2 • The Southwest Portland Post
The Southwest Portland Post
4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509
Portland, OR 97206
Fax: (866) 727-5336
email: editor@multnomahpost.com
The best place for increased
density is along commercial
arterials
Regarding “Developer defends proposed
four-story apartment building in
Multnomah Village,” by KC Cowan, The
Post, July 2015.
As a new resident to Multnomah
Village, I offer some points in support of
EDITORIAL
the proposed multifamily development
on [Southwest] 33rd and Capitol
Highway.
In order to maintain the character of
the neighborhood and accommodate
more people, some change must
happen.
The best place for this change is along
our commercial arterials, so that we
can concentrate density in appropriate
places and preserve lower density in
the residential areas.
The development will also provide
our neighborhood with much needed
diversity in housing choices. Having
more housing type choices brings
a more diverse population to the
neighborhood.
Good design is also crucial. Design
strategies to break down the mass
will make it seem less large than it is.
Detailing and materials in character
with the Village will fit the building
within its context.
Parking requirements are derived
August 2015
from maximum peak use in low-
density suburban areas. This results in
suburban sprawl where everyone has
to drive and park because everything
is too spread out to support alternative
modes of transportation.
It’s a vicious cycle that creates a
poor urban environment. Some of the
27 residents [Editor’s Note: Developer
Tim O’Brien has proposed building 71
units and 43 parking spaces.] may be
carless. Others may park on the street.
While this may be annoying to some,
we must remember that the street is
public. Spillover can be mitigated by
strategies such as parking permits,
charging for street parking, and limiting
parking time.
The problems the East side is facing
are due to there being no parking
provided on site for new developments.
This development is providing more
parking than required.
As for the argument that street
parking will create a dangerous
walking environment, I argue that this
is already an issue in the neighborhood.
Any new development will trigger
street improvements, which include
sidewalks, around the property. We
aren’t going to get our much-needed
sidewalks without new development.
Sermin Yesilada
Post editor Don Snedecor responds:
Thank you for your letter, Sermin. For highly
urban parts of the city like Downtown,
South Waterfront and the Pearl District, I
would tend to agree.
For rural and suburban areas, like
Multnomah Village, the community has
been roughly the same density for more
than 100 years, and to suddenly bring in
20-25-story towers like we have in South
Waterfront could mean staggering culture
shock.
While four-story buildings may seem like
nothing to someone used to living in tall
buildings, a similar kind of culture shock
can take place for those used to single family
homes, a historic main street and skinny,
shared streets.
You are partially right about the sidewalk
issue. Normally, new sidewalks are required
along with new development. Because
of geology, topography, and stormwater
issues, sidewalks in Southwest are very
expensive.
Because of the high cost, for the past 20
years here in Southwest Portland, the City
of Portland Bureau of Transportation has
been issuing “waivers of remonstrance.”
This simply means that in order for a
developer or land owner to avoid having to
pay to install sidewalks, they only have to
agree to waive their rights to object to future
street improvements.
Transportation Commissioner Steve
Novick, who also lives in Multnomah, has
gone on the record as saying he didn’t like
“sidewalk islands” (sidewalks built adjacent
to new developments, then discontinued).
Novick said he is in favor of a “land bank”
option where money from developments
on quiet streets would be pooled to add
sidewalks to nearby thoroughfares.
To my knowledge, there is no current
legislation along these lines being considered
by the City Council. In the meantime, new
single-family houses and apartments spring
up in Multnomah Village and throughout
the city without sidewalks.
Sermin Yesilada replies: Being from the
East side, I was not aware of the waiver
for sidewalks in Southwest. Thank
you for informing me of this. What a
terrible disappointment.
I miss the walkability of the Southeast,
which has sidewalks on most streets,
even along narrow historic streets. It
(Continued on Page 3)
well
be
…
and well informed
Bowman’s Hillsdale
Pharmacy
6256 SW Capitol Hwy.
503-244-7582
email: pharmacy@hillsdalerx.com
•Blisters? We Can Help
Celebrating
22
Years in
Business!
•Experienced Compounding
Pharmacists
4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509, Portland, OR 97206
Phone: (503) 244-6933; Fax: (866) 727-5336
general email: news@multnomahpost.com
web address: www.swportlandpost.com
Editor & Publisher .........Don Snedecor
Reporters/Writers ...........KC Cowan, Erik Vidstrand
Editorial Cartoonist ........Jesse Springer
Copy Editor ......................Rich Riegel
Advertising Sales ...........Harry Blythe, Rich Riegel,
Don Snedecor
Graphic Design ..............Leslie Baird Design
Printing ............................Oregon Lithoprint
Circulation .......................Rick Hepper
© 2015 by The Southwest Portland Post. All rights reserved. The opinions of the
artists and authors contained herein are not necessarily shared by the publisher.
Deadline for news and advertising is generally the 20th of the month prior to
publication. Please call for current deadline information. Advertising rates are available
upon request.
The Post has a circulation of 7,000 in Multnomah Village and the surrounding
neighborhood business districts including Burlingame, Capitol Hill, Garden Home,
Glen Cullen, Hillsdale, South Portland, Raleigh Hills, West Portland and Vermont
Hills. The Post is published on or about the 1st of every month. Subscriptions are $24
per year. Back issues are $2.50 each when available. All major credit cards accepted.
The Post is printed on recycled
newsprint using soy-based inks.
www.mygnp.com
SUBSCRIPTION FORM
We Deliver! Mail subscriptions are available at
at the following rates:
One year (12 monthly issues) ...................$24
Two years (24 monthly issues) .................$34
Three years (36 monthly issues) ..............$44
q This is a NEW subscription
q This is an ADDRESS change
q This is a RENEWAL
q This is a GIFT subscription
Please send check or money order to:
Southwest Portland Post, 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509, Portland, OR 97206
Name
Address
City/State/Zip