<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.m1415202010034393138m-4323459566430460315xxxxxxmsonormal, li.m1415202010034393138m-4323459566430460315xxxxxxmsonormal, div.m1415202010034393138m-4323459566430460315xxxxxxmsonormal
{mso-style-name:m_1415202010034393138m-4323459566430460315xxxxxxmsonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:670059813;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-1859725078 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:"Courier New";}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Oregon Heritage releases upper floor report and tools<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Oregon Heritage, in partnership with University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research & Engagement (IPRE), announces the release of
<i><a href="https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/TechnicalResources.aspx#Upper_Stories">What’s Up Downtown? A Playbook for Activating Oregon’s Upper Stories<span style="font-style:normal">.</span></a></i> The report inventories the status of core buildings
in some 33 Main Street communities across Oregon--specifically, their upper floors—identifies reasons for their disuse, and outlines potential ways to rejuvenate the spaces.
<b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">The project was undertaken by Oregon Heritage and IPRE to address a clear trend of growing vacancies in the upper floors of historic and downtown buildings. The objective was to determine the extent of available
building spaces and to explore how to increase their use.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">City and nonprofit organizations and property owners within the network of Oregon Main Street communities participated in surveys and interviews in spring 2022. The survey results affirm that upper story vacancy
is common: nearly 50% of upper floors in their main street areas are unused and 19% are usable, but unoccupied.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Many of these buildings are historic, and at least a third of the communities surveyed have a National Register Historic District in their downtown.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">“In the regular course of conducting business, Oregon Heritage saw how programs like the Federal Historic Tax Credit and Oregon Main Street Revitalization grants could bring new energy to old spaces,” said Kuri
Gill, Grants and Outreach Manager. “Our communities have so many universal needs, like housing, work space, and new spaces for cultural events and community gatherings. We hope this report will help community leaders define some new possibilities for their
downtowns.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">The most common problems with redeveloping upper floors were cost and the perceived complexity of code compliance. The study found that even when resources are available to support redevelopment, they are
hard to find and access. The report recommends possible solutions at the state and local level, with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and property owners, including:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Track conditions of upper stories over time.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Develop a strategy for upper floor development.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Improve property owner’s access to funding.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Maintain existing and create additional financial supports at the state and local level.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Support creative investment and financing strategies.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Evaluate current building code and support responsible and flexible applications of the code.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Organize and publicize existing technical resources.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Collaborate with downtown development experts to remove the technical burden from individual property owners.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">Encourage collaboration at the local and between state and local actors.
<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">In addition to the report, the project provides tools including an inventory guide, resource list and templates for project planning. The project team completed a pilot inventory with the Lebanon Downtown Association
and used it to develop the guide to be used in communities throughout the state.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Cassie Cruz with Lebanon Downtown Association noted the value of the inventory tool. “The detailed sheet collects building information (e.g., owner info, size, current use, and capacity), which better equips
committee members to speak with building owners on opportunities for housing and mix use spaces and is an educational tool for those new to the organization. And the inventory sheet is useful in case of a disaster.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Charles Denight, with Pendleton Downtown Commission, enthusiastically responded to the project results. “I'll be using the ideas in these new documents to add to the tactics we're using to encourage upper story
development. We won't rest until we have 100% full upper stories.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Oregon Heritage includes Oregon Main Street, a program supporting downtown vitality that includes dozens of active communities across Oregon. It is a coordinating program of Main Street America. Oregon Heritage
also assists with the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant and the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program through the State Historic Preservation Office.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">To access the report and tools, funded in part by the Oregon Cultural Trust, visit the Oregon Heritage website at
<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oregonheritage.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7CKatie.HENRY%40oprd.oregon.gov%7Cb6762607d38d469ce55508daabc7292a%7Caa3f6932fa7c47b4a0cea598cad161cf%7C0%7C0%7C638011169118871555%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=r3I0yCZlaoOtPOCDwgJBA5btQ0LBqev1IsqXQTCHL9o%3D&reserved=0">
www.oregonheritage.org</a>. For more information about Oregon Heritage contact <a href="mailto:kuri.gill@oregon.gov">
Kuri Gill</a> at 503-383-6787. To reach IPRE regarding their program and resources contact
<a href="mailto:Aniko@uoregon.edu">Aniko Drlik-Muehleck</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="m1415202010034393138m-4323459566430460315xxxxxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<b>***********************</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="m1415202010034393138m-4323459566430460315xxxxxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt">Share your photos of Oregon’s heritage on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #oregonheritage.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="m1415202010034393138m-4323459566430460315xxxxxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="m1415202010034393138m-4323459566430460315xxxxxxmsonormal" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt">Oregon Heritage News is a service of Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The news editor can be contacted at
</span><a href="mailto:heritage.info@oregon.gov" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">heritage.info@oregon.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:9.0pt">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>