November 2011
LETTERS/CALENDAR
The Southwest Portland Post • 7
Consider alternatives to the city’s $19 million Capitol Highway solution
The Southwest Portland Post
4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509
Portland, OR 97206
Fax: (866) 727-5336
email: news@multnomahpost.com
As a proud resident of one of Port-
land’s more storied and expressive
locales, I wanted to make sure that
my voice is heard when it comes to
roadways that my family uses on a
daily basis.
There has been a conversation about
changing the configuration of Capitol
Highway from Taylors Ferry Road to
Garden Home Road.
The motion that was approved for
improvements by the Multnomah
Neighborhood Association was put
forward by me, and worded as a result
of the presentation made to us by the
city engineer about what needed to hap-
pen if there were improvements made
to the roadway.
However, the proposal was not
unanimous, and would have been sig-
nificantly altered had we known there
were alternatives.
The engineer, who did a great job,
basically informed us that there was
only one way to do the improvement,
and that was going to be at a massive
cost to taxpayers.
Namely, change the road in a manner
unacceptable to the landowners, and
create a situation unfavorable to many
residents of Multnomah Village.
At the latest neighborhood asso-
ciation meeting, it was brought up that
there are clearly alternatives to the
proposed solution, including perme-
able asphalt, not using the city standard
sidewalks, and using a bike/walking
lane with no sidewalks.
Additional alternatives include re-
ducing the speed limit to 25 mph on the
road from Barbur Boulevard to Capitol
Highway (as it is from Hillsdale to the
Village) and installing sidewalks only;
adjusting the walking path on the east
side of the road only; or any combina-
tion of the above.
Seeking an alternative to the pro-
posed extremely costly solution is the
right thing to do for several reasons:
1. The city cannot afford the proposed
solution. Therefore, if we don’t seek an
COMMUNITY LIFE
By Don Snedecor
The Southwest Portland Post
4
MAC Open House is a fun, free
community event, celebrating
the arts and artists at Multnomah
Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy.
Event happens Friday, November 4,
5:00 to 8:30 p.m. and includes gallery
reception, art demos and hands-on
activities, and faculty music and dance
recital. For more information visit
www.MultnomahArtsCenter.org or
call 503-823-2787.
Mystery / Ghost Walk in Multnomah
Village takes place on Friday, Novem-
ber 4, at 7:00 p.m. Meet at the Key Bank
parking lot, SW 35 th Avenue at Troy
Street. Social time/ hot drinks planned
for the end of the walk. Sponsored by
the Multnomah Historical Association.
alternative, nothing will be done, and
that is a considerable concern.
2. Getting something done will make
the road safer for all stakeholders, em-
brace the “walkable neighborhood”
desires of the city, and provide much
needed and oft overlooked infrastruc-
ture to Southwest Portland.
3. It puts people to work, increases the
accessibility of Multnomah Village, and
thereby increasing the local and state
taxes out of southwest.
4. The residents of Multnomah Vil-
lage, school children, those who use
public transit, bikers, casual walkers,
and people with disabilities who de-
pend on safe pathways will finally get
what they need on a daily basis.
Please note that what we have is
largely unacceptable as it functions
Check out www.multnomahhistori-
cal.com for more information.
11
Discover easy ways to save
energy at home at a free
workshop in South Waterfront. Pre-
register for the workshop (energy-
trust.org/events or 1-866-368-7878)
and receive an Energy Saver kit
including light bulbs, showerhead,
faucet aerators and more! It’s Tues-
day, November 11, from 7:00 to 9:00
p.m. at Umpqua Bank, 3606 SW
Bond Ave.
12
Second Saturday Family
Dance is Saturday, Novem-
ber 12. Fun dancing for kids and
families with live music and Caro-
line Oakley calling! Fulton Com-
munity Center, 68 SW Miles St, 4:30
to 6:30 p.m. $6/adults, $5/kids, $20/
family max. For more information
call 503-775-6537.
poorly and negates several stakeholder
groups.
Please seek less expensive alterna-
tives that can be done. The residents of
our community are in need of some-
thing, and we are not asking for, nor
do we want a comprehensive overhaul
of our streets.
We are merely looking for a safe,
reliable place to walk, run, bike and
commute by foot.
Jay Etnier
Multnomah
Editor’s Note: Due to space limitations,
what appears above is an excerpt from a
longer letter regarding streets in South-
west Portland. The Post welcomes reader
response.
The draft Portland Plan, which will
set public policy for public activities
and private development, is now
available at www.pdxplan.com.
The Portland Planning and Sustain-
ability Commission will hear public
testimony on the draft at hearings on
November 8 at Jefferson High School,
5210 N. Kerby Ave.; November 15
at Parkrose High School, 20003 N.E.
Shaver St.; and November 29 at the
1900 S.W. Fourth Ave. building down-
town. All three hearings will be 5:30
to 9:00 p.m.
The public can also submit written
testimony through November 30 via
e-mail at psc@portlandoregon.gov, or
via U.S. mail to PSC, 1900 S.W. Fourth
Ave., Portland, Ore. 97201-5380. In
both cases, please include the subject
line Portland Plan Testimony in the
address.
Lee Perlman contributed to this calendar.
PoST a To Z BuSINESS CaRd dIRECToRy 503-244-6933
F a n n o C r e e k C l i n i c
PRECISION HOME REPAIR
& DRYWALL
JON A. GOSCH
Kathleen W. McDonald MA
Licensed Massage Therapist, #1781
Reike Master
2400 SW Vermont
Portland, OR 97219
Tel: 503-452-0915
Fax: 503-768-9232
Phone: 503-643-3517
Cell: 503-781-8792
E-mail: precision17@frontier.com
Quality work at affordable rates!
Mention this ad and receive 10% off your next job!
Licensed•Bonded•Insured•CCB#77073
FAMILY &
COSMETIC
DENTISTRY
503-246-2564
www.johnshawdmd.com
7717SW34thAvenue•Portland,OR97219
(MultnomahVillage•SWCapitolHighway&34thAve.)
The IDEA Today … The SIGN Tomorrow!
• SIGNS
• BANNERS
• GRAPHICS
• MAGNETICS
• LETTERING
• LOGOS & MORE
503.244.0980
9220 SW Barbur Blvd. #111 - Portland - OR - 97219