Remodeling My Neighborhood - Opportunities And Dangers 2/26/01
To: Denny West <dennyw@hapdx.org>, Ron Johnson <ronj@hapdx.org>,
Jacob Fox <jacobf@hapdx.org>,
Mayor Katz <mayorkatz@ci.portland.or.us>,
Jim Francesconi <jfrancesconi@ci.portland.or.us>,
Charlie Hales <chales@ci.portland.or.us>,
Erik Sten <erik@ci.portland.or.us>,
Dan Saltzman <dsaltzman@ci.portland.or.us>,
Beverly Stein <mult.chair@co.multnomah.or.us>,
Serena Cruz <serena.m.cruz@co.multnomah.or.us>,
Diane linn <Diane.M.Linn@co.multnomah.or.us>,
Lisa Naito <Lisa.H.Naito@co.multnomah.or.us>,
Earl Blumenauer <write.earl@mail.house.gov>,
Gordon Smith <oregon@gsmith.senate.gov>,
Gary Hansen <gdhansenleg@prodigy.net>,
Margaret Carter <carter.sen@state.or.us>,
Mike burton <burtonm@metro.dst.or.us>,
Rex Burkholder <burkholderr@metro.dst.or.us>,
Gil Kelley <pdxplan@ci.portland.or.us>,
Charles Jordan <cjordan@ci.portland.or.us>,
Ethan Seltzer <seltzere@pdx.edu>, Amanda Fritz <Fritzamand@aol.com>
CC: Tom Griffin <npno123@teleport.com>,
gordon wilson <gwilson@ci.portland.or.us>,
Jillian DetWeiler <jdetweiler@ci.portland.or.us>,
Marshall Runkel <mrunkel@ci.portland.or.us>,
nancy goss Duran <durann@metro.dst.or.us>,
rich rodgers <rrodgers@ci.portland.or.us>,
ron paul <rpaul@ci.portland.or.us>,
"Michael P. Harrison" <mike.harrison@ci.portland.or.us>,
tom markgraf <tom.markgraf@mail.house.gov>,
sam adams <sfadams@ci.portland.or.us>,
Anna King <kingwelch@earthlink.net>,
Don Arambula <ca-design@msn.com>,
Jerrie Johnson <DuaneJerie@aol.com>,
Jerry Mounce <jerrym@bes.ci.portland.or.us>,
john weigant <JAWeigant@aol.com>,
Mark Kirchmeier <kirchmei@up.edu>,
Pam Arden <npdarden@teleport.com>,
Patt Opdyke <popdyke@pacifier.com>, Peter Teneau <tenwa@jps.net>,
Tracy Knowling2 <tknowling@jblk.com>,
Walter Valenta <harbor@teleport.com>,
Paul Mortimer <mortistarrs@worldnet.att.net>,
Betsy Radigan <bjr86@juno.com>, Jerry Rust <JerryRustJRJR@aol.com>,
Matthew Whitney <matwhitney@aol.com>,
Elizabeth Humphrey <quinumphry@aol.com>,
David Delk <delkthomas@aol.com>,
Brad Halverson <halverbk@uswest.net>, Linda Hval <lindah@aol.com>,
Andy Kerr <andykerr@andykerr.net>,
Candice Guth <cguth@AGOregon.org>,
Sarah Bidwell <sarahbidwell@agoregon.org>,
Jeff Rogers <jeffrogers@agoregon.org>,
Sally Cross <crosss@eas.pdx.edu>,
Eben Fodor <fodor@oregon.uoregon.edu>,
John Baldwin <jbaldwin@oregon.uoregon.edu>,
Bill Wyatt <Bill.Wyatt@state.or.us>,
jim swenson <jswenson@nmmagic.com>,
jane deMarco <demarj@portptld.com>, James moore <moore@up.edu>,
tony laska <tlaska@fishenserv.com>,
Bob Caldwell <bobcaldwell@news.oregonian.com>,
david sarasohn <davidsarasohn@news.oregonian.com>,
Doug bates <dougbates@news.oregonian.com>,
Jeff Mapes <jeffmapes@news.oregonian.com>,
Les zaitz <leszaitz@news.oregonian.com>,
Mark Zusman <mzusman@wweek.com>,
Nan Alexander <nanalexander@news.oregonian.com>,
Nick Budnick <nbudnick@wweek.com>,
Richard Meeker <rmeeker@wweek.com>,
Rick Attig <rickattig@news.oregonian.com>,
Robert Landauer <robertlandauer@news.oregonian.com>,
Roger Anthony <ranthony@portlandtribune.com>,
Steve Duin <steveduin@news.oregonian.com>,
Wayne Thompson <waynethompson@news.oregonian.com>,
Pat Harrison <patharrison@news.oregonian.com>,
mary kitch <marykitch@news.oregonian.com>,
peggy skycraft <skycraft@spiritone.com>,
bob geddes <RDGEDDES@aol.com>, tony oliver <tonyjo@teleport.com>
Most of you are probably aware of the two hundred million dollar ($200,000,000) redevelopment project under consideration at the seventy acre HAP, Housing Authority of Portland, property known as the Villa, which is in the Portsmouth neighborhood. Because there will be multiple funding sources including $35,000,000 HUD, neighborhood urban renewal dollars and other matching funds, elected officials from many levels of government will be involved.
Although we are only in the vision phase of this project it is very important to set the right tone from the beginning. This project must seek to be outstanding not ordinary. It must not "blend" into the neighborhood but become an outstanding example, a national showcase. It should be a creation to which other construction in the neighborhood will aspire.
Ron Johnson, HAP project coordinator, has explained to me that the below ground infrastructure is crumbling. This will require leveling the buildings, realigning the streets into a grid pattern and digging up and replacing lots of cables and old pipes. This situation presents project designers with some very unique opportunities for creative thinking.
Planners should imagine the possibility of shared community utilities for heat and hot water. Excess methane gas from the nearby Columbia Wastewater Treatment Plant could be an energy source. Fiber optic cable should run underneath every building. The entire project should be as "green" as technologically possible.
Ron also mentioned that although the population density will dramatically increase from 1200 to 2500 there will be low, medium and high income units. This mix of income levels is essential to the success of the project and to its integration into the existing neighborhood.
While it may be necessary to replace the infrastructure it is not necessary to increase the population density. If the density increases and that increase is primarily of low income housing then the project and the neighborhood will be seriously compromised.
The federal government has discouraged locating a disproportionate amount of federally funded projects in low income areas. North Portland has had more than its share of large government operated facilities: Garbage Dump, Sewage Treatment, Largest Low Income Housing Project in Oregon, Parole Office and just recently a Huge New Jail. Enough is enough. Adding significant numbers of low income housing units will only add to the perception of North Portland as the city's dumping ground. It is unlikely to be tolerated without serious opposition. People should want to live here not have to live here.
This project has the potential to be a shining example of creativity, environmental awareness and sensitivity to neighborhood population issues. On the contrary, if handled poorly it will inevitably lead to a blight in the neighborhood, missed opportunities and very angry citizens.
I urge all of you to devote the time and energy required to make this a positive experience for everyone involved. Thank you.
Richard Ellmyer
President, MacSolutions Inc., A Portsmouth Internet Hosting and Computer Consulting Business
Twenty Five year Portsmouth resident and Neighborhood Activist
A leader in the successful effort to stop the neighborhood destroying
amphitheater at P.I.R.
A leader in the successful effort to stop the neighborhood destroying
amphitheater at the Expo Center
Campaign manager and Legislative Assistant, former State Senator, Bill McCoy
Campaign manager and personal staff, former Multnomah County
Commissioner, Gladys McCoy
Former Chair, North Community Action Council
AGO, Alternatives to Growth Oregon, Legislative Project Champion