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New date set for unreinforced masonry discussion
The Portland City Council in October will discuss a draft proposal of an ordinance requiring signs and tenant notifications for unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings.
Photos: Historic Lotus Hotel building comes down
When the historic United Workmen Temple was demolished last fall, many in Portland were upset by the loss of the 1892 vintage building. Formerly located at the corner of Southwest […]
Portland seismic retrofit requirements on hold
Owners of unreinforced masonry buildings may be required to place placards on their properties warning tenants and visitors of seismic risk after the Portland City Council directed staff to come up with a notification policy.
Revving up to revamp retrofit requirements
A potential new policy for Portland would grant owners of unreinforced masonry buildings many years to perform upgrades.
Preparing for a big one
The Portland City Council is slated to weigh in next month on a proposed policy that would require seismic retrofits for buildings with unreinforced masonry.
Unreinforced masonry building owners fume over proposal
Portland鈥檚 Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Policy Committee will meet at least once more. Thursday鈥檚 public hearing was supposed to be the final one, but a room full of building owners upset with recommended upgrade steps succeeded in delaying a move to City Council.
Deadline proposed for unreinforced masonry upgrades
The owners of Portland buildings likely to collapse in a sizable earthquake could get a deadline to upgrade: 25 years.
Positive reinforcement: Brittle brick still abounds
The pickle of the owner of an unreinforced masonry building in Portland is pretty straightforward: seismically upgrading a URM building is expensive and there鈥檚 little financial incentive to do it.
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
