Genoa Building
Encyclopedia
The Genoa Building, at the intersection of Southeast Belmont Street and Southeast 29th Avenue in Portland
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
, is a single-story commercial building listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Built in a Vernacular
style with Mediterranean features in 1930, it was added to the register in 1997.
After construction of the Morrison Bridge
over the Willamette River
in the late 19th century, Belmont Street became an important arterial with a streetcar
line extending from central downtown Portland to as far east as Southeast 34th Avenue. A business district that centered on the original streetcar terminus gradually spread up and down Belmont. Among the last of the buildings in this development was the Genoa Building.
Home to three separate storefronts facing Belmont Street, the Genoa is a square building 60 feet (18.3 m) on each side. Although all are 60 feet (18.3 m) deep, two of the storefronts are 25 feet (7.6 m) wide, and the third, on the west, is only 10 feet (3 m) wide. Early tenants included a pharmacist, a barber, and a grocer. Significant architectural features include display windows across the north side and part of the east side of the building, 12 feet (3.7 m) interior ceiling heights, a partial basement in the rear, and a red clay tile roof.
J.W. Wilson was the original owner of the building, constructed by Knott and Rogers. Winifred Guild acquired the property in 1943, and the Guild family retained control of it until 1971, after which it was converted to restaurant space.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, is a single-story commercial building listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Built in a Vernacular
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
style with Mediterranean features in 1930, it was added to the register in 1997.
After construction of the Morrison Bridge
Morrison Bridge
The Morrison Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.The original Morrison Bridge was a wooden truss swing span bridge completed on April 12, 1887 as the first Willamette River bridge in Portland and the longest bridge west of the Mississippi River...
over the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
in the late 19th century, Belmont Street became an important arterial with a streetcar
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line extending from central downtown Portland to as far east as Southeast 34th Avenue. A business district that centered on the original streetcar terminus gradually spread up and down Belmont. Among the last of the buildings in this development was the Genoa Building.
Home to three separate storefronts facing Belmont Street, the Genoa is a square building 60 feet (18.3 m) on each side. Although all are 60 feet (18.3 m) deep, two of the storefronts are 25 feet (7.6 m) wide, and the third, on the west, is only 10 feet (3 m) wide. Early tenants included a pharmacist, a barber, and a grocer. Significant architectural features include display windows across the north side and part of the east side of the building, 12 feet (3.7 m) interior ceiling heights, a partial basement in the rear, and a red clay tile roof.
J.W. Wilson was the original owner of the building, constructed by Knott and Rogers. Winifred Guild acquired the property in 1943, and the Guild family retained control of it until 1971, after which it was converted to restaurant space.