This Week in the Mercury

Mechanical Marvels

Books

Mechanical Marvels

Peter Carey's The Chemistry of Tears


Real Gay

Film

Real Gay

True Stories of the Sixth QDoc



  |  

Monday, May 4, 2009

Neighborhoods Beloved Pagoda May Live On! ...as a bus stop

Posted by Sarah Mirk on Mon, May 4, 2009 at 2:00 PM

Remember when we wrote about the Hollywood neighborhood meeting in January where a Northeast neighbor burst into tears over the plans to destroy the iconic Pagoda restaurant and make way for a bland KeyBank building? Local architect John Perkins vowed he would find a way to save the landmark.

a945/1241470778-1232066835_pagodafacesdemoliton.jpg

Well, last week Perkins completed his research on the building and came to two tragic conclusions.

Tragic conclusion #1: It would cost $76,000 to remove the wood-and aluminum pagoda intact. Wait, if the pagoda is not crafted of pure jade, how did it become that amazing green-blue color?

Tragic conclusion #2: The pagoda's "brilliant color" comes from lead-based paint.

Well shit. Perkins is now looking into whether the Pagoda's design can be incorporated into a nearby bus shelter. KeyBank offered to donate the restaurant's neon sign but isn't willing to rethink its boring, corporate design for the building that involves scrapping the whole faux Oriental motif.

 

Comments (9) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
It sucks, but that's pretty much what the bank people originally said. $76K is pretty spendy.
Posted by D on May 4, 2009 at 2:25 PM · Report
2
If it's not a bland beige cube, how are people gonna know it's a Key Bank?
Posted by Chunty McHutchence on May 4, 2009 at 2:29 PM · Report
3
Maybe the architects can get together and move the Pagoda down by the Coliseum. That way they can keep all the old buildings that are falling apart in one place so they can look at them.
Posted by BlackedOut on May 4, 2009 at 3:03 PM · Report
4
Should also be renamed 'Cesar Chavez Key Bank'
Posted by D on May 4, 2009 at 3:23 PM · Report
5
$76,000 is nothing for the banks, compared to the near quarter trillion dollars the government just gave them.
Posted by Paul Cone on May 4, 2009 at 3:45 PM · Report
6
chicken coop
Posted by v.renwick on May 4, 2009 at 6:57 PM · Report
7
It's too bad. I love that building. You didn't mention the glorious orange tile walls! Just one more bit of character leeched out of the city.
Posted by Will Radik on May 4, 2009 at 7:36 PM · Report
8
@Will Radik

I will miss the goldfish pond the most.
Posted by BlackedOut on May 5, 2009 at 12:09 AM · Report
9
The loss of the Pagoda is just the latest example of the Hollywood neighborhood losing all of its wonderful late 50's/early 60's architectural character. The marvelous old bank bulding on 43rd and NE Sandy was demolished for the ugly new mixed use/Whole Foods box. The old library building still stands, but the building that houses the new library location is hideous, as is the interior of the library itself. Quite a pity.
Posted by dmitrir on May 5, 2009 at 10:54 AM · Report

Add a comment

Our Friends

Our Enemies

/images/adoftheweek.gif

ad of the day

The Handyman Pro - Your Honey-Do Specialist
Don’t let our name fool you. The Handyman Pro, LLC is a repair and remodel service provider with over 25-years experience. We cover all aspects of construction and repairs for residential and commercial clients.go


post an ad

All contents © Index Newspapers, LLC

115 SW Ash St. Suite 600
Portland, OR 97204

Contact Info | Privacy Policy | Production Guidelines | Terms of Use