Let’s be visionaries and see buildings for their potential and not just for the value of the land on which they sit. Many buildings, particularly houses, have been part of the lives of generations. You don’t have to live in a house for it to become a part of you. It’s the small mid-century modern you notice every time you walk to town. It’s the cottage where your best grade school friend lived. These houses make it our “hometown.” These are not big and grand structures. They are often affordable houses for young families and for seniors, only we’re not seeing it that way.
Let’s not let landfills be cemeteries for these habitable houses. There has been one residential demolition permit issued every 10 days in Lake Oswego over the last decade. These permits do not require a photograph so, for many homes, even this simple snapshot recording their existence doesn’t exist.
Houses are unique assets that set Lake Oswego apart from other places. Let’s have the vision to see what these older homes have to offer our community if they are given the chance.