6 • The Southwest Portland Post
NEWS
SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PLAN
(Continued from Page 3)
tunnels under and connecting Oregon
Health & Science University and
Hillsdale.
“It would add cost to project and
increase travel time,” Ford reported.
“There would be disruptive issues in
Hillsdale and at the local schools.”
The lack of community support
and already good transit in Hillsdale
provided final reasons not to build the
tunnels.
Staff recommended continuing
studying the cut-and-cover tunnel
to PCC Sylvania until October. A
clear need to improve transportation
does have impacts but suggested
ongoing targeted work with additional
community feedback. Some other
options were proposed to include a
bus rapid transit on 49th Avenue to
PCC Sylvania and then on to the Tigard
transit center.
Ford reported that there would
be very little capital change with
approximately $4 million to improve
routes and increasing ridership by 15
percent to PCC Sylvania.
Metro staff will be meeting with the
college board of trustees in the summer.
The new appointed president said he
wanted to encourage cooperation and
is excited with the collaboration.
A strategic plan has been developed
by the college.
“Our goal is to get people out of cars,”
said Linda Degman, the college’s bond
program director.
It wasn’t clear to the committee what
the community college’s investment in
the project was and how high capacity
transit would facilitate growth of the
college. They wanted to know what
would land use look like and how
would the parking lot be adapted to
the plan.
“The Sylvania master plan will
have less parking and community
development,” Degman replied.
Community college students
disputed the disparities of numbers
of commuters who would use public
transportation versus what the Metro
study compiled.
“There is no need for high capacity
transit,” testified a PCC Sylvania
student leader.
According to a student poll, 80
percent don’t want to get out of their
cars.
“They need substantial incentives,”
continued the student who name was
unclear. “Sometimes it’s easier to walk
than even take the bus. It seems like a
waste of money to spend lots of money
on a subway that students won’t use.”
Another student said that planners
need to entice students with carpools
or bus rapid transit.
“Students have different schedules
and needs,” she said. “You need to
expand on existing routes and shuttles
or utilize the PCC [Sylvania] bus more.
Perhaps we need to find out where the
students are coming from.
“It affects not only the students,
but neighbors and the environment
at PCC [Sylvania] disrupting campus
activities.”
Numerous questions then came
from the steering committee. They
weren’t sure what outdoor escalators
and people movers would look like
at either OHSU or PCC Sylvania as
proposed in further details of the
report.
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You’re Invited!
Thursday, August 6 + 6:30-8 pm
A canned food drive to benefit
Neighborhood House will be held
Food
Bring your own picnic dinner
OR
Buy a meal for $5
Bounce House
Music
Meet a Police Officer
Climb on a Fire Truck
(hamburger, hotdog, or veggie
burger, chips & a drink)
FREE ICE CREAM!
August 2015
“Two different contractors hired
by Metro have been looking at that
issue,” said Noelle Dobson, public
affairs manager.
“A lot of the details will be looked at
during environmental impact study.”
Dobson finished her presentation
with a summary of the project to date.
“We held two community forums,”
Dobson concluded, “posted comments,
provided an online map and survey
results, and meeting notes.
“We had over 1,300 responses.”
The steering committee voted
unanimously to support all the staff’s
recommendations. A final report
documenting the steering committee’s
actions was scheduled to be produced
after this meeting.
The next steering committee meeting
will be held on Sept. 14, from 9 to 11
a.m. Location to be decided.
Unusually cool weather greets shoppers and vendors during the 2012 Multnomah Days
street festival. (Post file photo by Don Snedecor)
Multnomah Days Fun!
(Continued from Page 1)
volunteers for the garbage and recycling
pick up duty.
Mark Seker has been organizing this
aspect of Multnomah Days for the past
three or four years.
Seker works with a counselor at
Wilson High School to line up students
who need volunteer service hours on
their resume.
They pair up and spend a two to
three hour shift taking wheelbarrows
around to clean up the garbage and the
recycling bins.
“And it’s not hard work; it’s nice,”
Seker says. “Plus, there are certain
perks. We give them a goodie bag and
a T-shirt and a lunch ticket.”
Other volunteer opportunities are
available too, he adds, and you can
sign up as late as Aug. 8 at Mseker@
tutordoctor.com. Seker said everyone
loves Multnomah Days, so it’s easy to
get help.
“The spirit of our volunteer committee
Four-story development
(Continued from Page 1)
Multnomah Village, there is no
infrastructure such as sidewalks,
streetcars, high-capacity transit, and
improved roads.
Neighborhood leaders visit
business association
McCarthy, Rounds, Sucec, and
several other neighbor association
members visited the June 25 meeting
of the Multnomah Village Business
Association. Business leaders said
that they want storefront commercial
development to move closer to the
village.
The developer, Tim O’Brien of
Urban Assets Advisors, recently
said that the business association
had supported his development but
did have concerns about the height,
materials used, and parking.
The business association markets
the village as a brand which draws
international tourists for its quaintness.
is very positive. It’s a team here, so it’s
not that hard and the community
responds when you ask then to pitch
in.”
But whether you volunteer, dance to
the music, march in the parade, host
a booth, or enjoy the annual pancake
breakfast, on Aug. 15, Multnomah
Village is the place to be.
“It’s a feel good event for the whole
community,” Seker said. “Lots of people
come out. They’re engaging in a social
activity that helps build community
spirit. It’s just an old-fashioned block
party.”
Editor’s Note: This year there are two
stages with great music and merriment
throughout the day. And there is a Kids
Festival and lots of great food. Wine
aficionados won’t want to forget about Vine
& Dine in Multnomah Village on Sunday,
Aug. 16. This annual event is a fundraiser
for the Multnomah Village Bloc Initiative.
You can find a list of the major Multnomah
Days events on Page 5, and a complete list
of events on the Multnomah Village website,
www.multnomahvillage.org.
The business association hasn’t
taken a formal position yet though.
At the June meeting, this reporter
heard a range of thoughts, but one
thing that was made clear: more retail
is always good for business.
“The neighbors don’t have any
financial stake in development,” a
long time business member said. “To
businesses, it’s more customers.”
Long-time business association
president Michele Cassinelli asked
if there was any requirement for the
group to take a position.
“I think we should take a stand,”
she said. “The developer is open and
willing to work with us.”
“I think it’s unfair to commit one
way or the other,” said current co-
president Jason Lensch. “A collective
voice is too much of a risk.”
Instead, it was suggested that
an online questionnaire be posted
online to allow members to share
their concerns and comments
anonymously.
At press time, the business
association was scheduled to revisit
the topic at the July 30 meeting.