For thirty years, inner east Portland has dreamed of a metamorphosis for Washington High School (WHS). Because of its small site, declining enrollment, social and racial problems and a serious recession, the school was closed in 1981. After closure, it was used for administrative functions, special programs and a variety of recreational and community uses.
The economic development activities of the Buckman Community Association in the late 1970s generated an interest in local projects and property. In the early 1980s, the Buckman neighborhood held a community congress with over 300 in attendance addressing nearby concerns.
One of the many recommendations was to improve economic development in the area. This became the beginning of the REACH community development corporation. The acronym REACH stands for: Recreation, Education, Access, Community and Housing. A goal of REACH became the acquisition of the old high school for a neighborhood community center and moderately priced housing along with other community functions. When the school district was approached with this idea, it became clear that this would be a long term dream.
The City of Portland was also aware of the property and saw its potential for as site for a centrally located community center. By the mid 1980s, the Parks Futures Plan described it as the best location in southeast Portland for a community center. A few years later, the Buckman Neighborhood Plan advocated for greater community use of school buildings and described the need for a community center and improved swimming facilities in inner SE.
The cash-strapped PPS was convinced they needed to sell some of their extensive list of surplus properties in the late 1990s. The newly- formed Innovation Partnership studied the issue and suggested that PPS dispose of excess school properties through a real estate trust. After forming this real estate trust, the sale of WHS became its first project and number one priority.
Meanwhile, with the interest in WHS increasing, the BCA held neighborhood meetings of all the stakeholders to discuss the various options. The desire for community involvement and support led to a task force being formed in 2003 to review and recommend to the school board that the 7.2 acres at WHS was surplus property and authorize its sale.
Parks, being the strongest candidate to purchase the property, formed a city task force to determine how much of the property should be acquired for a community center and a preliminary. In late 2003, the task force concluded that the City acquire 4.5 acres of the site, but not the old WHS building. The task force not only provided the boundaries of the site, but also a 140 page study with a tentative program, a preferred site plan, and the location of the community center building.
This study was accepted in early 2004 and, five months later, the City acquired the WHS property for $5.4 million. Parks could only raise $2 million and needed to borrow the remainder from the city reserve fund with the proviso that it be repaid within two years. With the help of the Eastside Urban Renewal area, the WHS loan was repaid in full and on time.
There were two remaining parcels to be sold by the school district, one with the old school building on it. This took another public process to help find a developer. Due to the economy and the desire for full fair market value, this became a long term search. Then, with the changing housing market, the developer eventually lost interest.
Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans sent several hundred people to Portland and WHS became the ideal site to provide emergency shelter for them. These guests to Portland ate in the cafeteria and slept in the gym while more substantial quarters were found for them elsewhere in Portland through early 2006. Soon after that, it was determined that removing the gym, cafeteria and newer classrooms on the site would improve that salability of the property and they were demolished.
With the opportunity for a Park bond election in the fall of 2010, greater definition was needed for the WHS community center project. With federal funds materializing in early 2009, another committee was formed to select an architectural consultant, develop the building program, and give form to the site and building. This committee’s work is nearing completion and result is yet to be determined.
No matter what the advisory committee and the Parks Bureau decide, a community center at this central Portland location would be a great asset for the City. It will be a fitting tribute to the thousands of WHS students that matriculated through this Portland landmark high school.
Everyone hopes a significant improvement occurs soon that will bring to fruition many of the dreams of thirty years ago.
