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To the preservation-minded, surface parking lots and new construction can be serious blights to the fabric of historic neighborhoods. And there are at least 500 such commercial properties in Oregon’s historic districts, according to the State Historic Preservation Office.

Through a series of roundtable discussions, the Historic Preservation League of Oregon has urged people to start talking about the 鈥渄os鈥� and 鈥渄o nots鈥� when it comes to infill design.

With the support of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, HPLO is working to establish baseline standards for new construction and clear guidelines for the design of new infill projects. The roundtable brought together architects, historians, landmarks commissioners and property owners in The Dalles in June, Ashland in July, and will culminate in Portland today.

HPLO executive director Peggy Moretti said one of the objectives is to define what it really means to say that some infill is 鈥渃ompatible.鈥� While most people would agree that new construction in a historic district should be 鈥渃ompatible鈥� with the existing buildings, no clear principles translate that idea into construction standards.

Some components of compatibility brought up at the first two roundtables are scale, massing, materials, setback, and some other conceptual characteristics. On Oct. 13, HPLO will issue a final report laying out their findings.

If you want to go to the 鈥淪ynthesis Session鈥� tomorrow, go to the Architectural Heritage Center, 701 S.E. Grand Ave. by 8:45 a.m. The HPLO is currently expecting about 30 attendees but plans to have room for some walk-ins. The cost is $10.

If you can’t make it, but want to provide feedback or stay updated on HPLO event, more information can be found on .