6 • The Southwest Portland Post
NEWS
June 2012
Hillsdale could be first neighborhood designated as age-friendly
HILLSDALE NOTEBOOK
By Jillian Daley
The Southwest Portland Post
Hillsdale Main Street executive direc-
tor Megan Braunsten and Elders in Ac-
tion volunteer Will Fuller announced
a partnership between their groups
at the May 2 Hillsdale Neighborhood
Association meeting.
The union could mean changes at
businesses throughout the neighbor-
hood.
An age-friendly certification for a
business involves improvements such
as making doors easier to open, provid-
ing places to rest, and improving light-
ing to help prevent crime and make
places easier to navigate for those with
vision trouble.
The designation has other benefits.
“It’s building a community, a vibrant
community, where the quality of life
Macadam Avenue
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tors’ building intact and with plenty
of parking.
Mike Dowd of Miles Place repeated
this and added, “Most of Freeman’s
use of the lot is illegal, and a violation
letter has already been drafted by the
City.”
Roger Robinson said, “The Mac-
adam Bay people have their problems
and their property values, but theirs
can float down the river if need be, and
ours can’t. Bless them, but they knew
what they were getting into when they
moved there.” Several called Freeman
Motors “the only logical option.”
On the other hand, several Mac-
adam Bay residents spoke against the
Hillsdale Main Street executive director
Megan Braunsten discussed a partner-
ship with Elders In Action that would
make Hillsdale “the first neighbor-
hood in Portland to be designated age-
friendly.” (Post photo by Jillian Daley)
doesn’t depend on age,” Fuller said.
Once called an elder-friendly certifi-
cation, the group changed the moniker
because updating a business’ safety
use of Freeman Motors. Chris Olson, a
real estate broker, said it would lower
property values. “I know of no other
neighborhood that has access through
a parking lot and transmission towers,”
she said.
Another Macadam Bay resident, Kim
Culhane, said, “We want to do right by
our neighbors, and we’re asking that
they do right by us.”
Still another, John Johnson, said,
“Miles Place is a pretty special place,
but so is Macadam Bay.” When he ap-
proaches the existing driveway, he said,
he speeds up so that he can make the
turn without being rear-ended.
Tony McCoy said, as did several oth-
ers, “No one asked for this to happen.”
He then said, “Freeman Motors is the
features can be beneficial to all ages.
“Kids have trouble opening heavy
doors; they trip over stoops just like
older people,” Fuller said. “What we’re
finding is really the operative words are
‘friendly’ and ‘community.’”
Hillsdale Main Street is devoted to im-
proving businesses, so it was a natural
partnership, added Leslie Foren, interim
executive director of Elders in Action, in
an interview on May 14.
Elders in Action advocates for seniors
in Multnomah, Clackamas and Wash-
ington counties.
The organization helps businesses bet-
ter serve older customers; and provides
informational workshops on topics
important to seniors. For more informa-
tion, visit www.eldersinaction.org.
Friends of Tryon Creek State Park
executive director David Cohen said
he needs volunteers to help maintain
this natural, community hub, serving
in areas including park restoration and
education programs.
At the Hillsdale Neighborhood As-
sociation meeting last month, Cohen
discussed the park that 5,000 school
children travel to by bus each year.
Cohen said the children learn cru-
cial lessons about nature, and some
of them “have never been in a forest
before.”
He also said that businesses gather
their employees for team-building ex-
ercises at the park, during which they
yank out invasive species such as ivy.
Yet, Cohen said, many people do not
know about the approximately 675-
acre park that’s right in their backyard,
and they should explore its beauty and
wildlife. Owlets have been seen nest-
ing in the 42-year-old park, he said.
“It’s really an incredible community
jewel,” Cohen said. For more informa-
tion, visit www.tryonfriends.org.
least safe of the options.” Using Miles
Street would involve “the least impact
to the majority of people. People have
been there for some time, but they are
infringing on the right of way.”
Jay Cleamons said, “Miles Place is one
of the most incredible places around.”
To its residents he said, “This isn’t us
against you.” However, answering
Robinson, he said, “The statement that
we can just float down to the Columbia
is just not true. Half our value is on the
land.”
Sam Galbreath, an economic develop-
ment consultant, took a different tack.
He lives in Macadam Bay, he said, but
“Miles Place is one of my favorite plac-
es,” and he helped create Butterfly Park.
“It was ODOT that said safety impli-
cations made it imperative to move
the entrance,” he said. “It’s unsafe
now but Holy Cow! To spend two
to four million dollars for an alterna-
tive that’s no improvement, if any-
thing degradation. Leave our damn
driveway alone and provide a traffic
signal.” Galbreath also said the cost
estimates were “bogus.”
Multnomah County Public Affairs
spokesperson Mike Pullen said the
Sellwood Bridge Citizen Advisory
Committee would consider the is-
sue at a meeting starting at 5:30 p.m.
June 4 at Sellwood Station, 8210 SE
13 th Ave. The project’s Stakeholders
Committee, representing participating
jurisdictions, will take the matter up
on June 18.
Tryon Creek State Park seek volunteers
for restoration, education
PoSt a to Z BuSineSS CaRd diReCtoRy 503-244-6933