Welcome and Introduction
Building a future for Deschutes County... by preserving its past

Landmarks Commission Board Members

The Deschutes County Landmarks Commission (HLC), formed 1980, is part of a nation-wide network of groups dedicated to the preservation and celebration of our architectural heritage. The nine member HLC serves as a citizen advisory body to the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and to the City Councils in Bend, Redmond and Sisters.  The role of the Commission is to help property owners preserve historically and architecturally significant buildings and districts while allowing modifications for contemporary use.

What does the HLC do?

·        Evaluates the architectural and historical significance of buildings and districts.

·        Recommends buildings or districts to the BOCC and various City Councils for designation as local landmarks.

·        Reviews all building, demolition, moving, and sign permits for designated buildings and districts.

·        Prepares and administers design guidelines for reviewing repair, rehabilitation, new construction and demolition requests within historic districts.

Who preserves?
An extensive network of preservation agencies at the national, state and local levels coordinates public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our cultural and historic resources. The National Register of Historic Places was created to catalog and protect properties worthy of preservation because of their significance to our nation’s history, architecture, landscape, archeology, engineering, and/or culture. The Deschutes County Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) maintains a similar catalog of properties that contribute to the historic fabric of the county.

Why preserve?
Preserving significant parts of our past gives us a sense of our "roots," and helps us remember where we came from and see where we want to go.  Historic buildings are the tangible aspects of our history that people can feel and touch.  Without historic resources dotting our landscape, the communities of Bend, Redmond and Sisters would have not sense of place.

The loss of the 1917 Pilot Butte Inn in 1973 focused attention on historic landmarks in Deschutes County and rallied support to preserve important historic resources for future generations.

What should be preserved?
Not everything should be preserved. Just because a building or district is old doesn’t mean it should be saved. To be considered for designation, a building or district must represent and reflect elements of the county’s culture, social, economic, religious, political, architectural, or aesthetic heritage.

More than 400 buildings have been designated for heritage preservation in the all of Deschutes County. These include churches, workers’ cottages, bridges, warehouses, and commercial blocks. Currently one National Register Historic District has also been designated for heritage preservation. District designation has many potential benefits for the community including improved public profile, heightened local pride, increased property values, attraction of new business and residential investment, and preservation of the area’s unique "look" and heritage.

What does designation mean?
Designation is a form of protection for significant buildings and districts. Once designated for heritage preservation, a building’s exterior may not be extensively modified or removed without review by the HLC. However, designation does not mean freezing a building in time. Recent projects such as the conversion of the Oregon Trunk Railway Depot in Bend to the Art Station demonstrates the commitment of the HLC to allow for the adaptive reuse of buildings.  Finding new uses for old buildings that enable them to remain a part of the county’s living history is a top priority of the HLC.

What lies in the future?
In 1995, the HLC began drafting a plan for future preservation efforts in Deschutes County. The specific aims of this preservation plan are to review and analyze past survey and inventory work, to develop historic contexts, and to coordinate a strategy for public/private participation in the preservation process.

Other future projects include on-going research and designation of eligible sites and districts as local landmarks, public education and community outreach programs, and the integration of historic preservation with city planning and development activities.

Where can I get more information?
The HLC office is located in the historic Reid School, 129 NW Idaho Avenue, Bend. The staff and the commissioners are happy to answer any questions you may have about historic preservation. Lists of locally and nationally designated buildings are available upon request. HLC business meetings and public hearings are held monthly at Reid School. The public is welcome to attend. Exact dates and times of meetings are available by calling the HLC office at 388-6575.

Mailing Address:
Deschutes County Landmarks Commission
117 NW Lafayette Avenue
Bend, Oregon   97701

Phone Number
541-388-6575
Fax
541-385-1764