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Friday, January 23, 2009

Neighborhoods / News / Portland Curtains for the Pagoda

Posted by Logan Sachon on Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 2:15 PM

b0b0/1232748005-patrick_flanagan_of_key__bank_and_garrett_stephenson_and_terry_krause__both_of_group_mackenzie.jpg

patrick flanagan of key bank and garrett stephenson and terry krause of group mackenzie present their plans for the bank that will replace the pagoda

Last week, we reported that the Pagoda Restaurant at 39th and Broadway was going to be torn down to make way for a Key Bank, and last night the Hollywood Neighborhood Association and Key Bank reps faced off at the HNA’s regular meeting. The Merc was there to record all the heady drama.

Except, there wasn’t much. Key Bank rep Patrick Flanagan and land-use planner Garrett Stephenson from Group Mackenzie were both surprisingly non-diabolical in their presentation, even when they sort of made moot any real emotional debate by saying upfront that the pagoda was a goner. “The goal tonight is to get feedback on the original plans, but not necessarily to discuss the need to keep the building,” Flanagan said.

They noted that the building is in really bad shape from water damage and age, and that because of an extensive remodel in the 80s, any historic value had been lost ("The building has a history, but it is not a historic building," Flanagan said). When asked why the pagoda couldn’t be incorporated into the new design, Stephenson said that because of weight restrictions and retro-fitting requirements, keeping the pagoda as part of the structure of the new building would make “the cost of the building untenable.” With that out there, they looked to get community input on what that new bank should look like, but for many Hollywood residents, it was hard to accept that the building was really a loss.

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hollywood native and pagoda lover eve weir

"I don't see any reason why Key Bank Hollywood can't have a pagoda structure. I don't think it should be off the table. I reject the premise that it is off the table," said one man. Another warned that “one thing you’ll learn about Hollywood is that we have very long memories. You will be the bank that destroyed the Pagoda.”

Eve Weir, a hair stylist and Hollywood native, left the meeting in tears. “The Pagoda is my favorite building in the city. It’s beautiful,” she told the Merc. Earlier in the meeting, Flanagan had mentioned that no one he had spoken to in the past two weeks had eaten there in the past five years, and Weir’s hand had shot up, defiant. “I loved going there. It’s just such a cool building, full of chintzy glamour. I just love it, and I’m so upset. I grew up in Hollywood. I got off the phone with my mom before I came in, and she was going to cry. I’m crying right now.”

Even though the pagoda won’t remain at the corner of 39th and Broadway, Flanagan emphasized that all wasn’t totally lost, as long as logistics and community enthusiasm go hand in hand. “The bank is open to finding a new home for the pagoda structure, but most likely there won’t be a home for it on the property,” said Flanagan. “We don’t even know if we’ll be able to lift it off the roof. If we can lift it off, then there is the opportunity to donate it to the community.”

Craig Stockbridge, chair of the HNA, said their next step will be to get creative and suggest ways that the bank might be able to incorporate the spirit of the pagoda into the new new bank and what the community might be able to do with the pagoda should it be salvageable. Flanagan mentioned that a community wall within the vestibule of the bank will showcase the spirit and history of the community, but compared to the orange-tiled pagoda on the corner, an interior wall seems lame. “It’s not just a Hollywood problem,” one neighbor lamented, “it’s a Northeast problem. I don’t see why we need another bank. We have seven.”

Make that eight.

 

Comments (10) RSS

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1
Bah! Eve Weir cuts my hair. She's a genius. Grace salon.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!!
Posted by Matt Davis on January 23, 2009 at 2:20 PM · Report
2
So when is my last chance to get a #10 combo?
Posted by Marq on January 23, 2009 at 2:24 PM · Report
3
"The building has a history, but it is not a historic building"

...and one could say the same thing about any nationally recognized historic landmark before it was recognized. All it takes are people from the community standing up and saying it's important to them. Apparently Key Bank isn't listening.
Posted by Chunty McHutchence on January 23, 2009 at 2:28 PM · Report
4
Marq, the Pagoda closed its doors January 1st.
Posted by Chunty McHutchence on January 23, 2009 at 2:29 PM · Report
5
According to Mr. Flanagan, the building was purchased by Key Bank for $2.2 million. The previous owner, Sonny Chan (hope I got that right), obviously saw the sale more as a benefit to himself than to the community which is now speaking out for the building to stay.

However, I'm also slightly surprised by the fact that the way Mr. Flanagan was wording it, it sounded as though this deal had been in the works for at least a few months, and word of the sale of the building and its future remodel are just now being released. It doesn't really leave people much time to organize another future for it.
Posted by portlander4life on January 23, 2009 at 2:57 PM · Report
6
Mr. Flannagan's comments, reflect the way buildings get demo'd in this city. if you watch long term, when a large company or developer with influence wants a piece of land with historic or just well liked building on in, the city seems very willing to declare that that property is unsalvageable, condemned or of no real use. The Rose Friend Apartments are an example of this, the old Morrison Hotel building, the St James hotel apartments, much of the brewery blocks, it appears that this mentality is spreading east. By declaring the building decrepit in some way it cuts off all community recourse to argue you the point of it's relevance to our neighborhood. I used to eat there with my grandfather and cousins in the 80s, go there after school in the 90's and with Marq (what's up man?) after film screenings at the hollywood in last years, it's a real shame to lose a part of my personal connection to the visual world of my neighborhood. And yeah: do we need another bank over here? seriously. Land use and planning departments even in this city are shady backdealing institutions that set up to foster commerce with no institution or practical reverence for culture or history and often no regard for the environment (we do better on that here) every once in a while that point gets hit home when they just flat out tell you: that buildings going, you have no say. it's not really your neighborhood. we just let you think during elections. but we can talk about what they'll plant in the parking lot of the stock bank the assemble there.
Posted by Caldoni on January 23, 2009 at 5:30 PM · Report
7
Good on you, Caldoni.
All too often these days people are out of touch with a sense of connection to the landmarks around here.
Posted by U.S. Grant on January 23, 2009 at 10:00 PM · Report
8
Fuck progress. Wasn't Hung Far Lows enough? I know it's over on 82nd now, but c'mon.
Posted by Marq on January 24, 2009 at 2:53 PM · Report
9
I was recently in Portland on a trip from Seattle.
I took a group of people to have dinner there and
discovered the awful closed sign. I loved that place
and would have gone more often if I lived there.
Portland, do you want to become like Seattle? All
banks and condos and no place terrific to go for an
inexpensive dinner and fabulous night out? Who do I
write to at Key Bank to complain about this? If I had
a million dollars....
Jeffrey
Posted by Jeffrey on February 19, 2009 at 6:14 PM · Report
10
This entire situation makes me sick to my stomach. I hope Key Bank goes under.
Posted by hollywood38 on June 26, 2009 at 9:21 PM · Report

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