6 • The Southwest Portland Post
NEWS
Naturopathic college plans begins master
planning process
By Lee Perlman
The Southwest Portland Post
Oregon Health and Sciences Uni-
versity isn’t the only southwest in-
stitution contemplating growth. The
National College of Natural Medicine
is seeking a master plan for its future.
The plan’s study area is a rough
triangle bounded roughly by South-
west Kelly and Woods streets, Naito
Parkway and Corbett Avenue.
Within this area they own “five or
six acres,” including six buildings,
two parking lots and the new Min
Zidell Healing Garden, and they are
looking to eventually occupy “seven
or eight acres,” NCNM’s Marilyn
Considine told the South Portland
Neighborhood Association.
The college currently has 530 stu-
dents and Considine said they antici-
pate they’ll have 800 students by 2015.
Consultant Jason Franklin of
Parametrix said that at this point in
the process the college is looking at
its existing facilities and figuring out
what its future needs might be.
They are also trying to address
transportation issues; for both stu-
dents and visitors, “There are very
dangerous roads you have to cross to
get here,” Franklin said.
Architect Tim Eddy said, “The free-
ways effectively make our campus an
island. We want to integrate into the
neighborhood in the best possible
way.”
According to Eddy, “We’re look-
ing for the most viable sites for new
buildings, but we’re trying to keep
the vestiges of the old neighborhood.
We’re looking at potential sites for
housing, and for services that can
serve the community as well as the
college.”
Asked if the school might consider
installing dorms, Considine said,
“That’s at least several years off.”
Considine said, “When Dr. (David)
Schleich came in 1997, we looked for a
place to stay. We liked our neighbors
here, they seemed to like us, and we’re
definitely committed to this now.”
Both Considine and Keith North
said the college was committed to
discussing their plans early, and con-
tinuously, throughout the planning
process.
As The Post went to press this
month, college officials were planning
the first of several discussions with
South Portland neighborhood leaders.
November 2011
New OHSU Building
(Continued from Page 8)
leading supporters. It’s a statement of
overwhelming optimism. There’s no
value in pessimism.”
Reflecting on budget issues, Kitzha-
ber commented, “This year the legisla-
ture dealt with a larger budget deficit
than either California or Washington,
and they did it with civility, without
shutting the state down, without tear-
ing the state apart like Wisconsin and
Minnesota.”
Oregon State president Ed Ray said
the group participation in the building
would “promote efficiency and impact”
and better enable the colleges to jointly
compete for grants. “The new building
will promote collaboration that will
lead to improved patient care and re-
search breakthroughs.”
OHSU president Joe Robertson
addressed the donors, saying, “This
building is a testament to philanthropy,
partnership and innovation. Each gift
has inspired another. Each has raised
the bar a little higher. It’s no secret that
we face great challenges in society,
especially in this economy, but we can
find solutions not thought possible.”
Carol Lewis, representing the
Schnitzer family, said, “My grandfather
came to this country over 100 years ago
from Russia, fleeing poverty. My father
had his offices, and a scrap yard, on
this site. They taught us we had to give
back to this country for the wonderful
life we had here. I never imagined that
universities that compete with each
other would come together to build this
great center.”
Meanwhile, the Design Commission
told the development team that they
were nearing approval, but were not
there yet. Commission member David
Wark said the building was “so great
on so many levels.”
However, he said, “I count at least a
dozen materials and colors. It points to
becoming a menagerie that could be
tamed a little more. I want to change
my ‘like’ to ‘love.’”
The north side of the building facing
a future Southwest Meade Street will
have a massive garage entrance. While
not enthusiastic, commission member
David Keltner said this part of the
design is “about as good as it can be.”
However, he said an exterior stairway
on the east side of the tower “feels like
it’s tacked on.”
As they have been from the first ses-
sion, the commission was critical of the
plans for the west side facing Moody,
Interstate 5 and the MAX tracks; it was
improved, they said, but still seemed to
lack an invitation to “active use.”
“This is the first stake in the ground
for the entire campus,” commission
chair Gwen Millius said. “There’s a
little more work to be done, but we’re
getting there.”
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