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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2008)
4 • The Southwest Portland Post January 2008 NEwS Southwest community divided over park fee increase (Continued from Page 3) “a rare opportunity to use an appro- priate funding mechanism. It’s a way for development to pay for its own impact.” The new Holly Farm Park in West Portland Park “is a great example of the use of SDCs, and the need for an in- crease.” SDC funds paid for 50 percent of the cost of the park’s development. “We saved the only piece of undevel- oped and almost flat land in a neighbor- hood of 4,000 people, where 1,000 live in apartment complexes. The need (for additional parks) is much greater than current resources can support.” West Portland Park activist Amanda Fritz, who played a key role in the Holly Farm Park development, argued, “If we don’t have enough money for new streets, we can always build them later. If we don’t have enough money to pur- chase park land, by the time we have it it’s gone and we can never get it back. Parks provide joy to city residents, and every citizen deserves access to parks.” She thanked Saltzman, whom she tried to unseat in the last election, for bring- ing the proposed increase forward. Commissioner Randy Leonard was the strongest critic of the proposed charges. “I support SDCs, and have supported them in the past, but they need to be affordable and defensible.” Regarding comparisons to other cities’ fee schedules he said, “I don’t think we should be at the bottom of the list, and it’s inexcusable that businesses should be paying nothing, but I don’t think we should be at the top. The best tax is the one someone else pays. The fairest tax is the one everyone pays. This is the least painful to existing Portlanders, but is it the fairest?” Echoing Man- ning, he said that he had created five new “hydro-parks” on surplus Water Bureau property, including one in Multnomah. Leonard was also upset about an exemption, available to home buyers earning 100 percent or less of median household income (about $66,000 a year), that allows them to escape pay- ing any SDCs. “I appreciate all the hard work that’s been done, but this needs to be more balanced before I can support this,” he said. In earlier testimony, Sam Chase of the Community Development Network had defended the exemption, saying, “Sadly, this is necessary to provide housing for people who have to choose between paying their rent and paying for food and medicine.” Models Open Tuesday – Sunday 1-5 Real Estate Guide CALL DON OR HARRy AT 503-244-6933 Additional Real Estate Advertising on Page 8 Old Portland Style Bungalow, New Construction $724,900 What housing slump? 8 units sold at the Multnomah Village Lofts in October alone! Don't miss out - visit us for your personal showing today! Authentic bungalow home backs to protected green space. Large lot on quite street, open floor plan with natural light. Granite countertops, extensive hardwoods, wainscoting, built-ins, sconce lighting, professional grade appliances, tons of storage. Detached garage with loft space. 3,220 square feet. Four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Just five minutes to Downtown Portland. Stephenson Elementary School. Call Brooks Howard, Builder/Agent, Endeavor Development, LLC. 503-246-0833. CCB#132399. Lot located at 11724 SW 39th Ave. Other plans also available. Small town lifestyle in historic Multnomah Village just 5 minutes to downtown Portland. Beautiful new lofts designed for Brokers/Realtors One-of-a-kind Quiet Park Setting 5932 SW 54th Ave Portland, OR 97221 $299,000 www.5932SW54thAve.com • • • • • • 3 bed and 1 & 1/2 baths Fully Remodeled One Level Natural Greenbelt w/S. Exposure Steps to Hayhurst Elementary Located on Pendleton Park Cul-de-sac, private lot ML# 7111067 the way you live with volumes of natural light, modern floor plans, chef grade appliances and warm wood floors. regerc@hasson.com 503.906.7114