Admiral Apartments facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wheeldon Apartment Building
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The Wheeldon Apartment Building in 2014
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| Location | 910 SW Park Avenue Portland, Oregon |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Emil Schacht and Son |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001591 |
| Added to NRHP | October 25, 1990 |
The Admiral Apartments is a historic building in downtown Portland, Oregon. It was built in 1909 and first called the Wheeldon Apartments. This five-story brick building has a special Tudor Revival style. Since 1990, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important part of history.
Building History
The Wheeldon Apartment Building was designed by a company called Emil Schacht and Son. It was finished in 1909. The building got its first name from its first manager, Alice Wheeldon. Later, in 1929, its name was changed to the Admiral Apartments.
Life in the Apartments
When the apartments first opened, they were quite fancy. They had two to five bedrooms, shiny hardwood floors, and even an electric dumbwaiter service. A dumbwaiter is like a small elevator that carries food or other items between floors. This made life easier for the people living there!
The Big Fire
In October 1929, a fire broke out on the first floor. It quickly spread up to the attic and the roof. About half of the building was not damaged at all. However, the fire caused a lot of damage, costing between $10,000 and $15,000 to fix. Luckily, the fire did not spread to the nearby Heathman Hotel.
Changes Over Time
After the fire, the building faced some tough times, especially during the Great Depression. By the 1970s, the apartments were not as fancy as they used to be.
In 1980, Mike Purcell helped renovate the building. He worked on a government contract, and 37 of the apartments became subsidized housing. This meant that people with lower incomes could afford to live there.
In 1990, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This recognized its importance as a historic site. The rent for these apartments was protected until 2010. This helped low-income elderly and disabled residents continue to live there.
Modern Renovations
Starting in 2009, the Admiral Apartments got a complete makeover. Walsh Construction did the remodeling, following a design by SERA Architects. The money for these renovations came from the Portland Development Commission and the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department. Today, a group called Portland's REACH Community Development Corporation is listed as the owner.
