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Historic Eastlake Home on SE 15th Avenue Sells for $1.23 Million, Setting Record in Quiet Summer Sale

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  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/12/0 .. million-setting-record-in-quiet-summer-sale.html
  Published in House and Home on Monday, December 8th 2025 at 10:21 GMT by Oregonian

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Summary of “A Famous Portland Architect’s First Home Has a Fascinating History That Helped It Sell for Over $1 M” (OregonLive, December 2025)

The OregonLive article, released in late 2025, tells the story of a once‑unassuming house on SE 15th Avenue that became the cornerstone of a now‑celebrated Portland architect’s early career and, ultimately, a hot real‑estate listing. The narrative weaves together the property’s architectural lineage, the personal history of the designer who first called it home, and the ways in which that history resonated with buyers, helping the house fetch a record price of $1.2 million in a quiet summer sale.

1. The House’s Origins and Architectural Significance

Built in 1912 by local contractor H. J. Miller, the two‑story wood‑frame home exemplifies the Late Victorian “Eastlake” style that dotted early‑20th‑century Portland. Its low‑pitched roof, overhanging eaves, and carved brackets are typical of the period, but the property also boasts an unusually large, wrap‑around porch—an element that later proved attractive to the house’s most famous occupant.

The article notes that the house was originally constructed as a rental for a prominent family in the burgeoning North Portland neighborhood, an area that would later be recognized as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1923 the house was purchased by the architect’s family, setting the stage for a lifelong association with the property.

2. The Architect’s Early Years

The key figure in the story is Robert “Bob” E. Hansen (b. 1905), who would go on to become one of Portland’s most influential modernist architects. Hansen, whose design ethos blended clean lines with a reverence for natural light, began his career in the 1930s, apprenticing at the office of famed Seattle architect Warren C. Bates. The house on SE 15th Avenue served as Hansen’s first independent project: he converted the original living room into a personal studio, installing a skylight and a series of custom‑cut windows that would become hallmarks of his later work.

The article links to a 2024 biography of Hansen on the Oregon Historical Society’s website, which provides further insight into how his early studio—nestled in a historic frame house—shaped his understanding of scale and proportion. In particular, Hansen’s experimentation with “light boxes” (transparent panels that diffuse natural light) in his studio informed his later public buildings, such as the 1964 Oregon State Library.

3. Historical Milestones and Community Ties

Hansen’s home did more than serve as a creative workspace; it became a civic hub. During the 1940s, Hansen hosted informal gatherings of local architects, artists, and city planners in the house’s spacious kitchen and attic loft. These meetings, chronicled in the 1947 issue of Portland Architectural Digest, contributed to the city’s post‑war urban redevelopment plans.

The article quotes longtime neighbor Margaret L. Carver, who recalled that the house was often the site of “the first public debate over the new street‑car line.” Carver’s recollection is corroborated by a link to a 1972 newspaper clip that highlights the house’s role as a community meeting place during the early planning stages of Portland’s transit expansion.

Hansen himself never sold the house during his lifetime; it remained in the Hansen family until 2019, when his granddaughter, Sara Hansen, inherited the property. Sara, a licensed architect, has maintained the original fixtures and even restored the original woodwork, preserving the integrity of the house’s historic fabric.

4. The 2025 Sale and Market Context

In early 2025, the house entered the market with a listing price of $1 million, advertised as “historic charm meets modern convenience.” The listing, found on Zillow, highlighted the property’s “original Eastlake wood trim,” “hand‑carved banister,” and the “skylight that originally illuminated Bob Hansen’s studio.”

According to the article, the house attracted a competitive bidding war involving at least five offers. The final sale price—$1.23 million—was reported by The Oregonian’s real‑estate editor. The article explains that the historic status of the house, combined with its association with a celebrated architect, helped justify the premium. In fact, the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission confirmed that the property was eligible for a $30,000 tax credit for historic preservation, an incentive that appealed to many of the buyers.

The article also includes a sidebar with data from the Portland Housing Bureau showing that, in 2024, the median sale price for homes in the SE 15th Avenue area rose 12% from the previous year. In that context, Hansen’s house sold at roughly 6% above the local median—a testament to the “story value” the property brought to its new owners.

5. The Legacy of Hansen’s First Home

Beyond the financial aspects, the article stresses that the sale marked a symbolic moment in Portland’s architectural heritage. By passing the house on to a new generation, the Hansen family ensured that the structure’s story—rooted in the city’s early 20th‑century growth, the personal journey of a local icon, and the communal life it fostered—remains visible to future residents.

The article ends by reflecting on how Hansen’s early experiments in light and space, inspired by his original studio’s skylight, can still be appreciated in the house’s bright windows today. It notes that the current owners, who are also architects, plan to preserve the historic interior while installing energy‑efficient glazing that mimics the original light quality—a nod to the legacy of a house that once gave rise to a Portland architectural legend.

6. Key Takeaways for Readers

1. Historic Architecture Matters – The house’s Eastlake style and original fixtures gave it an authentic, tangible past that buyers value.
2. Personal History Drives Value – The connection to Bob Hansen, whose modernist work shaped Portland’s skyline, added a narrative layer that justified a premium price.
3. Community Significance Enhances Appeal – The property’s role as a civic meeting place during a formative period of the city’s development made it a landmark beyond its architecture.
4. Historic Incentives Help Sellers – Tax credits for preserving historic features can offset higher listing prices and attract buyers who appreciate heritage.
5. Legacy Preservation is Possible – With modern upgrades that respect historic materials, properties can stay relevant while honoring their past.

By intertwining the architectural, personal, and civic threads of this story, the OregonLive article showcases how a single house can encapsulate the evolution of a city, a designer’s career, and the collective memory of a community—an inspiring reminder that the past and present can coexist in the spaces we call home.