After World War II, many Fifth Ward buildings were vacated as commerce shifted from rail to air. The former "Marine District," as it was known, was already in pretty rough shape. Tavern ads invited customers to come down and "check out Skid Row!" In July 1976, Sam Mazur opened the Oregon House here. As the story goes, he was offered this blighted city property for $1 (in exchange for the Royal Hotel) and spent years renovating and restoring. Two years later, the Phoenix opened in this space.