2012 Endangered Places!
The 2012 nomination form for Oregon's Most Endangered Places is available on pdf! This is your opportunity to tell us which places are important to you and need help. The deadline for Endangered Places nominations is Monday, March 26th.
Historic Conservation Easements...
Under current Oregon law, the only way an owner of a historic property can ensure the preservation and protection of their property in perpetuity is through the donation of a preservation easement. National Register listing – while an important designation with many benefits – does not guarantee against demolition, neglect, or loss of historic integrity.
Since 1981, the Historic Preservation League of Oregon has accepted preservation easements from building owners across Oregon. Recognized nationally, the league’s easement program currently protects 42 historic properties, from the Gwin House in Jacksonville to the Wells Fargo Building in Portland. Click here to view our portfolio of easement properties.
What is a Preservation Easement?
A preservation easement is a legally binding agreement to protect a historic property from activities that may harm the property’s integrity, including neglect, demolition, and insensitive alterations. A preservation easement allows the owner of a historic property to retain title and use of the property and, at the same time, ensure its long-term preservation.
Gwinn House
An easement is a legal contract by which the owner agrees to maintain the property according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for historic properties. The easement, usually granted in perpetuity, is filed in the county land records and binds the current owner as well as all subsequent owners. The owner retains major interest in the property and can sell it or will it to whomever they wish.
Because each property is unique, preservation easements are individually written for each property, defining the precise elements that are to be preserved. Protected features may include the facade, interior features, grounds, view sheds, or air rights.
Wells Fargo Building
Why give a preservation easement?
People grant easements for a variety of reasons, from personal gain through tax benefits to community improvement through the permanent preservation of a significant structure. Some reasons for giving a preservation easement may include:
- Protection of a donor’s personal interest in preserving their family’s heritage and home.
- Preservation of a building on which an owner has spent considerable time and resources restoring.
- Provision of tax savings for the property owner.
- Reduction in estate, gift and capital gains taxes.
- Improvement of one’s community through long-term preservation of a significant landmark.
A significant, but often overlooked, benefit of a preservation easement is long-term professional assistance with technical preservation issues.
What restrictions are imposed on the property owner?
Each easement agreement is unique. In general, the owner is required to maintain the structure in such a way as to preserve its integrity and historic character, thereby ensuring its long-term survival and contribution to the community’s historic resources.