Custom

United States Custom House in the North Park Blocks, Portland.

This magnificent fin-de-siècle building is on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. It's situated on a broad street where plantings separate one-way traffic lanes, similar in spirit to New York 's Park Avenue but with more park including beautiful mature trees.

The DeSoto Building across the street was renovated a few years ago and has become an art hub on the edge of the Pearl District, home to several galleries (including photographic arts at the Blue Sky Gallery) and the Museum of Contemporary Crafts. It's odd, therefore, that the Custom House has stood empty. There were various proposals to use it as a hotel or a college, but all fell through, possibly due to the enormous cost of seismic upgrading. Portland is overdue for its next 'big one' and we have active volcanoes nearby. Apparently plans are in the works to renovate it for offices in a way that evades the seismic requirements; it certainly looks as though it can withstand all that nature can throw at it.

Note the rich detailing, the multistory columns, the tall windows, and the handsome wrought iron railing - even better if you biggify. For a photograpic glimpse at the interior and an extensive article on the history and architecture by Brian Libby, see here.

ODD: DDW September 14 challenge

(SOOC, cropped.)