National Register Nomination NPS Form 10 900 OMB No. 1024 0018
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NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior Portland GeneralPut HereElectric Station “L” Group National Park Service Name of Property Multnomah Co., OR County and State National Register of Historic Places 85003090 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number Amendment: NRIS # 85003090 Listed Date: 12 December 1985 The purpose of this document is to remove the Portland General Electric (PGE) Company Station “L” Group from the National Register. The justification for delisting is that the resource no longer retains sufficient integrity to convey its historic and architectural significance. The applicant is pursuant to 36 CFR 60.15 (a)(1), “The property has ceased to meet the criteria for listing in the National Register because the qualities which cause it to be originally listed have been lost or destroyed.” Station L was listed in the National Register in 1985 as an industrial resource. As the 1985 nomination stated, “the ensemble meets criterion “a” for its association with the growth of the electric power industry in Portland.” It also stated that Station L met Criterion C “as the best remaining example of its industrial type in Portland.” At the time of listing, the property included 10 resources, generally, physically, and functionally interconnected. Today, the resource consists of one freestanding building, the heavily altered Stephens Substation, and portions of two interconnected resources, the turbine room and powerhouse extension. These too have been heavily altered and are encapsulated by the modern Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) building. The other 7 original resources were demolished in the late 1980s. Equally important, the general character of the 4.7 acre property has fundamentally changed from an area of heavy industry to one in support of recreation, education and tourism. Of particular note is the insertion of a road through the spine of the industrial complex, splitting it into an east and west half. Demolition was completed by PGE subsequent to the National Register listing in 1985, and in anticipation of redeveloping the land. Initially, PGE envisioned residential and office development similar to Riverplace, opposite on the west side of the Willamette River. In support of those efforts, PGE completed a Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) survey of the larger Station L complex in 1988. Once the HAER record was completed, PGE largely cleared the land. Yet, finding no buyers, PGE then donated the land to OMSI for its new museum. To understand the changes, the following pages review the setting, site and buildings comparing today against 1985. NPS Form 10-900-a (Rev. 8/2002) OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior Portland GeneralPut HereElectric Station “L” Group National Park Service Name of Property Multnomah Co., OR County and State National Register of Historic Places 85003090 Continuation Sheet NR Reference Number State Agency Certification: I hereby certify that this ___ additional documentation ___ move __X_ removal ___ name change meets the documentation standards for delisting properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. Signature of Certifying Official/Title: Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Date of Action Oregon State Historic Preservation Office State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register __ additional documentation accepted other (explain:) _____________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 05/31/2025) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets if needed (NPS Form 10-900a). 1. Name of Property historic name Portland General Electric Station “L” Group other names/site number Name of Multiple Property Listing N/A (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) 2. Location street & number 1841 SE Water Ave not for publication city or town Portland vicinity state Oregon code OR county Multnomah code 051 zip code 97214 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: national statewide local Applicable National Register Criteria: A B C D Signature of certifying official/Title: Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Date Oregon State Historic Preservation Office State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting official Date Title State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government 4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain) Signature of the Keeper Date of Action United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2025) Portland General Electric Station “L” Group Multnomah Co., OR Name of Property “ County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply.) (Check only one box.) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing x private x building(s) 0 2 buildings public - Local district site public - State site structure public - Federal structure object object 0 21 Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register 32 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) INDUSTRY – energy facility RECREATION AND CULTURE - museum EDUCATION – planetarium VACANT (Stephens Substation) 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) OTHER – Late 20th Century foundation: Concrete walls: Concrete, Brick roof: Modern Membrane, Metal other: 1 The current building count is 2. This includes all the resources that currently exist within the original boundary of the 1985 National Register nomination. These are the Stephens substation and the OMSI building, which includes portions of the turbine room and powerhouse extension. 2 At the time of listing in 1985, the turbine room and powerhouse extension were separate buildings. Based on extant remains from the 1985 nomination, the resource count includes the turbine room, powerhouse extension, and Stephens Substation. 2 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2025) Portland General Electric Station “L” Group Multnomah Co., OR Name of Property “ County and State Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance and condition of the property. Describe contributing and noncontributing resources if applicable. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, type, style, method of construction, setting, size, and significant features. Indicate whether the property has historic integrity). SETTING AND NATIONAL REGISTER SITE Historically, the area south of the Hawthorne Bridge between the east bank of the Willamette River and the Southern Pacific Railroad was river-oriented heavy industrial. There were two primary owners: At the north was PGE, which owned the northernmost 15 acres with more than 25 buildings ranging in age from 1906 to 1975. This included the listed property. The buildings were utilitarian masonry and concrete structures functionally sited. Further to the south was the 60 plus acre site of the Inman Poulsen Lumber Company (IPLC) that included docks, saw mills, planning mills, chip piles and related facilities; for many years, IPLC was the largest lumber company in the state. Though IPLC had closed by the time of the nomination, this industrial character defined the overall setting. Today, the setting is substantially different. Water Avenue has