Lost Oregon
@lostoregon.bsky.social
Documenting lost and found Oregon architecture since 2005. Posts by John Chilson. Building nerd. Lostoregon.org
"... many storefronts are in 'extreme need of renovation,' and landlords expected incoming tenants to cover nearly all the work, which is a lot of upfront money for something they were only renting and not owning..."
eastoregonian.com/2025/11/26/p...
eastoregonian.com/2025/11/26/p...
Pendleton City Council confronts its empty downtown spaces - East Oregonian
Pendleton City Council explores ordinance to encourage landlords to fill long-vacant downtown storefronts.
eastoregonian.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:26 PM
"... many storefronts are in 'extreme need of renovation,' and landlords expected incoming tenants to cover nearly all the work, which is a lot of upfront money for something they were only renting and not owning..."
eastoregonian.com/2025/11/26/p...
eastoregonian.com/2025/11/26/p...
Very cool!
And while you're at it, their wonderful magazine (published three times a year) is free of charge to Oregon residents.
And while you're at it, their wonderful magazine (published three times a year) is free of charge to Oregon residents.
Traveling over the next few days?
Cue up a few episodes of This Place, our short podcast featuring audio postcards from around the state, spoken by the people who live there.
Here's where we've been so far this year:
oregonhumanities.org/rll/podcast/...
Cue up a few episodes of This Place, our short podcast featuring audio postcards from around the state, spoken by the people who live there.
Here's where we've been so far this year:
oregonhumanities.org/rll/podcast/...
November 26, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Very cool!
And while you're at it, their wonderful magazine (published three times a year) is free of charge to Oregon residents.
And while you're at it, their wonderful magazine (published three times a year) is free of charge to Oregon residents.
I love a good lede!
A shift in demographics. Affordable apartments transformed into luxury condos. A coffee shop called something like “Brew Slut.”
www.latimes.com/business/rea...
A shift in demographics. Affordable apartments transformed into luxury condos. A coffee shop called something like “Brew Slut.”
www.latimes.com/business/rea...
Black-trimmed homes, tiny libraries and other signs your neighborhood is about to be gentrified
Gentrification is easy to spot if you know where to look. If homes in your neighborhood follow these trends, gentrification might be on the way.
www.latimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I love a good lede!
A shift in demographics. Affordable apartments transformed into luxury condos. A coffee shop called something like “Brew Slut.”
www.latimes.com/business/rea...
A shift in demographics. Affordable apartments transformed into luxury condos. A coffee shop called something like “Brew Slut.”
www.latimes.com/business/rea...
Reposted by Lost Oregon
Building Portland’s Memorial Coliseum: a Mid-Century Political Firestorm will be published by @arcadiapublishing.bsky.social April 14, 2026!
Can’t wait to have this out in the world. I’ve been working on it since January 2014!
Can’t wait to have this out in the world. I’ve been working on it since January 2014!
November 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Building Portland’s Memorial Coliseum: a Mid-Century Political Firestorm will be published by @arcadiapublishing.bsky.social April 14, 2026!
Can’t wait to have this out in the world. I’ve been working on it since January 2014!
Can’t wait to have this out in the world. I’ve been working on it since January 2014!
Hey holiday shoppers!
Extra-soft knit crew-neck sweater celebrating the iconic Portland Building by Michael Graves, Portland, Oregon, 1982
architectural-icons.com/collections/...
Extra-soft knit crew-neck sweater celebrating the iconic Portland Building by Michael Graves, Portland, Oregon, 1982
architectural-icons.com/collections/...
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Hey holiday shoppers!
Extra-soft knit crew-neck sweater celebrating the iconic Portland Building by Michael Graves, Portland, Oregon, 1982
architectural-icons.com/collections/...
Extra-soft knit crew-neck sweater celebrating the iconic Portland Building by Michael Graves, Portland, Oregon, 1982
architectural-icons.com/collections/...
November 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Not Oregon related at all (unless Graves is mentioned I guess) but wanna see this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVdp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVdp...
Stardust - A Story of Love and Architecture, by Jim Venturi and Anita Naughton
YouTube video by ClassiCult
www.youtube.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Not Oregon related at all (unless Graves is mentioned I guess) but wanna see this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVdp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVdp...
Reposted by Lost Oregon
The Gordon's Fireplace building has sold for $575k, and I'd be fascinated to know who'd want it even at that price. The building is in terrible condition and the site is extremely constrained. www.kgw.com/article/news...
Portland's most notorious graffitied building sold for $575k at auction
The historic structure off Interstate 84 is hard to miss. It's covered in graffiti, and many of the windows are smashed or boarded up.
www.kgw.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The Gordon's Fireplace building has sold for $575k, and I'd be fascinated to know who'd want it even at that price. The building is in terrible condition and the site is extremely constrained. www.kgw.com/article/news...
Some Saturday morning coffee viewing - explains how it all went down in the clearest, entertaining way possible. (Found this while researching the history of 99W and 99E.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2_y...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2_y...
The Forgotten Story of Harbor Drive: Portland's Demolished Freeway
YouTube video by Peter Dibble
www.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Some Saturday morning coffee viewing - explains how it all went down in the clearest, entertaining way possible. (Found this while researching the history of 99W and 99E.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2_y...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2_y...
Reposted by Lost Oregon
Next Portland is Relaunching, With Your Help www.nextportland.com/2025/09/25/n...
Next Portland is Relaunching, With Your Help
Clockwise from top left: the James Beard Public Market; Centennial Mills; Lloyd Event Venue; Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design. It’s been a while. Next Portland was consistently publis…
www.nextportland.com
September 25, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Next Portland is Relaunching, With Your Help www.nextportland.com/2025/09/25/n...
Reposted by Lost Oregon
A building permit has been issued for the McMenamins Taft Hotel, adjacent to the Crystal Ballroom. Work includes renovations for accessibility on the upper floors. www.portlandmaps.com/detail/permi...
The former Taft Home was bought by McMenamins last year. www.wweek.com/news/2024/08...
The former Taft Home was bought by McMenamins last year. www.wweek.com/news/2024/08...
September 23, 2025 at 4:28 PM
A building permit has been issued for the McMenamins Taft Hotel, adjacent to the Crystal Ballroom. Work includes renovations for accessibility on the upper floors. www.portlandmaps.com/detail/permi...
The former Taft Home was bought by McMenamins last year. www.wweek.com/news/2024/08...
The former Taft Home was bought by McMenamins last year. www.wweek.com/news/2024/08...
September 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
September 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by Lost Oregon
friends, I wrote a book about the site selection process for Portland’s Memorial Coliseum in the 1950s. it’ll be out next year via The History Press. this is my second book, and I’ve been working on it since early 2014 (yes, really). I’m really pumped to finally have it out in the world.
September 3, 2025 at 4:04 PM
friends, I wrote a book about the site selection process for Portland’s Memorial Coliseum in the 1950s. it’ll be out next year via The History Press. this is my second book, and I’ve been working on it since early 2014 (yes, really). I’m really pumped to finally have it out in the world.
Reposted by Lost Oregon
Plans to redevelop the Centennial Mills site appear to be moving forward with a design review hearing scheduled for mid-September.
Redevelopment of the site would include three mixed-use buildings and an extension of the riverfront greenway trail. www.bizjournals.com/portland/new...
Redevelopment of the site would include three mixed-use buildings and an extension of the riverfront greenway trail. www.bizjournals.com/portland/new...
August 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Plans to redevelop the Centennial Mills site appear to be moving forward with a design review hearing scheduled for mid-September.
Redevelopment of the site would include three mixed-use buildings and an extension of the riverfront greenway trail. www.bizjournals.com/portland/new...
Redevelopment of the site would include three mixed-use buildings and an extension of the riverfront greenway trail. www.bizjournals.com/portland/new...
My latest for @newschoolbeer.bsky.social - The demolished site of a former funeral home in downtown Milwaukie is getting new life as the 1847 Food Park, helmed by Portland's Migration Brewing.
newschoolbeer.com/home/2025/8/...
newschoolbeer.com/home/2025/8/...
August 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
My latest for @newschoolbeer.bsky.social - The demolished site of a former funeral home in downtown Milwaukie is getting new life as the 1847 Food Park, helmed by Portland's Migration Brewing.
newschoolbeer.com/home/2025/8/...
newschoolbeer.com/home/2025/8/...
Reposted by Lost Oregon
Why didn't anyone tell me that the Bull Run Power House—started by the Mount Hood Railway & Power Co. and completed by the Portland Railway, Light & Power Co. in 1912—was so darn beautiful?
July 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Built in 1894, and another great example of an (what's now called) Accessory Commercial Unit (ACU), or a "small, detached or attached commercial space on a residential property, designed to support small, local businesses."
A++ for the signage too!
📷 = Google.
A++ for the signage too!
📷 = Google.
June 26, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Built in 1894, and another great example of an (what's now called) Accessory Commercial Unit (ACU), or a "small, detached or attached commercial space on a residential property, designed to support small, local businesses."
A++ for the signage too!
📷 = Google.
A++ for the signage too!
📷 = Google.
Hard to tell from website but are the Mobile Workshops for the Mpact Transit + Community Conference standalone events? Anyone out there know?
www.mpactmobility.org/event/mw11-s...
www.mpactmobility.org/event/mw11-s...
MW11 Standing On Shoulders, Reaching for the Stars: Building MAX Orange Line - Mpact
The Orange Line, TriMet’s sixth light rail project, opened in 2015. Running 7.3 miles from the Portland State University campus in downtown Portland to Milwaukie and Oak Grove in neighboring […]
www.mpactmobility.org
June 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Hard to tell from website but are the Mobile Workshops for the Mpact Transit + Community Conference standalone events? Anyone out there know?
www.mpactmobility.org/event/mw11-s...
www.mpactmobility.org/event/mw11-s...
My favorite house in Milwaukie is for sale.
Henry Failing's home originally stood between 5th & 6th Streets on Taylor Street in downtown Portland. In 1890 it was shipped to Milwaukie by barge.
www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/...
Henry Failing's home originally stood between 5th & 6th Streets on Taylor Street in downtown Portland. In 1890 it was shipped to Milwaukie by barge.
www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/...
2515 SE Lake Rd, Milwaukie, OR 97222 - 3 beds/1.5 baths
(RMLS) For Sale: 3 beds, 1.5 baths ∙ 3015 sq. ft. ∙ 2515 SE Lake Rd, Milwaukie, OR 97222 ∙ $675,000 ∙ MLS# 771290325 ∙ OPEN Sat May 10, 2-4 pm. Park in adjacent office parking lot to the east for open...
www.redfin.com
May 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
My favorite house in Milwaukie is for sale.
Henry Failing's home originally stood between 5th & 6th Streets on Taylor Street in downtown Portland. In 1890 it was shipped to Milwaukie by barge.
www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/...
Henry Failing's home originally stood between 5th & 6th Streets on Taylor Street in downtown Portland. In 1890 it was shipped to Milwaukie by barge.
www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/...
Built in 1893 (or 1900, depending on the source); a rare Victorian in SE Portland. Now a triplex. #missingmiddle
May 7, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Built in 1893 (or 1900, depending on the source); a rare Victorian in SE Portland. Now a triplex. #missingmiddle
Popped in to pFriem Brewery's new location in downtown Milwaukie over the weekend.
What a fantastic transformation of the former city hall into a place for the community. It's only been open for a few days but it's already having an impact on the energy level on Main Street.
What a fantastic transformation of the former city hall into a place for the community. It's only been open for a few days but it's already having an impact on the energy level on Main Street.
April 14, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Popped in to pFriem Brewery's new location in downtown Milwaukie over the weekend.
What a fantastic transformation of the former city hall into a place for the community. It's only been open for a few days but it's already having an impact on the energy level on Main Street.
What a fantastic transformation of the former city hall into a place for the community. It's only been open for a few days but it's already having an impact on the energy level on Main Street.
Hey bridge nerds (looks in mirror), a great resource for all things...bridges.
Here's Oregon's: www.bridgehunter.com/states/OR
And a pic of the shiny, new Springwater Trail Bridge from 2007:
Here's Oregon's: www.bridgehunter.com/states/OR
And a pic of the shiny, new Springwater Trail Bridge from 2007:
April 9, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Hey bridge nerds (looks in mirror), a great resource for all things...bridges.
Here's Oregon's: www.bridgehunter.com/states/OR
And a pic of the shiny, new Springwater Trail Bridge from 2007:
Here's Oregon's: www.bridgehunter.com/states/OR
And a pic of the shiny, new Springwater Trail Bridge from 2007:
New on Lost Oregon: The owners of the retrofitted Phoenix Pharmacy have purchased the Busy Corner in Portland's Woodstock neighborhood. Bring back corner stores! (PS: They're looking for a tenant.)
lostoregon.org/2025/04/03/o...
lostoregon.org/2025/04/03/o...
Oregon Makers: A new life for the beloved Busy Corner in Portland
Oregon Makers is an occasional series about creators, builders, and makers across Oregon who not only create but contribute to the built environment of Oregon’s cities in creative and impactful way…
lostoregon.org
April 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
New on Lost Oregon: The owners of the retrofitted Phoenix Pharmacy have purchased the Busy Corner in Portland's Woodstock neighborhood. Bring back corner stores! (PS: They're looking for a tenant.)
lostoregon.org/2025/04/03/o...
lostoregon.org/2025/04/03/o...