Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Tom Kitten

(7,348 posts)
Thu Oct 8, 2015, 11:59 AM Oct 2015

The Portland Gasco Building, to be demolished by Halloween

This is Portland's most famous vacant building, the office and admin building for Portland Gas & Coke, the forerunner to NW Natural Gas. Since 1957 it's just sat here, vacant, ever since, but last month the gas company says it costs too much to maintain even the way it is, it so they're tearing it down.
Which is a shame, it's a beautiful Gothic Victorian built around 1912 or so.
It's hard to get a good view for photography, the public isn't allowed to get near it. It's surrounded by private roads and gas tanks and other heavy industry operations, plus the whole area is a Superfund site. I went there at 1:30 pm and it was already in shadows, I had to do some post processing to get a reasonable view of it.

Most pictures turned out dark like this


Post process










6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Portland Gasco Building, to be demolished by Halloween (Original Post) Tom Kitten Oct 2015 OP
How sad that they're going to tear it down, my dear Tom Kitten... CaliforniaPeggy Oct 2015 #1
Soon other buildings built to service the fossil fuel industry will be abandoned. alfredo Oct 2015 #2
That is a great piece of architecture - what a shame liberal N proud Oct 2015 #3
I wish there was a better option for these buildings... Earth_First Oct 2015 #4
Pity. Solly Mack Oct 2015 #5
Cool shots. Blue_In_AK Oct 2015 #6

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,657 posts)
1. How sad that they're going to tear it down, my dear Tom Kitten...
Thu Oct 8, 2015, 12:20 PM
Oct 2015

It could have been rehabbed into something useful and glorious.

Your pictures are great and will make a great memorial.

Thanks for being there...

Earth_First

(14,910 posts)
4. I wish there was a better option for these buildings...
Fri Oct 9, 2015, 08:08 AM
Oct 2015

Here locally, although this isn't specific to our area there has been a great deal of sprawl in the major area where our commercial/retail is located towards the semi-rural areas that border this area.

Someone on the zoning/planning board had the foresight to impose a moratorium on demolishing barn structures to preserve 100+ year old barns and offer incentives to developers willing to retrofit the structure into their design.

There have been two great successes with this so far, and the public support for this has been resounding.

I'm glad to see this occurring here locally.

Sorry to see this happening to buildings in your area, TK. However, thanks for the historical documentation of this building in your wonderful photographs!

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Photography»The Portland Gasco Buildi...