Owner proposes Portland House be placed in perpetual trust and run with Dahl Memorial Clinic as senior center

Virginia Long, owner and restorer of the Portland House, told the Dahl Memorial Clinic board on Feb. 27 that she plans to place the downtown historic building in a perpetual trust and partner with the clinic to operate it as a senior center and home-health facility.

The plan, Long said during a presentation to the clinic’s board in Assembly Chambers, would preserve the Portland House’s historic character while creating a senior health center with home health, periodic transportation, a senior lunch program, a pharmacy with durable medical equipment by prescription and assisted-living apartments. “This is what I would like. This is what I know Howard would be happy with,” Long said, referring to her late partner, Howard Smith.

The proposal frames a legal perpetual trust that would retain ownership of the property and contract with the Dahl Memorial Clinic to manage services and operations. Albert, a collaborator identified in the presentation, read portions of a draft that described the trust’s responsibilities and the clinic’s proposed role: “The trust will enter a contractual agreement with the Dahl Memorial Clinic, to bring about the vision and goals of the trust,” Albert said.

Why it matters: The Portland House sits downtown and, according to the presenters, is already substantially renovated and up to code, making it a potential near-term location for services many in Skagway have long requested. Board members and public commenters said the plan could address senior isolation and local care needs while preserving a historic building.

Details and supporting steps: Presenters said the building currently contains four rental apartments, an office rented by the Skagway Development Council, a large room that would be renovated for the senior center, and Howard’s shop that houses the building heating system. The building has been retrofitted with a sprinkler system and in-floor heat and, in the presenters’ words, “is up to code.”

Long and Albert said the trust would generate revenue from the facility to sustain the trust; the clinic would pay a nominal lease from revenue the building generates. Albert said the project is in its infancy and will require staged work over more than a year, though parts could be implemented more quickly.

Presenters described outreach they said they had already conducted to identify partners and potential funding: conversations with the Alaska Division of Senior and Disability Services in Juneau about three grants to fund services; a possible renovation grant from the Rasmussen Foundation; discussions with Catholic Community Services about senior meals and transportation; and discussions with Haines Hospice regarding hospice services.

Board and public response: During public comment, resident Corey Tholl praised the proposal and the work of Executive Director Alex Wall in supporting clinic services. Assembly member Deb Potter told the board she supports the clinic and offered personal backing for efforts to maintain compassionate, nondiscriminatory care. Board members expressed gratitude to Long for the donation and described the plan as an opportunity to address long-standing local needs for senior services.

Tenants and timeline: Long explicitly addressed current tenants, saying she had “no intention on putting [them] on the street.” The presenters did not provide a contract, financing plan, or final timeline; Albert described the project as likely to take “over a year to complete” but said phased implementation is possible.

Next steps: Presenters said they will continue to refine the legal trust documents and to negotiate a contractual partnership with the Dahl Memorial Clinic. The proposal and related details were presented for the board to “hear and digest” rather than for formal board action at the Feb. 27 meeting.