ARTICLE
Over the past year, driven by anti-demolition residents, the City of Portland and interested stakeholders have discussed ways to revise the city’s demolition ordinance, with the goal of enhancing predictability and transparency. Some anti-housing activists wanted to require building inspectors to remain onsite during the entire demolition - and construction - process. In response to this absurd idea, HBA worked with city staff to craft an inspection regime that relied on video technology. This forward thinking technology greatly increases staff capacity, who now no longer need to sit in traffic, driving from site-to-site. Additionally, it saves builders significant time and money as they can rely on tight inspection windows. While the city had previously utilized video inspection technology in limited circumstances, the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing on construction sites gave rise to a renewed interest in the program. Utilizing video inspections during the demolition process is a natural evolution of the existing program, and HBA applauds the city for its commitment to utilizing time saving technology. You can see the final rule here. To learn more about our work with the City of Portland, contact Ezra Hammer at ezrah@hbapdx.org.