Save this sign...by Derek Long, Photo by Jason E. Kaplan

When the Crown Motel is demolished this March to be replaced by an affordable housing complex, don’t count on the loss of the iconic neon sign.

While many local residents had expressed concern at the probable demise of the two-story neon crown and sword, the Atomic Age Alliance-PDX — a local group dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of vintage 1950s and ’60s architecture in the Portland region — was ready to lead an organized campaign to save the sign.

“We had our infrastructure in place and felt ready to take on a task of this proportion,” said Alyssa Starelli, vice president, Chairperson and co-founder of AAA-PDX. Members discussed the issue after their resident historian, Bo Sullivan, brought up the topic at their December meeting at The Alibi Restaurant and Lounge.

The group is currently soliciting property owners for a new site along the stretch of Interstate from Overlook to Russet to relocate the sign. Options range from commercial sites to parking lots, although there is a chance the sign will be relocated to a restoration facility in the event a permanent site cannot be located prior to demolition.

Members of AAA-PDX are confident that representatives of REACH Community Development are dedicated to working on a new solution to move the sign. REACH, the nonprofit firm working on the project in partnership with PDC and TriMet, said inclusion of the neon sign into the new Patton Park Apartments wouldn’t have been a possibility with the cost and scale of the current design.

“We had some feedback from the neighborhood that they’d like to see that preserved,” said Riad Sahal, the project manager. “But it wouldn’t have fit in with what we’re trying to do and it wouldn’t fit in with the design.”

Incorporating the sign into the existing plans would be double the cost of restoring and moving the sign to a new location.

At a meeting at Sam Adams’ City Hall office Jan. 9, Starelli and other members of the campaign met with members of Adams’ staff, REACH, and the Portland Development Commission about options for moving and saving the sign.

Preservation of Portland’s mid-century “space age” architecture is a topic close to the heart of members of the local group.

“With the advent of home-remodeling shows, urban development programs, and McMansion sprawl, mid-century buildings and signage are in peril,” said Starelli. “I was very lucky to find a core group of mid-century enthusiasts to help grow our club and focus our objectives.”

The signs along the avenue date from the 1940s to ’60s when, prior to the construction of I-5, Interstate was the main highway north from Portland to Washington. Both the Alibi’s Vegas-style tiki sign and the Palms Motel monkey on a palm tree motif have been successfully refurbished over the past 10 years. The Alibi remains one of the more popular establishments on Interstate, while the Palms Motel sign was restored with PDC development funds as part of the Storefront Improvement Program.

Many architects and neighborhood members argue that saving the remaining neon signs is essential in preserving the historic nature of the street. Further goals discussed by supporters include the possible creation of a historic preservation district encompassing all vintage neon signs along Interstate, a broader goal that would require working with the Landmark Commission.

“Our immediate focus will be the sign, of course, as our time frame is so short, but I hope to work on both concurrently,” said Starelli. “I think our two main goals at the moment are to find a suitable site for the sign, and to find the funding and support.”

With a demolition date of March 15, Starelli and other supporters, including the Overlook Neighborhood Association, are hoping they’ll be able help save a piece of Portland’s own Route 66.

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