A basement will be dug and a new foundation built on the eventual site. The plan is to rehabilitate the structure itself after the move, which is proposed to take place in the spring of 1999. Portland city commissioner Gretchen Kafoury is chair of the Friends. Lead project manager for the renovation is Heritage Consulting Group of Portland. Other firms who will donate services include SERA Architects and KPFF Consulting Engineers .
Plans call for meeting rooms or offices on the main and second floors along with public use space.
The living room, dining room and staircase will be restored as closely as possible to the original. The third floor will be adapted for HVAC equipment. Once the renovations are complete, PSU will take full responsibility for maintaining the house and grounds. The idea has been proposed to place a heritage rose and sculpture garden next to the house or on the adjacent Park Blocks. A Benson house Christmas story also by Sam Churchill An Oregonian newspaper story about the proposed move and restoration The City also offering the historic Hochapfel house located on the same block to anyone willing to move and restore it, follow this link for more information.