Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2015)
2 • The Southwest Portland Post Hillsdale blogger chimes in on neighborhood news coverage Thanks for the thorough coverage of the four-story development proposal. I’m taken with the unattributed quote, “The only thing that doesn’t change is….change.” The variable is how we change. A comment to both The Connection and The Post: Is Multnomah Days always going to dominate the front page of the papers in the August issues? Yes, this is a big event, but is EDITORIAL it worthy of this kind of play? And will it get the same play next month? Just askin’… By the way, I have the same feeling about front-page play each July after the graduation at Wilson. The Connection seems to think we don’t know that in June high schools graduate their seniors. Just sayin’… Note that I’m not saying that these events shouldn’t be covered, but do they merit the kind of prominence that they get? Are there more important news stories that should top the front page? I would hope so. Now that I’m folding “The Hillsdale News” after the Sept. 1 issue, I may be more outspoken as a constructive (I hope) press critic. I’ll share my views on “The Red Electric” (theredelectric. blogspot.com) or write the occasional letter to the editor. Keep up the good work! Rick Seifert Hillsdale Rick Seifert (right) presents Don Snedecor with a special birthday card at The Post's 5th Anniversary party at Marco's Cafe, Nov. 2, 1997. (Post file photo) How can we reasonably accommodate the influx of young singles and families? Regarding, “The best place for increased density is along commercial arterials,” letter from Sermin Yesilada, editorial comment from Don Snedecor, The Post, August 2015. Thank you, Southwest Portland Post, for sharing the letter from Sermin Yesilada regarding her support for the 4-story apartment development proposed on Capitol Highway. I, too, am a supporter of efforts to provide affordable housing in Multnomah Village and agree with Sermin that thoughtful site and building design can mitigate some of the anxiety that residents have expressed about increasing density and vehicle traffic along a transit corridor in what is primarily a single-family residence neighborhood. Much importance has been attached to this development, and with good reason. Multnomah Village is a great place to live and the proposed apartment building may represent the first step (of many over the next 25 years) in helping the Village absorb the population growth anticipated by the Portland 2040 Plan. But when 1800-square-foot older homes in the Village currently sell for $550,000, how can we reasonably accommodate the influx of young singles and families? And just as important, how can we provide housing for the many wonderful retail and service workers who are employed by businesses in our community? This development can provide some answers by being attractive and affordable to a younger, (Continued on Page 6) September 2015 The cat is out of the bag! Concerning your August, 2015 story (and letter exchange) in the Southwest Portland Post on the proposed four-story rental housing project in “The Village,” I hate to tell you but Multnomah has changed a lot and will continue to change regardless of some hue and cry. I grew up there, Multnomah School Class of 1960, and while things may look the same, it ain’t necessarily so. No hardware store, no pharmacy, no camera/hobby shop, etc., etc. That cat is already out of the bag! Bottom line: density is good! It protects valuable farm and forest land, and city policy concentrates new higher density (and more affordable) housing on commercial streets with good transit...where businesses could use more customers! Maybe with enough new residents, “The Village” can get a pharmacy back! Affordable, rental, housing has always been in short supply in my old home turf, and probably enough can’t be built. Last, remember projects like this, in addition to providing affordable housing to younger folks starting out, make it possible for older neighbors in your community to stay put when they need to downsize from that single family house and yard that is wearing them out! P.S. I do like coming out twice a year to Multnomah...even if it’s to see my dentist. Lenny Anderson Northeast Portland 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