The Committee to Preserve Vintage Housing was formed in 1989 in response to plans by developer Philip J. Morton of Metropolitan Homes, Inc. to demolish houses in northwest Portland, Oregon, to make way for construction of luxury rowhouses. Morton had already been the subject of controversy the previous summer for his unsuccessful attempt to fell an oak tree on SW Corbett Street to make room for development. In March 1989, Morford's firm served eviction notices at houses slated for demolition. The Committee to Preserve Vintage Housing produced a poster calling to "Save the good old houses," which was posted throughout the west side of Portland. On May 23, 1989, bulldozers demolished four houses on NW Overton Street. More than 100 protesters confronted the demolition crews, and the police arrested 23 of the demonstrators. Subsequently, one other house in northwest Portland owned by Metropolitan Homes was preserved, while two others were relocated.

Sources: "NW tenants vow to fight eviction," by Diane Dulken, Oregonian, March 6, 1989, Page D24, Portland section; "Morford's foes take to streets once again," by Diane Dulken, Oregonian, May 24, 1989, page A15; "The Bulldozer Developer," by Peter Carlin, Oregonian, August 20, 1989, Northwest Magazine, page 12; "For better or worse, urban landscapes shift," by Fred Leeson, March 9, 2006, In Portland section, page 6.