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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2014)
New dance company holds auditions at Fulton Park Community Center – Page 4 Wilson sound engineers record and mix their own music – Page 8 Pale Players perform Hanukkah concert in Multnomah – Page 5 Get in the spirit with our annual Holiday Guide of local events – Page 5 The Southwest Portland Post Volume No. 23 Issue No. 2 www.swportlandpost.com Portland, Oregon Complimentary December 2014 Multnomah neighbors oppose Fred Meyer fuel center under construction By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post The first sign that something was up in Nancy Craig’s neighborhood was a notice from the city asking for a parking change on Southwest 24th Avenue at Hume Court. The letter notified residents that street parking would move from the south side to the north side of the street. It wasn’t until later that Craig and her neighbor, Sanjuro Jogdeo, realized that this was the beginning of something bigger: a Fred Meyer fueling center was being built across the street from their condominiums. The project was approved by the city without neighbor input since it was zoned general commercial and is allowed by city code. “This project has been in d e v e l o p m e n t f o r o v e r a y e a r, ” Craig explained to The Post one icy, autumn morning. “The neighborhood has been kept out of the public discussion of the appropriateness of a fuel station so close to residential properties. “Of all things, it had to be a gas station, a large one at that!” Craig exclaimed. “We’re talking three islands and 14 pumps.” A small kiosk is also planned to sell cigarettes, sodas, and other items. The property has been empty for the last five years. There used to be a bank then a design center. “Nothing much was happening,” Jogdeo joined in, “then suddenly Fred Meyer was interested. “(Kroger, Fred Meyer ’s parent company) had been looking around the area but everyone turned them down until this location.” “We were hoping for a mixed-use project for this piece of land,” Craig said. “The worse thing for this lot is a fuel center.” It’ll be low-cost, high-volume, increase noise, and add a decent Nancy Craig of Multnomah inspects the Fred Meyer fuel center construction site on Southwest 24th Avenue near Barbur Boulevard. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand) amount of traffic, especially large filling trucks Craig declared. The fuel center will be at grade with Southwest 24th Avenue, well below Barbur Boulevard. One of the biggest issues for the neighbors is that the entrance/exit will be off 24th, not Barbur. According to Melinda Merrill, (Continued on Page 6) Sellwood Bridge tour includes a new 16-foot-wide bicyclist and pedestrian trail By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post Commuters are now able to travel on the new Sellwood Bridge. Well, just part of it: a small section of the eastside of the span. Mike Pullen, project public information officer, led The Post and several VIPs recently on a bright, crisp autumn morning. “Be careful of the railing,” Pullen warned as the tour group navigated the old sidewalk. Concrete pieces are starting to crumble since it’s over 88 years old. Several parts are wrapped in plastic to prevent large chunks from falling. The bridge deck is thicker than most Mike Pullen (left), spokesman for Multnomah County, stands in front of angel wing support structure for the new steel arch spans being manufactured in Washington. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand) The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 which can be for future streetcar rail readiness. Nothing is proposed yet. With a length of 1900 feet, three arches will eventually span the Willamette underneath the deck. And while the bridge is quite wide, there will still only be two lanes for vehicles and buses. (Currently, buses are prohibited until the bridge is completed.) “There will be two sidewalks and bike lanes,” Pullen said as he pointed towards a brilliant view of the river to the south. Below, several temporary piers supported construction equipment. A few supply barges were docked. Pullen explained that the old bridge could not be sold. According to Pullen, whoever bought it had to use it as a bridge. Now it will only fetch $200,000 in salvage. “Back in 1926, when the bridge was constructed,” Pullen lectured, “there wasn’t much money left as it was the last one in that era being built; thus the narrow traffic lanes and one sidewalk. The river is home to a variety of birds despite the disruption. Two bald eagles nest at Riverview Cemetery located up on the hill. “I’ve seen baby eaglets, cormorants, a n d o s p re y, ” s a i d K C C o o p e r, communications strategist for David Evans and Associates who joined the tour. As Cooper spoke, two pigeons were spotted nesting in the warmth of the steel tresses watching the show below. As the group approached the west bank, work was going on with a 16-foot wide hiking/bike trail and the Portland to Lake Oswego trolley right-of-way. “ We ’ v e s p e n t $ 1 2 m i l l i o n o n underground work alone,” Pullen explained. “This includes bioswales, sewer pipes, drains, and landslide- prevention engineering.” Jennings Marina has been gone for some time; boaters must get fuel elsewhere. A sheriff river patrol dock remains on the northwest bank. A small, remnant park will be situated under the bridge with a kayak launch. “Traffic will flow under the bridge without signals between downtown and Lake Oswego,” Pullen announced. “However, for bridge commuters, a new interchange, with lights, will control the traffic flow.” “The city has been a great partner,” Pullen said as the group finished up the tour. “We received funds from them, as well as from Multnomah County vehicle registration fees, and federal dollars. “The only one that didn’t contribute was Clackamas County.” Voters turned down a $5 annual fee sometime back even though the majority of bridge users either begin or end their travel in Clackamas County. “The speed limit on the bridge has been lowered from 25 to 20 m.p.h. due to the long curve at the east end of the bridge. The bridge is limited to vehicles weighing up to 10 tons and 30 feet in length. “The project team thanks the community for their patience during bridge closures. The bridge will remain open through the rest of the year,” Pullen announced, “so please remember to support local businesses during the holidays.” The bridge opens in January 2016 with additional dismantling and landscaping for up to a year later. For more information, visit www. sellwoodbridge.org
