We normally associate the Commonwealth Building with the Pietro Belluschi-designed Equitable Building on SW 6th between Washington and Stark Streets. This Commonwealth Building stood on the southwest corner of SW 6th Avenue and W Burnside. I’m guessing this was demolished during the Burnside widening project of the early 1930s. I believe that’s the Broadway Hotel (now Helen M. Swindells Building) across Burnside reflected in the window.
(City of Portland Archives)
This photo is roughly the same vantage point as my previous post but taken after widening of W. Burnside. Note that the three-story Winchester House is now the single story building we know as Dante’s today. The “Great Light Way” illuminated arches are also gone. The Multnomah Hotel (now Embassy Suites) is much more visible at top right.
Here’s a circa 1933 photo of the same intersection looking east on Burnside. This is roughly the same time period, early- to mid-30s.
(City of Portland Archives)
