A historic 1910 Arts and Crafts bungalow in Lake Oswego that came within two days of being demolished by developers has sold for $1.47 million after a major, multi-year restoration.
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that → come → restoration
Known locally as the Emma Austin House, the 3,074-square-foot home sits on a 1.04-acre wooded lot at 49 Briarwood Road in one of Oregon's most exclusive residential areas.
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home → know → areas
The property was set to be demolished after a developer bought the land with plans to tear down the house, divide the tree-covered lot and build several high-density homes.
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developer → set → homes
Rescue within 48 hours
The home was saved after historic preservation advocates made an urgent effort to protect it.
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advocates → rescue → it
According to project records from McCulloch Construction, the Lake Oswego Preservation Society learned that the historic bungalow was in immediate danger and contacted Portland preservationist and builder John McCulloch.
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bungalow → accord → McCulloch
The preservation group told McCulloch that someone had to buy the property directly from the developer within 48 hours.
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someone → tell → hours
Otherwise, demolition permits would move forward and the house would be lost.
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house → move → ?
McCulloch bought the property for $610,000, stopping the planned division of the land.
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McCulloch → buy → land
The Lake Oswego Preservation Society later gave McCulloch its preservation award for stepping in to save the historic home.
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Society → give → home
According to real estate records published in William J. Hawkins III's book Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon, 1850-1950, the bungalow is considered one of the region's best examples of early 20th-century Arts and Crafts design.
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bungalow → accord → design
Architect and origins
Emma Austin, a wealthy Portland resident, commissioned the house in 1910.
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Austin → commission → 1910
At the time, Lake Oswego was still known as "Sucker Lake" and was mainly a rural escape for people from the city.
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Oswego → know → city
Austin hired well-known Portland architect Joseph Jacobberger to design the home.
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Austin → hire → home
Jacobberger was known for his Craftsman and Arts and Crafts houses across the Pacific Northwest.
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Jacobberger → know → Northwest
He preferred natural materials instead of the heavy decoration common in Victorian homes.
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He → prefer → homes
The house's design was influenced by the Greene and Greene style that became popular in California.
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that → influence → California
It includes large stone columns, Japanese-inspired wooden framing and wide roof edges covered with rustic cedar shingles.
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It → include → shingles
Despite its historic design, the property did not have official city landmark status.
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property → have → status
This left its 1.04-acre lot open to possible redevelopment.
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This → leave → redevelopment
After buying the property, McCulloch Construction began a complete renovation from the studs out.
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Construction → buy → studs
The goal was to update the home's systems while keeping its original early-20th-century appearance.
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goal → update → appearance
According to The Oregonian, workers replaced damaged stone details with matching river rock collected nearby.
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workers → accord → rock
The same type of stone was used to build hundreds of feet of new retaining walls around the gardens.
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type → use → gardens
Contractors added a new concrete foundation around the house to meet modern earthquake safety codes.
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Contractors → add → codes
They also replaced the electrical and plumbing systems and installed more efficient heating and cooling equipment.
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They → replace → equipment
Inside, workers removed layers of old paint and restored the original woodwork.
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workers → remove → woodwork
McCulloch spent more than $75,000 on specialized interior painting and finishing.
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McCulloch → spend → painting
The team also found and restored light fixtures from the period to replace modern ones.
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team → find → ones
The second floor was expanded to create a main bedroom suite with a private fireplace, marble finishes and heated bathroom floors.
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floor → expand → fireplace
Workers also turned the low-ceiling basement into a full-height lower level with a climate-controlled custom wine cellar.
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Workers → turn → cellar
Outside, the property still has mature rose gardens, a gazebo, an artificial fountain, a waterfall and coastal redwoods supplied by a natural stream running through the property.
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property → have → property
After the structural, mechanical and cosmetic work was finished, the house went on the market as a modern luxury home that combines historic architecture with updated features.
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that → finish → features
Recent property records from Redfin and local MLS databases show that the estate sold for $1.47 million.
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estate → show → million
The sale completed a multi-year effort to turn a home that was nearly demolished into a successful historic preservation project.
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that → complete → project
In company project notes about the importance of saving historic buildings, McCulloch wrote: "Portland is changing so fast we are losing our sense of place and history.
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we → save → place
If you are torn between wanting to be close to everything and being touched by nature, this is the place."
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this → tear → nature
The Aporia
