The Maddox Building
An Iconic Reflection of the Pearl District’s Past
Wandering down historic 13th Avenue in the Pearl District, the visitor experiences a surge of energy and creativity inspired by street art, a vibrant restaurant scene, and a profusion of local artists and shops.
What makes the Pearl District unique is this incredibly cosmopolitan environment set against the backdrop of Portland's old, historic buildings.
Sitting on the corner of 13th and NW Hoyt is the four-story red brick Maddox Building. Registered on the National Register of Historic Places and first constructed in 1906, the Maddox has watched over a century of Portland’s history play out around it. Originally, it supported the Portland rail yards, which had tracks running down 13th Avenue. The Maddox Transfer and Storage sign painted on the building connects its gritty warehouse past with the present day.
The Maddox Building
Past and Present
The Maddox Building, (formally the Prael, Hegele Building) at 1231 N.W. Hoyt St. is a former furniture warehouse and one of the first examples of adaptive reuse in the Pearl. The building now hosts creative office space and retail. The railroad is long gone but the loading dock and distinctive red brick of the early years remain.
A Snippet of History
What is now known as the Pearl District was originally the land designated as the 1869 Couch's Addition (image below). The area was primarily industrial except for areas close to the North Park Blocks, which housed European immigrant families.
1869 Couch's Addition platt and the Pearl today.
In 1905 the Lewis and Clark Exposition (a centennial exposition held in Portland commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition) brought on an increase in population. The expansion of the national railway network brought jobs and built toward Portland's status as a city, rather than a settlement.
The Northwest Industrial Triangle was established in 1910, and it did not take long for the area to develop into one of the turn of the century Portland's warehouse and manufacturing districts. The Pearl continued to transform for the next forty years. The railroad stopped passenger service but continued to deliver freight until the 1970’s. When people left cities en masse in the ‘50s, and freeways became the predominant source of travel; the District felt the impact of a focus on the suburbs.
But the shift provided an opportunity. The low rent and many warehouses made the area ideal for students and artists. In the early seventies, the world-famous Powell’s Bookstore opened and other establishments followed. In the 1980’s local developers re-engineered the district around residential areas and a live-play-work culture. They bought up the defunct warehouses and converted them into the residential/commercial area we all know and love today.
The Maddox Today
While the Maddox Building today no longer stores railroad ties but is the location of creative spaces and retailers. The Maddox continues to be a focal point in the vibrant resurgence of activity on 13th Ave. including the Grand Opening of Revolvr, a boutique men's clothing retailer Friday, July 8th, and Hair Salon Guru, Tina Jackson’s Soullovey, earlier in the year.
The Maddox Building is part of the Pearl District Portfolio, distinctive properties with creative office and retail space available for lease, located throughout the Pearl District.
Locally owned, the Pearl District Portfolio partners take pride in their community and are committed to ensuring this mixed-use district continues to function as a vibrant center of art and culture, urban housing, and creativity. Through the adaptive reuse of the buildings, they continue to honor the district's history while providing a range of spaces unique and unequaled in Portland.
Leasing Information: Max Schlesinger, Broker
P: 971.703.4702 / Email: Max@apexcre.com
About Revolvr
Founded in 2013 in Bozeman, MT, REVOLVR Menswear is a boutique men’s clothing retailer focused on superior service, curated assortment, and exceptional value.
Location: 604 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
.Opens 10:00 AM Mon-FRI
Website: www.revolvrmens.com
Summer on 13th Avenue
Summer 2021 on 13th Avenue hosts street art galleries for First Thursday's and Phoenix Fridays, coordinated by the Urban Art Network and the Pearl District Neighborhood Association (PDNA), and Business Association (PDBA). The streets are lined with pedestrians of all ages, enjoying great food and drink, music, and unique shopping experiences.
Information on the Historic Maddox Building, 13th Avenue, and the Pearl District
Portland Monthly - Pearl History
