August 2015
NEWS / COMMENTARY
The Southwest Portland Post • 3
Steering committee recommends eliminating tunnels to OHSU, Hillsdale
SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PLAN
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
Light rail will not be tunneling under
Marquam Hill and Hillsdale but a
tunnel under a southwest street to
Portland Community College’s Sylvania
Campus is still under consideration.
On July 13, the Southwest Corridor
steering committee heard public
testimony and project summaries before
approving staff recommendations
eliminating two of the tunnels.
Consisting of project partner
elected and appointed officials,
the steering committee makes final
recommendations to the Metro Council
and other jurisdictions for the Southwest
Corridor Plan.
Roger Averbeck, chair of the
Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI)
transportation committee, testified
that the neighborhood coalition has
been highly involved and have sent
numerous letters in support of the plan.
“But it must provide access to job
The Southwest Corridor Plan Steering Committee hears testimony and discussions options
for tunnels and high capacity transit at a meeting held at Metro headquarters on July 13.
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
Kaye Alene Synoground 1942-2015
A memorial for local artist Kaye
Synoground was held July 27 at Village
Frame & Gallery in Multnomah Village.
Synoground died July 16, 2015 after a
battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 72.
Born Nov. 25, 1942, Synoground was
a career artist who spent 30 years as
a broad spectrum illustrator, and 16
years as the owner of A Closer Look
Studio in historic Multnomah Village.
A much loved instructor of watercolor
and colored pencil, Synoground taught
classes at the Multnomah Arts Center
and Multnomah Athletic Club.
Kaye was a loving wife to her
husband, Frank, and cherished time
spent with her children. She is survived
by her husband, Frank; son, Glen;
stepdaughter, Karyn; stepson, Robert;
stepdaughter, Sarah; and stepson, Barry.
An artist until the end, Kaye showed a
zest for art and life that was remarkable
and admired by all that new her.
Raleigh Hills Community Fair
is coming soon…
Advertise in our Raleigh Hills special section
in September 2015
Contact Rich Riegel at 503-232-5111 (richriegel@aol.com) or
Don Snedecor at 503-244-6933 (don@multnomahpost.com)
for more information or to place your ad. Ask about inserts.
Deadlines are August 20 for space reservations,
August 25 for artwork.
For an online rate card, current edition,
and complete media kit visit www.SWPortlandPost.com.
services and educational opportunities,”
Averbeck testified. “It must improve
safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.”
He continued to discuss the need
for enhanced livability with regards to
growth.
“Land use hasn’t been discussed,”
he continued. “Local neighborhood
associations will continue submitting
input but more research is needed to
gain full support from SWNI.”
A U n i v e r s i t y o f Wa s h i n g t o n
transportation planner and advocate
who lives a couple blocks from the
proposed Southwest 53rd Avenue cut-
and-cover tunnel near PCC Sylvania,
encouraged the committee to walk the
talk by fully supporting this tunnel.
“The disruption will be worth the
proposed project and access,” he
concluded.
Following testimonies, Chris Ford,
the new Southwest Corridor Plan
project manager, summarized reasons
why the committee should forgo the
(Continued on Page 6)
(Continued from Page 2)
would be such a benefit to Southwest.
Currently I choose to walk as much as
possible in this neighborhood, but it is a
serious pain to do so without sidewalks,
especially since I usually have a 2 year-
old with me.
I agree this development is going to
be a culture shock. Nowhere near that
of 20-25 story buildings, which no one is
proposing, nor is it in the Portland Plan
to rezone the area to allow that.
The first development always looks
bizarre, but this stretch is considered
a transit corridor, “main street” in the
Portland 2040 plan, and is zoned to
allow densities up to 4 stories. It will
happen unless the plan is changed.
With the population increase
projections ranging from 55 to70 percent
for West Portland by 2035, where are we
going to fit all these people?
We can’t keep building suburbs, so
we have to retrofit the suburbs we do
have to preserve our open park spaces,
ecological sites, agricultural areas, and
forest land.
Personally, I think Multnomah
Boulevard might be the better option
for a new higher density main street.
There is no historic character there to
preserve. The proposed development
site on Capitol Highway does not meet
the historic nature of the area though. It
is underutilized and has a parking lot
facing the street.
I think growth can be done well, and
by many existing examples, be done
poorly. I’m planning on joining the
neighborhood association and land use
committee, so perhaps we will cross
paths soon!
Again, thanks for the corrections on
the sidewalk issue. Looks like that’s
another thing to add to my list to
advocate for.
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