Someone wants to alter a building in one of West Linn's most protected neighborhoods, and the city won't say what the project is.
The Historic Review Board will take up application HDR-25-03 for 1225 13th Street at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, in the Council Chambers at West Linn City Hall, 22500 Salamo Road. The seven-member board, chaired by Kirsten Solberg, treats the case as a Class II Historic Design Review, which means the proposed exterior work is significant enough to require a public hearing rather than a staff-level sign-off.
No staff report or project narrative has appeared on the city's website. Whether the property owner is proposing an addition, new siding, window replacements, or some other exterior change remains unclear as of Saturday, July 5.
The property sits inside the Willamette Historic District, a 15.4-acre neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places since September 2009. The district includes 64 primarily wood-frame homes built in styles ranging from Queen Anne and Craftsman to Colonial Revival, with a period of significance spanning 1895 to 1929.
Under city rules, any exterior alteration within the district must be approved before work begins. Interior renovations are exempt.
The address falls within the original 1893 plat area between 12th and 14th Streets, where the district's earliest residential development took root.
How to weigh in
Neighbors within 500 feet of the site should have received a mailed notice, and a sign has been posted on the property, according to city planning procedures.
Three ways to participate:
- Written comments: Email staff liaison Lynn Schroder at [email protected] by noon Wednesday, July 8.
- In person: Show up at City Hall when the meeting opens at 6:00 p.m.
- Remotely: Register by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. A meeting link and call-in number will be sent after sign-up.
Anyone planning to present materials during testimony must get them to Schroder at least 24 hours ahead of the hearing. Residents who need an interpreter or other accessibility help can reach her at 503-742-6061.
The meeting will also stream live on YouTube for people who want to watch without speaking.
What happens next
Once the board votes, its decision becomes final after a 14-day appeal window. Any appeal would go to the West Linn City Council.
