PORTLAND, Ore. -- Tear it down or fix it up is the question over a Portland castle is stirring quite a debate in city’s West Hills.

The house is nicknamed Canterbury Castle.

It’s now unoccupied, in foreclosure. But the medieval-style home is falling apart and no one will buy it from the bank.

It may look like a fortress from a distance but 80-year-old castle does not pass a closer inspection.

"It's got a lot of question marks,” said Andy McCabe, who was hired by the bank to determine the demolition cost for the quirky castle on Canterbury Lane.

Sure, the draw bridge doesn't work. The built-in weight scale at the top of a spiral staircase is malfunctioning.

But the real problem is more serious.

“It has the potential to possibly further erode and have some of these large siding stones fall down the slope,” said Ross Caron, a spokesman with the city’s Bureau of Development Services

Heavy stone siding on the castle is pulling apart with such force the fireplace is slowly separating from the house.

McCabe says even the land here is unstable.

“It cost as much to tear it down as it does to keep it,” he added.

He estimates the knock-down coast at more than $400,000. A full renovation could cost up to a million dollars, given all the stability issues.

Nearby neighbor Georgette Pan hopes the bank and the city give up on the castle.

“Really the bottom line is how many people want to live in a castle in Portland, Oregon? Maybe if you could transport it to Scotland.”

She and other neighbors say heavy stones have already rolled off the property.

They're worried.

“While (the castle) might have some nostalgic value, I think that's outweighed by the safety concerns,” said Pan.

Before the bank goes medieval on the home, even the inspector can't help but wonder:

“If you put the money into it, could it be an icon? Could it be that structure Portland needs? Yeah, it might be worth it.”

Safety, finances and gravity are all laying siege to the castle.

Unless there's a surprise ending this Canterbury tale might be a sad one.

Canterbury Castle has appeared on the National Register of Historic Places.

But the city says safety concerns take priority over that status.

The city is waiting for a proposal from the bank on what to do next.