moving forward in order to make sure other buildings do not get ignored. Curtin suggested looking at unsafe building codes, city ordinances and potential incentives or penalties to encourage building owners to make necessary repairs. Portland Fire Chief Mike Weitzel noted that fire department building inspections could also be part of the process.

The redevelopment commission also heard its financial report, which showed a new tax draw of $172,890.16 bringing its total balance to $1.03 million. Johnston asked about how much of those funds are already encumbered. Portland clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips said she would send redevelopment commission members a report with those details.