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Designing new structures to blend in with existing ones in historic areas like Portland鈥檚 Alphabet District or Ladd鈥檚 Addition can be rewarding, but also challenging, local architects say.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 mind designing buildings in historic districts; we think it鈥檚 a lot of fun and really enjoy that challenge,鈥� said Kurt Schultz, a principal of SERA Architects, which has designed multiple projects in such districts. 鈥淏ut you have to change hats and really think about those projects completely differently than if you are doing a project that is not in a historic district.鈥�

The city of Portland has 14 historic districts. Each one has a set of design guidelines 鈥� some more specific than others 鈥� that architects are asked to follow. Some guidelines state what materials should be used, how tall a building can be, where windows should be located and even what the surrounding landscaping should look like.

The purpose is to preserve districts鈥� historic significance. As a result, projects are held to a higher standard, which actually benefits them, said Brian Emerick, owner of Emerick Architects and vice chairman of the Historic Landmarks Commission.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a higher burden of responsibility that comes with (projects in historic districts),鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also an opportunity to raise the bar design-wise and quality-wise. I enjoy that challenge.鈥�

Although guidelines are in place, the approval process is subjective, Emerick said. Each project is judged by either the commission (large projects and appeals) or Bureau of Development Services staffers (smaller projects). Decisions are based on the guidelines as well as previous rulings.

The key for applicants, Emerick said, is to ask for a design advice request hearing before formally submitting a project to the commission.

鈥淭here can be a dialogue between (the applicant) and the commission, and you can get a read on what the probability is of actually being successful before investing resources,鈥� he said.

SERA recently designed two apartment buildings to join the Alphabet District on the corner of 19th Avenue and Johnson Street. The district鈥檚 unique height restriction led the commission to require that the buildings be smaller than proposed originally. The commission also asked that the buildings have different appearances because they would be adjacent to each other.

As a result, one was designed to mimic the art deco buildings on the block, while the other was designed to emulate the colonial buildings in the area. If the designs hadn鈥檛 incorporated at least some of the district鈥檚 characteristics, the project probably would have been rejected, Schultz said.

鈥淭he commission is a very savvy bunch; they know what they are looking for,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou need to really pay attention to what鈥檚 (in the district). These buildings we designed are very specific to their spot and customized to their location.鈥�

A problem with basing a building鈥檚 design on a nearby historic structure, however, is the risk of architectural plagiarism. Ted Argo, the single architect in his firm, is facing this challenge with the design for a housing project in the King鈥檚 Hill area.

鈥淗ow close can I be (to emulation of a building鈥檚 design) and not be accused of trying to copy something else?鈥� Argo said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 emulation and what鈥檚 replication? That was a bit of a puzzle to us.鈥�

Argo was hired to design a small multiunit building, but a standard apartment structure would not fit into King鈥檚 Hill. So, after observing the area鈥檚 historic homes, Argo designed the project to be two Colonial row houses.

The process to gain approval from the Historic Landmarks Commission has been difficult, Argo said.

鈥淭he biggest tribulation is the amount of time it takes to do everything,鈥� Argo said. 鈥淚t just takes so incredibly long, and the process is so expensive.鈥�

Emerick estimated that eight to 12 weeks usually are needed for an application to be processed. An application fee is required and designs must be finished by the time they are presented, so more money is required up front. Also, higher quality materials and more design details may be required.

Argo believes that the review hearings, which are open to the public, are not conducive to historic district projects moving forward in a timely manner. It is difficult to have a direct conversation with the commission, he said.

The commission recognizes that projects in historic districts are more difficult, Emerick said. But that鈥檚 the point, he added.

鈥淭he intent of the zoning overlay that鈥檚 there is to allow for (higher quality projects),鈥� he said. 鈥淢ost of the time results are better for going through that process.鈥�