Save 1904 King Neighborhood Church

On March 31, 2015 the city received an application for demolition of what was the St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church at 801 NE Failing St., Portland, Oregon 97212. Because it is listed on the Historic Resources Inventory taken in 1984, the demolition would have been subject to a mandatory 120-day demolition delay.

However, on the same day the demolition application, the developer, Peter Kusyk, requested the property be removed from the Historic Resources Inventory list, thereby negating the requirement for the delay.

Our group is called SAVE PDX DIVERSITY and HISTORY.  We were inspired by the victory of the Laurelhurst neighborhood's petition demanding an end to the demolition of hisotirc and vintage Portland homes.  

As policymakers, advocates and urban planners, we, too, are pushing for the City to retain the spirit of conservation, preservation and protection inherent in the Historic Resource Inventory List for all Portland Neighborhoods, particularly those being destroyed by g entrification, as a means to protect and retain Portland's beauty, diversity, inheritance and historic significance for generations to come.

The church that is facing demolition is currently on the historic resource inventory list and is a well-known landmark that literally stands as a symbol of the soulful tradition within the heart of Portland's Historic Black Community, Albina. Further, as it was built in 1904 by Volga Germans on a 5,000-square-foot lot and was utilized as St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church until 1973, it represents the diverse and multi-cultural character of the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area (ICURA) one of the most diverse areas in Portland's central city.

We are attempting to raise $600,000 (the amount the developer has offered to sell it for) in order to both preserve the home's historic and architectural integrity, and transform it into a space that will serve Portland's Black community. We will lead a community-based process for identifying how the space will be used, perhaps, turning it into a community center. 

If we do not raise this money, the developer intends to replace this historic 111-year-old church property with a two-story duplex with a tuck-under garage for one unit and a “parking pad” for the other. This will  significantly change the character of the neighborhood. We are also concerned about the environmental impact of a demolition. We are aware of current construction laws and will proactively collect lead dust samples over time, meticulously documenting every move your contractors make. We have many families with small children and we are all concerned that lead dust will be distributed throughout the neighborhood during demolition.

Please join us in this grassroots effort to preserve Portland's Black community and the historic landmarks that make Portland unique. With your support and generosity, we can turn the tide on gentrification and the changing nature of our community.