I actually stopped and talked to the security guard a year or 2 ago and asked why it was so run down. He said that it was closed and abandoned when they discovered that the building was almost nothing but Asbestos inside. Probably explains why they don't want to let anybody in!
Nothing special although it does remind me of my first apartment in Crown Heights NY (minus the giant rats unless there are some in the building...probably are)
Although the building is located south of the St. John's Bridge, since it is on the west side of the river it is not located in St.John's the neighborhood. It is in Linnton.
The reason for the security seems pretty simple: Insurance liabilities. If someone gets in and gets hurt, NW Natural is on the hook. Nothing mysterious about that.
Perhaps its not even the building that is being secured, but the rest of the property that the building happens to be on. Its just an old office building for NW Natural Gas (GasWorks). Its not even haunted or anything. It is condmned as it is falling apart and contains asbestos. While is is a beautiful building their is nothing odd or significant about it.
And what in fact, are the rumors??
Always wondered about that place, though.
Good post.