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Landmarks Commission OKs emergency repair of Boys & Girls Club entry after staff conditions
Summary
The Bend Landmarks Commission approved emergency repairs to the front entry, ramp and masonry at the Boys & Girls Club (formerly Bend Amateur Athletic Club) with conditions requiring permits, clarified site plans and documentation.
The Bend Landmarks Commission on April 15 approved emergency repairs to the front entry stairs, ADA ramp and associated masonry at the Boys and Girls Club building at 500 NW Wall, also known historically as the Bend Amateur Athletic Club.
The commission acted after staff and the project team described longstanding water infiltration and freeze–thaw damage to the stair and adjacent wall that staff said must be addressed to provide safe building access. Heidi Kennedy, the city staff planner, recommended approval with conditions including required permits for storm drainage and building work, a site plan showing property lines prior to permit issuance, right-of-way permits for any public-work activity and consultation with staff if changes arise during construction.
The project architects said the damage dates to modifications made during a 1997 remodel, when an ADA ramp and details altered the original stair geometry. Matt Appleby, senior project manager and architect with ORW Architecture, described plans to remove and rebuild a failing wall on a new structural footing, install footing drains and a new cast stair with a snow-melt system, and reuse as much salvaged brick as possible. "We're looking to, in like kind manner, take that down... build a new structural wall, with reusing the deconstructed wall brick as much as we can," Appleby said.
George Kramer, the project's historic preservation consultant with Kramer and Company, described evaluating cast-stone panels and coping damaged by water and scuppers that no longer function. Kramer said the team plans to create silicone molds and recast decorative panels in a durable exterior material matching original tones, to catalog original elements and to retain salvaged stone where possible.
Commissioners questioned a discrepancy in the staff report regarding whether foundation work was included; the project team confirmed new foundation work is required for the new wall only. Commissioners emphasized careful documentation and review during demolition and reconstruction. Kennedy reiterated staff's conditions and the need for detailed plans at the building permit stage.
Commissioner Jim Frugerski moved to approve application PLHIS20250125 with the four staff-recommended conditions and additional requirements for detailed permit plans and documentation; the motion was seconded and carried. For the record, the commission noted Commissioner Kathy (surname not recorded) had stepped out and did not hear the entire public hearing but made no objection to the action.
The project team and staff said they will coordinate civil-engineering details for drainage, and the team acknowledged uncertainties about how deep footings and drains will need to be to daylight runoff to the street. The applicants also said they plan to remove, refinish and reinstall existing railings with any required ADA upgrades, to catalog and replace damaged stone caps and to require a masonry contractor experienced in historic preservation work.
The approval authorizes the applicant to proceed to the building-permit stage subject to the listed conditions; staff will review final permit plans and documentation before permits are issued.
