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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2011)
4 • The Southwest Portland Post By Maria Cahill Hillsdale Terrace update from Home Forward (formerly Housing Authority of Portland) Home Forward is trying to help people find housing and stabilize their lives. Background on the project was presented. The proposed new name for the re-development is “Stephens Creek Crossing.” They are still looking for Section 8 landlords to help families with kids in school and others stay in this neighbor- hood. The California Street neighbors are working with Home Forward to determine pedestrian connections pass- ing through the site and to what extent California Street should be developed. Most agree that Texas Street was somewhat overbuilt. The current pro- posal for California Street is 20’ right-of- way with curbs and sidewalks. Home Forward is proposing a “woonerf.” [Note: woonerfs are the Dutch term what we might call a “shared street” or “universal street.] Only five houses are using Califor- nia Street and a comment from Rachel Dvorsky, one of those neighbors, was that the road is currently in such poor shape that the five neighbors use an- other route to get to their houses now anyway and would continue to do so. She also said that a narrower road would be better. Home Forward invited Kay Durtschi, Multnomah’s transportation chair, to the next citizen advisory committee meeting because right now Hillsdale’s voice is dominating the conversation. A discussion ensued regarding who should be commenting on what and why. For information: California Street is in the Multnomah neighborhood, but Hillsdale Terrace/Stephens Creek Crossing is in Hillsdale. Fire Station #18 Update Fire Station #18, located at 8720 SW 30th Ave, is undergoing a seismic upgrade. The station is temporarily located at 9155 SW Barbur Blvd. A dis- cussion of buying additional property ensued. There will be multiple contrac- tors on site, working early and some on the weekends. Electricity and water upgrades are in progress and expansion at the current site is occurring. Project completion is expected in January and there will be an open house. A motion of support was made that the Multnomah Neighborhood Associa- tion stand behind the adjoining neigh- bors’ direction of a narrow street width or pedestrian friendly solution for the California Street development. Motion seconded. Discussion ensued. 19 in fa- vor, none against, one abstention. Holiday Sale 20% off all sweaters, jackets, earrings, and scarves Special Sale Hours: Thurs. 10-8 / Fri. 10-7 Sat. 10-6 / Sun. 10-5 www.palomaclothing.com 6316 SW Capitol Hwy. 503.246.3417 Thursday, Dec. 1 thru Sunday, Dec. 4 PALOMA CLOTHING MULTNOMAH NOTEBOOK FEATURES December 2011 Capitol Highway/Sidewalk Infill Randy Bonella reported that the Capi- tol Highway Project (between Taylors Ferry Road and Multnomah Boulevard) has been shelved. The $5.6 million is be- ing reallocated. Open house attendees advocated using it for sidewalk infill. Rob Gardner reported that he agrees with Randy’s characterization. The Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. coali- tion is considering 5 different projects for reallocation. PBOT (Portland Bureau of Trans- portation) is compiling a list of ac- tual, physically “improvable” projects and looking at ways to reduce the City’s liability redeveloping them with Southwest topographical appropriate standards. The impression from a meeting of members and SWNI President Mari- anne Fitzgerald and the mayor was that the Bureau of Environmental Services may or may not follow suit in trying to help with redevelopment standards appropriate to our neighborhood. Garden Home Traffic Calming Traffic calming (currently speed tables as indicated by the word BUMP painted on the road along this stretch of Garden Home) from Capitol High- way to 45th Avenue is proposed. This crosses neighborhood associations. MNA was invited to join the Ash Creek working group discussions, Be our guests for Christmas Eve Saturday December 24, 2011 - 7:00 pm “The Signs Of Christmas” Join us for our fun, festive and heartwarming way to celebrate this wonderful holiday. You are also invited to be our guest any Sunday: Sunday school for all ages at 9:00 am Upbeat relevant worship at 10:30 am Child Care provided all morning Vermont Hills United Methodist Church Corner of SW 55th Drive and SW Iowa Street (next to Pendleton Park and Hayhurst Elementary School) 503-246-1213 6053 SW 55th Drive Portland, OR 97221 A Congregation of Reconciliation Where Our Hearts, Minds, and Doors Are Truly Open to All even though decisions on what the City should do would be up to individual neighborhoods. Randy talked to all the homeowners along there. He hasn’t talked to apart- ment dwellers and still needs to get clarification on whether we need to talk to homeowners or renters. There’s a 12-unit condo building and another complex with 23 additional units or so. Randy visited 14 homes. Six said yes, they were in favor of moving the discussion forward. Three were on the fence but didn’t seem to care; one said no, and four he hasn’t been able to talk to. A neighbor who lives on the curve on Garden Home and has witnessed many accidents made an argument that we need traffic calming along this stretch of road in our neighborhood; caution chevrons at beginning of curve seem to have reduced accidents, but additional traffic calming is needed. Speed bumps need to be spaced care- fully; a flashing speed limit sign might be good, too. Randy said average speed was 38 mph, peak speed was 55 mph. Becca Jones commented that she lives and walks on that stretch of Garden Home and it feels dangerous everyday. A motion was made that the MNA request the City do a study for traffic calming on our segment of Garden Home Road. Motion seconded. 11 in favor, four against, three abstentions. Motion passed. Discussion ensued. We’re not tak- ing a position on the means of traffic calming such as speed tables, flashing signlights, etc. Speed tables in other parts of the neighborhood have been used a launching pads for young driv- ers and causing damage to neighbor’s yards and endangering people. Sarah White reminded us that in a previous meeting we presented that the MNA would have the opportunity to respond to PBOT’s proposed solu- tion if we initiate the study process and contact with the people along that stretch of road. An opposing view was presented that considering budget cuts this year and next for PBOT, we need to be a careful what we advocate money to be spent on. Money was allocated out of HB 2001 funds, identified specifically for traffic calming, but certainly, as evidenced by the $5.6M that was just reallocated to Capitol Highway; the money could possibly be reallocated for other proj- ects. Moses Ross will relay to the Ash Creek NA that he has heard some con- cerns that speed tables have drawbacks and that some people would like to explore other options. Maria Cahill is secretary of the Multnomah Neighborhood Association. OPEN FORUM Occupy Movement (Continued from Page 2) for equality. We have an oligarchy because our elected officials’ campaigns are spon- sored by the very industries they are supposed to regulate. Economists were the ones who told former President Richard Nixon not to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; they said: the right to a job would hurt the economy; we can change this back to a government for the people. Wim Laven is an adjunct professor in Conflict Resolution at Portland State University.