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Historic Resources Design Manual Update

Open for comment through January 31, 2026

The City of Portland is completing a comprehensive update of the Historic Resources Design Manual. The Design Manual helps property owners, designers, and contractors to understand the Historic Preservation Review Standards. After four public workshops with the Historic Preservation Board, a final draft is now ready for public review!  
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Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:20PM on page 1

Suggestion
Overarching comment: I think this manual is overall very comprehensive, well-designed and will be a very helpful guide for the city. Great work - a lot of effort has been put in!

I think it would be helpful to have a statement at the beginning about who the manual is intended for and how the typical reader should use the manual. To me, I see this document geared more toward design professionals that may not have as much experience working on historic buildings, though I could see a homeowner referencing portions of it to communicate with design professionals or the city using it to illustrate certain examples to homeowners.

I think the document is generally a lot more in depth than a typical homeowner could digest. The intended use of this manual could be clarified with a one page insertion.

Again, great job and congratulations for putting this all together! Most of my comments herein are for clarification of images or intent.

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:13PM on page 89

Question
This is basically a restatement of the heading. Is this sentence needed?

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:13PM on page 89

Suggestion
These two sentences could be rewritten for clarity

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:12PM on page 89

Suggestion
Agree with Julie's comment, this sentence is a bit unclear

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:10PM on page 38

Suggestion
Could this be shown as "C" and "F" rather than repeating the sentence?

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:09PM on page 36

Suggestion
I think it would be helpful to add a reference about what these letter designations refer to at the beginning of the case study examples

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:08PM on page 34

Suggestion
I think it would be helpful to show this element in the overall building photo

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:07PM on page 34

Suggestion
I highly recommend that a comment be added to this page directing the public to engage a skilled design professional to design such alterations and additions to historic buildings.

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:05PM on page 27

Suggestion
Maybe label here which one is 34 and 36?

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:05PM on page 25

Suggestion
This heading makes me expect to see a word after "contributing"

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:04PM on page 23

Suggestion
Try not to cross leaders to confuse what is being pointed at

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:03PM on page 23

Suggestion
Redirect arrow

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:03PM on page 23

Suggestion
Redirect arrow

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:03PM on page 23

Suggestion
Masonry? Th leader appears to point to granite

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:02PM on page 19

Suggestion
This sentence is unclear

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:01PM on page 19

Suggestion
fabrication is missing the "n"

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:01PM on page 19

Suggestion
Clarify which review you are talking about

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 11:00PM on page 17

Suggestion
Missing

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:59PM on page 17

Suggestion
A different photo might read more easily as metal

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:59PM on page 16

Suggestion
Missing

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:59PM on page 16

Suggestion
An aerial photo might illustrate better

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:58PM on page 16

Suggestion
Missing photo

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:58PM on page 16

Suggestion
Zoom in more to distinguish from stone?

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:57PM on page 14

Suggestion
Clearer photo? It's not 100% clear the material is slate

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:56PM on page 11

Suggestion
Is there a better image to illustrate? The subject of the image is not clear

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:55PM on page 7

Question
Will these link to the code?

Liz Reynolds Jan 31 2026 at 10:54PM on page 3

Question
Reformat so all page numbers are in another column?

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 12:34PM on page 25

Suggestion
General Note: Not to be onerous, but it may be helpful to provide specific reference to the paralled Land use Code sections that these sections are duplicating / supporting. i.e. Subsection 16.6.X. This intent is generally indicated on page 5, but Section 5 (page 83) is the first section that references a 16.6 secion (other than within a few project type case study notes), and it may be helpful to state how each of these section-heads relate back to the Land Use Ordinance. This could alternately or additionally be noted on the contents headers on page 3 to support the cross reference.
in reply to Julia's comment

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 12:23PM on page 5

Suggestion
Sorry, hit post too soon, so this comment probably doesn't make sense. Just clarifying that if Article 16 is referenced here as a section, it more clearly highlights the build to the box call out.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 12:05PM on page 5

Suggestion
could have a converse here (of 16.6.2) that make an early mention of relationship to Land Use Code later referenced.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 12:03PM on page 5

Suggestion
could clarify for layperson that this is article 16 of Land Use Code

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 11:55AM on page 83

Suggestion
Suggest also including reference/link to where this is also included herein in Section 4.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 11:48AM on page 78

while providing ADA accessible entrances.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 11:47AM on page 76

*worth noting one difference from context shown re entry / stair relationship allows new proposed building to accommodate ADA needs.*

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 11:28AM on page 57

organizational orientation: given this is a sub category of 'A', may be helpful add that for clarification so labels of 4/1 on page 57 can be easily differentianted from 4/1 on page 68 in context without having to refer back to page 55; for example, subheader noting (A: Scale and Form), etc

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 11:13AM on page 25

Suggestion
add: common ?

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 11:11AM on page 53

Question
clarify: do requirements of (I) supersede requirements of (D)?

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 11:11AM on page 52

Question
to be more specific - clarify: do requirements of (H) supersede requirements of (D) or does (D) still appreciably stand?

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 11:06AM on page 52

Question
is clarification needed her re: installation in a location not visible from a public way, vs. on a specific facade? (Installations could still be visible of installed on a non-facing plane if care is not taken.)?

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 10:57AM on page 44

organizational suggestion: project types might be more helpful ahead of specific case studies for people looking for these specific alterations, then case studies reinforce both the standards and give examples of the project types in context of larger projects.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 10:57AM on page 25

organizational suggestion: project types might be more helpful ahead of specific case studies for people looking for these specific alterations, then case studies reinforce both the standards and give examples of the project types in context of larger projects.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 10:45AM on page 35

may be worth noting cases where removed elements can be salvaged and preserved for potential re-installation; or where non-unique elements, but elements that have unique properties (such as cellular strength of old growth wood, or original glass) may be salvaged for re-use, where their contemporary equivalents do not have the same characteristics.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 10:20AM on page 25

Suggestion
may be useful to reinfoerce these as being in alignment with National Register / Secretary of Interior Standards and Guidelines here as well.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 10:07AM on page 22

Suggestion
Suggest keying these examples more directly to page 22 explanation with label "Example 1" or similar to enhance clarity

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 10:05AM on page 23

Suggestion
Suggest tying these examples more directly to the diagram on page 22 with corresponding headers: "Example 1" or similar

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 10:00AM on page 21

Suggestion
may be helpful to note bay window projections to provide another example of how this is different from the character defining features of the other examples.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 9:59AM on page 21

Suggestion
may be helpful to note selective ornamental features and bay window projections to provide another example of how this is different from the character defining features of the other examples.

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 9:50AM on page 20

consider making these terms bulleted, so they can be more easily identified for the layperson as key terms in relation to the broader zoning / urban context language

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 9:41AM on page 7

I really appreciate the utility of this review platform. Not only the ability to share and review comments, but the contact and other reference links on the left side. If at all possible, it would be helpful for the end user to have live links were external resources or reference documents are provided in the final documant. I also like how this index has live links to each section. Thanks!

Julia Jan 31 2026 at 9:28AM on page 13

Suggestion
may be helpful to clarify here hierarchy of Landmark / Landscape District / Historic District per understanding that landmarks or landscape districts are generally exclusively contributing properties or entities, whereas Historic Districts are made up of individual properties that may be contributing or non-contributing.
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