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Taco Time Building - $96 Willamette Street <br /> i , <br /> Built in 1898, this structure was originally the First National Bank, <br /> As built, the structure featured many elements of the Richardsonian :~-~$i l,_ <br /> Romaneque style, including a rusticated masonry base and the -~.~__„y <br /> unique tower and turret at the corner of Willamette and Broadway. _ ~--_a_...~ _ <br /> In 1923 the building was remodeled by Ellis Lawrence. The tower ~ <br /> and turret were likely removed around this time. Substantial - ~ <br /> alterations were done in 1966 to further modernize the building. <br /> 1~ <br /> Findings ~ ( _ _ <br /> ~ - .fir- _ <br /> Walking through the building I observed very tittle original fabric. ~'m - <br /> At the rear of the structure, a historic brick-wall still exists. It is ' Ef ~ _ <br /> difficult to tell its age; however, it was never a primary facade with _ _ <br /> windows. A bank vault was visible in the basement. ~ ,4~~' <br /> ~ The upper floors yielded no evidence of any historic fabric. The <br /> rhythm of the window bays, as well as the size of the openings - r <br /> themselves, are substantially, different from the original bank <br /> structure. No masonry or historic building fmishes could be seen. Figure I .Historic photo of the First National Bank. <br /> The ceilings are currently covered with a drop ceiling. It appears <br /> that the 1966 remodel involved gutting the interior of the historic ~ <br /> i building. It is possible there are historic remnants concealed within _ <br /> the current wails; however, there appears to be even fewer character- <br /> defining features than at the Shaw-Med building. , \ <br /> t <br /> Conclusions <br /> Very little of the original First National Bank building remains. ~ ~ <br /> Even if the 1966 facade was removed, the building has insufficient t ~.c..*~w~.~, ' ~S <br /> architectural integrity to be eligible for the National Register of <br /> Historic Places. Additionally, it is highly unlikely that any fabric <br /> that might remain within the 1966 structure could be incorporated in <br /> an adaptive reuse in a way that tells the bank building's history and - ~ ~ , ; <br /> prominence at Willamette and Broadway in a meaningful and . w <br /> authentic fashion. Figure 2. Taco Time. Broadway (south) fagade. <br /> <br /> ~ Options <br /> ~ _ . ~ ti <br /> I do not see the possibility of any- historic preservation or reuse of ~ ~ <br /> historic fabric at this site. If it a community goal to pay homage to <br /> this important historic building, an interpretive display is likely the ~ ~ <br /> most feasible course of action. The design for a new building could ~ ~ ~ <br /> also make reference to the old bank by differentiating the base - T - ~ ^ - - <br /> {ground floor) from the upper stories and the use of a prominent , _ <br /> corner design feature. - <br /> }g <br /> <br /> i n ~ ~~tik ~ f~~ <br /> ' Figure 3. Broadway (south facade) <br /> l <br /> I :'s-1 -a <br /> ~l~ <br /> V' ' 1 <br /> j ~'"14y'r_. ~ Y~'~' L~~iP r ariry <br /> fat 4, lk 1~ btre~ ~f`6~fdarig (r~~ Sd <br /> , <br /> <br />