This story is by a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Advisors Program. The program began in 1966 and has engaged over 500 preservationists from around the country who have volunteered their time and expertise to the organization. We asked Advisors to share what they are seeing in their communities in order to learn about the impact of historic preservation across the country.

On September 8, 2020, the Almeda Fire ripped through the Bear Creek Valley in southern Oregon, destroying more than 2,500 homes and buildings between Ashland and Medford. In Talent, Oregon, (2020 population 6,282) the fire destroyed two entire blocks in the small downtown. The Malmgren Garage was the only building to remain on the east side of Talent Avenue. The rehabilitation of the garage as a cornerstone of downtown Talent after the fire would not have happened without the financial assistance of state and federal preservation programs.

An Iconic Parapet Comes Through the Fire

Built of concrete, and recognizable by its character-defining stepped parapet, the Malmgren Garage’s iconic shape, was a landmark even when engulfed in flames. “It was hard to get my bearings, to know what I was seeing... until I saw the outline of the Malmgren building standing out against the flames,” said Talent’s Mayor, Darby Ayers-Flood, recalling the chaos of September 2020.

The Morgan’s had successfully listed Hanscom Hall (1906) on the National Register (a building that was destroyed by the fire) and had used the Certified Rehabilitation Tax Credit and Oregon’s Special Assessment benefit to offset the restoration costs. After the Almeda fire, Bonnie wondered if the programs could help her rebuild the garage, even though all that remained was concrete perimeter walls. The fire destroyed everything else: the roof, the wood trusses, the windows, and the simple interior partitions.

Making the Case for Restoration

A structural evaluation found the concrete walls were sound. The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) was initially doubtful the building retained sufficient integrity to its original design but was willing to listen. The project team made the case that the concrete parapet, the building’s setback from Talent Avenue (where the gas pumps had originally been) and its surviving board-formed concrete walls, conveyed the building’s history and significance.

With Oregon SHPO’s support, a Part 1 application was sent to the National Park Service, along with plans for the proposed restoration design, prepared by Chris Brown and Jerome Whiteof Arkitek:Design and Architecture. After discussion, NPS approved the Part 1, and then the Part 2 Rehabilitiation plan, subject to the finished work meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and the building being successfully nominated and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Federal and State Benefits Were Key

The federal Historic Tax Credit, creating a benefit equal to 20 percent of the qualified rehabilitation expenses, was an important element in making the project financially feasible. This incentive became even more critical as construction costs sky-rocketed in the aftermath of the fire, when qualified contractors and materials were in high demand throughout the region. Oregon’s Special Assessment benefit, which fixed the cost of the property post-fire as the basis for its property tax for ten years, was also important.

The Jackson County Assessor determined the building shell had no value, limiting the assessment to the value of the land alone. Other financial support came from donations, grants, and art. Bonnie took burnt metal, salvaged from the roof, to create and sell small hangings cut into the building’s iconic facade. Others, photographers and painters, created art depicting the building and sold them at Art of the Fire, an event held inside the shell, to support the project.

The new design took special care to retain the open warehouse-like character of the building while creating two retail spaces in the front and two small apartments in the rear to help address Talent’s critical post-fire housing shortage. Travis Hoppes Construction was responsible for the work, which included the use of heavy wood beams for the roof structure, an exposed concrete slab floor and simple materials. A fire-damaged interior concrete wall was retained, to document the buildjng’s history.

The Malmgren Garage was listed on the National Register in May 2024 under Criterion A, for its association with the history of Talent and the Pacific Highway, and under Criterion C, for its simple commercial architecture, including the characteristic stepped parapet. The Historic Tax Credit for the certified rehabilitation application was approved as well.

The rebuilt Malmgren Garage is now occupied by Goldback+Iruai, a wine tasting room, and the Talent Art Gallery, with tenants in the rear apartments. One of the tenants previously had rented a small apartment that was in Hanscom Hall and had lost that home in the Almeda Fire.