Council directs staff to pursue National Register listing and formal agreements for Carnegie Building

The council voted unanimously July 27 to pursue National Register of Historic Places listing for the 1918 Hermiston Carnegie Building and to direct staff to negotiate written agreements with community groups for building use.

Winnehaug Group senior project manager Cassie Hibbert presented a building condition assessment: overall the century-old wood-frame mission-revival building is in “good condition” with manageable issues — cracked or missing lath and plaster in places, painted-shut original wood windows, minor water damage to eaves, some asbestos in old floor glue and lead paint typical of the era, and an under-capacity and disorganized electrical service. A 1950s–60s addition has a beam with slight deflection and the clerestory window area lacks sufficient shear wall for modern seismic loads; consultants recommended targeted repairs and electrical upgrades.

Hibbert said Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) had already indicated the property appears to meet eligibility criteria (over 50 years old, retains integrity, and is significant as a Carnegie library with mission revival architecture). Listing would open state grant eligibility and potential code leniency for certain historic features when federal funds were not involved. Staff recommended proceeding with a nomination and gave the council a timeline that would target a SHPO submission round in November 2026 with subsequent state and federal reviews.

Council also directed staff to formalize agreements with local groups (arts and heritage organizations and an amateur radio group) to occupy and program the building once improvements are completed. Staff said interior scope (whether the nomination should include interiors as contributing features) remains under study and the 1950s addition’s historic status will be researched further.