Irvington Historic District listed in National Register of Historic Places

Source: www.oregonheritage.org.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Irvington Historic District in Portland’s eastside is Oregon’s latest entry in the National Register of Historic Places.

Opened for development in 1891, the original Irvington Plat and surrounding area is important as an early example of the influence of streetcar development and restrictive covenants in Portland’s residential neighborhoods. These influences had long-lasting impacts on the architectural character of Irvington through 1948 when most lots had been developed and the streetcar lines were replaced with gasoline buses.

The extension of streetcar lines from downtown Portland to the suburban eastside of the Willamette River resulted in the use of a strict grid of streets and blocks aligned with the rails and commercial and multi-family development along heavily-traveled routes. To control land uses and guide residential development in this rapidly growing community, developers used privately -imposed and -enforced covenants. Restrictions included minimum street setbacks, establishment of baseline house values, and limits on use, among others. Similar explicit rules were later adopted in other areas, serving as a prelude to the advent of comprehensive land-use planning in early-twentieth century Portland.

The district is also notable for the collection of architecturally-important residences constructed between 1891 and 1948. At least 23 prominent architects and builders designed and/or constructed buildings in the district, including Robert Beat, Frederick Bowman, Robert Rice, Edward Mautz, Ellis Lawrence, Joseph Jacobberger, H.L. Camp, Marcus Delahunt, Luther Bailey, and Henry Lambert.

Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation recommended the district's nomination in June 2010. The Irvington Historic District contains the most buildings of any historic district in Oregon, with more than 2,800 properties. More than 500 historic properties and 14 districts in Portland are now listed in the National Register, which is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings is online at www.oregonheritage.org.