May 21, 2009
Brace Building Update, or Lack Thereof
By: Kevin Buchanan
Just an update on a historic preservation issue. Commenter Matt, in the comments on the Portland bike post, writes:
On another subject, have you heard any updates on the Brace Building? Nothing has changed since your post in Dec. Hopefully that building has its place in the future.
Well, there’s nothing really to report officially. We haven’t heard a peep from Comerica since the initial news broke and people started expressing their opposition to the demolition of the building. What we *think* has probably happened is that Comerica saw the writing on the wall and packed up and went home, because of overwhelming opposition from the neighborhood and local leaders. That is, however, just speculation on our part. For the time being, we are considering the project dead until we hear otherwise. This doesn’t mean the Brace Building is no longer endangered – it is in bad condition since its partial internal collapse. We’ll see what the future holds for the little building.


I imagine the recent lending institution crisis might have a role in prolonging the development. That, or perhaps they decided to wait until the preservationists stopped fanning the fire under their feet.
Perhaps now would be a good time to fan that fire again?