Historic Banks High School Slated For Demolition As City Fails To Respond To Questions

In July of last year, the City Of Banks, Oregon, made local and National news as the historic Wilke’s House was hastily demolished.  The Wilkes Family founded the beautiful agricultural community, and the removal of the old home became a heated debate topic for many.  A Florida developer and his local partners got word of the growing opposition, quietly filed for a demolition permit, and wiped the grand old home from the earth.  That left quite a hole and a lot of heartache for many citizens.

Historic Wilkes House In Banks Falls To Developers’ Dozer

That home was not to be saved, nor did it have a chance.  The people of Banks never saw fit to list it as a Historical Cultural Resource in the 1980s when the State of Oregon required all cities and counties to certify a list of the most historical sites and protect them.  This was all part of Governor Tom McCall’s land use laws, and the requirements to protect and preserve such sites can be found within Goal 5.  Having owned and lived in a Goal 5 resource in Orenco, owned some others, and respected the historic sites we have statewide, I can tell you that those rules and goals from that era are one of the reasons we have such a vibrant state today – rich with historical and culturally significant sites.  Had the Wilke’s House been on that list, it would have been protected, and the developer would have had to go through a land use hearing and process.  That would have put a legal shroud around the process and outcome and allowed local people to fight for reservation.

Given that backdrop, another fight over a historical Bank’s asset has been heating up.  This time, it is over the Banks Union High School (aka Banks Junior High School).  Last week, the Banks School Board voted to demolish the school after debating several layouts for a new campus in the same location.   This decision was made after over 200 people filed a petition to save the school and work it into the new Campus, an idea that had a lot of merit in the eyes of many who saw the plans develop.

After the vote, devastated community member Nina Shurts took to the Banks Community Bulletin Board and poured her heart and a lot of truth all over the decision.  Her words were passionate, and her facts quite hard-hitting.

This past Tuesday, the school board voted to demolish the historic high school. For some, this decision will come as a relief. But for a large part of our community—myself included—it is devastating.

The hardest part of this loss is knowing that we had a real, viable opportunity to save it—and up until last week, we were told that wasn’t possible.

For months, the biggest argument against saving the historic school was cost. The only option presented to us required an additional $3.8 million, putting us well over budget. That was the justification given time and time again—we simply couldn’t afford to save it.

But last week—far too late in the process—the architect and steering committee finally introduced a cost-neutral solution. This plan would have kept the historic building, fully renovated it to modern safety and seismic standards, and stayed within budget.

Keeping the North Wing Was the Key to Saving the Historic School

Nina Shurts – Banks Community Member

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=banks%20school%20demoliton

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Hold The Phone…

Based on my review of the situation as a historian and policy nut, the heart of the issue in Banks is that no one is talking about historical protection under the law.  After researching the Washington County Cultural Resource Inventory, certified in 1989, I determined that the Banks Union High School was officially listed as a Goal 5 Protected Resource in the State of Oregon.  Up until now, that has not come up.  Well, here is your proof-

Unlike the Wilke’s House, which was never listed in the Cultural Resource Inventory, Resource #241/82, also known as the Banks Union High School (Banks Junior High School), was.  For those who love history and old buildings and who respect the past and how it guides us to the future, this designation may offer some hope.  Sadly, not many people have been around this valley long enough to know how these things work and how important all this is—signs beyond looking in the mirror that I indeed am in the 4th Quarter.

Hearings Are Required to Demolish Or Remodel Historic Assets

When a Goal 5 protected Cultural Resource is to be demolished or remodeled, a hearing is typically required- a land use hearing.  Knowing that the Banks Union High School is historic and protected, I wanted to see why the City of Banks had not weighed in. The Herald reached out to the City of Banks this past Sunday.  The City Manager, Jolynn Becker, sent me a timely response. Here is that exchange.

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This most definitive statement, although somewhat muddled, was clear enough.  The City Manager of Banks and others must have determined that the State of Oregon and most land use attorneys have not.  Being designated as a Goal 5 Resource is most certainly an “official designation.”  On the other matter, she noted, is the issue of “no hearing is required”.    This also seems unlikely, given that state statutes were explicitly designed to protect Goal 5 Historic Assets.

If City Manager Becker is correct in her assessment, then over 500 historic CRI assets in Washington County and thousands more around the State of Oregon are no longer protected and can be torn down at will.  I wonder how that would square if a bulldozer showed up and rammed into the columns of the Washington County Courthouse?  Maybe the legendary John Porter Sequoias on the Court House grounds should be whacked and milled up?  No permits, you say?  I think not.

I responded to Jolynn on Monday after researching things a bit.

What Happened Next?

If you are still reading and want to see what happened next, dig in and read the 11-page letter that followed this first exchange after hours of research and with the help of the various Banks locals who have been boots on the ground for a long time now.  Letter to the City of Banks

What we discovered-

• The City of Banks recognized the School and designated it as Historical in the 1989 Comprehensive Plan Update. (See Document Below)
• In 2003, during a Goal 5 Update, the City of Banks confirmed the Historic Status once again by issuing Ordinance 110.01 (See Document Below)
• In 2021 – Banks again affirmed the designation of the Banks Union High School and several other properties.  Banks Ordinance. 2021-08-02, passed 10-12-2021 – § 151.065 HISTORIC RESOURCE OVERLAY ZONE H. 

How can a city run when the people running it don’t understand its history and laws?  It is beyond me.  But here we are.  And the School District has an obligtion to know these things too.  My personal belief is that people know people making decisions, but they don’t want this bubbling up.  Well, the good people of Banks are trying, and maybe the digging of a kid from Orenco, Helvetia, Scholls, and Hillsboro can help out.  No doubt I love history and have come into my own as a Washington County Historian and activist.

In the 11-page letter, I laid out the basis for a legal case and warned Jolynn, the City, and the Banks School District to do the right thing and not put themselves into legal jeopardy.  I concluded the letter as follows-

In fairness to the City Manager, Planner, School District, and City Attorney, Daniel Kearns, I have waited quite a while for my letter, concerns, and questions.  No responses have been offered since Jolynn’s initial response.  I am told by others in receipt of my letter that several state agencies and law firms are involved in the response.

• The LCDC and Division of State Lands have been contacted for comment.
• The State Historic Preservation Office has been contacted.
• Washington County has been contacted to ask for clarity and to caution against issuing another Wilkes House Demolition situation.
• Other Agencies

Answers so far:

Chrissy Curran – OPRD:

Dear Mr. Knudsen,

I just wanted to thank you for your letter yesterday and let you know that I am coordinating with DLCD to sort this out. You will get a more detailed email from DLCD because they’ve been in conversation with the city today.

Melissa DeLyser – Washington County Communications-

“To date, our Building Services department has not received an application for a demolition permit for this property,” said Melissa De Lyser, Communications Manager, Washington County Land Use & Transportation. “We can’t issue a comment until we’ve seen an application.”

Kristin Greene, Deputy Director, DLCD- Salem

The city has a historic protection overlay, § 151.065 HISTORIC RESOURCE OVERLAY ZONE; DLCD staff has requested information from the city about whether the high school structure is designated with the city’s historic resources overlay zone. DLCD staff is assisting the city research and review historic planning documents related to the original historic resource inventory in the comprehensive plan and subsequent actions taken to comply with ORS 197.772. This provision of statute allows allow a property owner to remove an historic property designation if they were not given adequate notice of the designation when it was imposed.

If the research provides evidence that the building is on the city’s historic resource inventory and designated with the historic resource overlay, it is DLCD staff’s understanding that the provisions of the city’s § 151.065 HISTORIC RESOURCE OVERLAY ZONE would apply, including, as applicable, requirements for planning commission approval of demolitions. Should the research show that the building is not on the city’s historic resource inventory and designated with the historic resource overlay, DLCD staff are not aware of any additional state or local requirements related to demolition of the building.

Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,

Kirstin

Yes, we will be gaining a new high school, and that’s exciting. But we had the opportunity to gain a new high school AND keep our history intact.

That opportunity is now gone.

History itself can’t be erased—but the places that connect us to it can be. And when they’re gone, something essential is lost—not just for us, but for generations to come.

This school was built at the very start of Banks’ history. It has stood through every major event in our community’s lifetime. It could’ve stood for another hundred years.

Instead, we chose to erase it.

And once it’s gone, we’ll never get it back.

I realize my writing is detailed and lengthy.  My journalistic work aims to tell stories no one else can or will in a sound-bite world.  I also hope to remind my readers of what is possible and about the value of knowledge in a changing world.  Be an activist.  Fight for your people and communities in all turns if what you are fighting for is something you believe in. Hopefully, this story has reached some of you at that level.

Banks has a LOT to be proud of.  Not the least of which is your incredible History.  Without it, you will become nothing more than a Y in the road what the “Others” have reimagined into what they desire.  It is happening to you all now, and you know it.  The newer folks already outnumber you locals – that is the way of things.  It is your job to tell your story and stress the importance of keeping a foothold in the past as you all move forward into this next very massive growth period driven by Corporate interests that will come and go and move on with the money.  All of you, newer and longtime citizens, can prosper significantly by having an incredible asset like the Banks Union High School remain an important part of your future.

I wish to thank Laurelen Jabour, Cory Parson, Ayla Hofler, Banks Historical Society, Nina Shurts, and the 200 people who signed the petition to save the school- for helping with this story and the needed work to save the building.

The Hillsboro Union High School was torn down well over a decade ago.  It was not historically protected.  The fight to save it was substantial.  Today, more and more citizens admit to the missed opportunity and the mistake that Hillsboro made.  But once you make this sort of mistake, there is no going back- not ever.  I wish you all well.