December 2015
Homeless Shelter
(Continued from Page 1)
Due to the “Great Recession,”
and lack of funding for housing,
the Portland City Council instead
unanimously voted to make the site
an emergency management center
complete with fueling stations,
equipment, and a communications
command post.
But the building and property has
sat empty for the past four years
while the city has tried to come up
with funding.
The city’s plan is this: shuttle buses
will transport everyone by 6 p.m.,
open it up for others if beds are not
filled, then return in the morning
to transport everyone to services
downtown closing the armory by
9 a.m.
In response to concerns about the
shelter remaining open 24/7, Borke
explained that it will be an incentive
to return downtown for meals,
access to case managers, and other
resources.
“Transition Projects has experience
and is fully equipped to adequately
run the shelter every evening,”
Borke assured some in the audience.
During the day, improvements will
begin on the future emergency
center including Americans with
Disabilities Act requirements. Kieta
explained that $1 million is allocated
for these improvements including a
fueling station.
Concerns about funding,
permanent solutions, and safety
were addressed. A recurring theme
was what would happen when the
six months were up.
“We have no choice but to be out
after 180 days,” Hales reassured
the audience of over 150 people.
“The feds are only allowing this
as a temporary solution until more
permanent housing is created.”
Hales confessed the location was
NEWS
not ideal as there are not adequate
services or convenient transit in the
area.
Editor’s Note: While Neighborhood
House and Meals on Wheels charities
i n M u l t n o m a h Vi l l a g e a r e b o t h
busy meeting the needs of their own
community clients, refugees, and the
elderly, couldn’t they help?
Another major concern was
security. The principal of the Westside
Christian School said that the armory
is adjacent the school grounds. Hales
replied that he has alerted Portland
Police Chief Larry O’Dea and that the
program has the full cooperation of
the police.
“ I ’ m c o m p a s s i o n a t e , ” M a rc i a
Waugh began, “but as a neighbor
what’s the biggest concern I need to
be aware of?”
“Just because they’re homeless
doesn’t make them monsters!” one
woman interrupted her.
“We can’t guarantee safety,” Borke
said. However, Borke said, “We have
other four other shelters and have
good neighbor agreements with all
of them.”
The armory has barbed wire with
bright orange halogen lights along
residential properties.
“A [telephone] hotline will be set
up with a single point of contact,”
Hales added.
But a neighbor who said it took
over a year to inquire about a pothole
without successful results was
skeptical. People snickered.
“I’m upset at the hostility and fear
from this group!” exclaimed one
woman, a social worker. “I fear for
the homeless women! We should
be collecting items and offering one
hour a week to help out some way.”
A new resident of the area asked
what the community could do to help
out. She was told to tap into local
religious institutions and nonprofit
opportunities. Blankets, toiletries,
The Southwest Portland Post • 7
The Portland City Council recently declared a state of emergency regarding affordable
housing and homelessness. The former Sears Armory will house a homeless shelter for
the next six months. (Post file photo by Erik Vidstrand)
coats, and other clothing are always
in demand and there will be future
volunteer opportunities.
When asked about the possibility
of opening up the Wapato jail,
Commissioner Bailey said the county
had looked into it thoroughly but due
to legal issues, it was not an option.
The Wapato facility cost $59 million
and took two years to construct but
was never opened in 2004. It holds
550 beds, has a large kitchen, multiple
showers, and its own emergency
room.
When audience members pressed
Bailey, he still could not share reasons.
“Please tell us what the legal issues
are,” asked Stu Ellis, a long time
resident, whose property is near the
former armory.
Bailey continued to skirt the
issue, saying he wasn’t an attorney.
C a r o l M c C a r t h y, M u l t n o m a h
Neighborhood Association chair,
asked to see written documents.
People were concerned about
camping on the property. Kieta said
camping would not be allowed.
Borke was asked about the women
w h o w o u l d b e h o u s e d . Wo u l d
they be screened for drugs and
paraphernalia? Will meals be served?
“Two-thirds of the women have
mental health issues and disabilities,”
Borke shared, “and no, they won’t be
screened, however, there is a zero
tolerance policy about alcohol and
drugs.
Hales added, “There will be a
Thanksgiving Day meal but then no
other meals after that.”
Hales finished by saying that
information sharing will continue to
take place and that another meeting
can take place in the neighborhood
as needed.
R e p o r t e r ’s N o t e : F o r m o re
information, email mayorcharliehales@
portlandoregon.gov, or call the Portland
Mayor’s office at 503-823-4120.
Latest construction tour includes rerouting of traffic along Macadam Avenue
SELLWOOD BRIDGE
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
On one of the very first cool days
of autumn, Mike Pullen, a county
communications director, escorted
this reporter on a tour of the Sellwood
Bridge construction.
The summer and autumn fair
weather has helped with the progress
of the project according to Pullen.
On this day, workers were pouring
concrete even though there was
a slight drizzle. The bridge span
actually lowered a full six inches as
the thick concrete set. It was designed
that way.
“The concrete is thicker in places
for the possibility of future streetcar
tracks,” Pullen explained. “We are
planning ahead in case there is a
demand someday.”
According to Pullen, no MAX light
rail trains will cross the bridge.
The old bridge is literally feet away
from walls and windows of a large
condominium unit on the north side
of the bridge. This will be removed
Conceptual rendering of the new Sellwood Bridge, looking west.
(Photo courtesy of Multnomah County)
once the new bridge becomes fully
functional.
“The neighbors have been super
patient with this over the years,”
Pullen said.
Comments about going over
budget have been consistent. Pullen
explained that these necessary add-
ons, or as Pullen calls it, ‘scope creep’,
can be found a distance away from
the actual bridge footprint.
“We couldn’t just build a bridge
and call it good,” Pullen said.
“There won’t be a south sidewalk
over the river,” Pullen added saying
that they will have extra wide
sidewalk on the north side.
Landslide containment with
retaining walls graces the west slope
of Macadam Avenue (Highway 43).
Workers are also shoring up the bank
with vegetation and sturdy netting.
Some trees had to be removed
due to construction right-of-ways
but residents of the Macadam Bay
houseboat community complained
about light pollution from the new
street halogen lights.
Driveways and utility lines even
had to be rerouted to the houseboat
community and a luxury automobile
dealership.
Along the east side of the highway,
the trolley tracks were dug up but are
being replaced eventually and a bike
path is being added. A pedestrian
walkway continues north all the way
to Willamette Park which is almost
a quarter mile from the foot of the
bridge.
Even a route to the Willamette
River for kayakers and other light
boats is being constructed.
Of course, bioswales have to be
constructed, part of the Bureau
of Environmental Services
requirements to contain runoff water.
Reestablishing vegetation including
trees is a priority. Even the mouth of
Stephen’s Creek received attention
allowing the creek to flow into the
river eventually allowing salmon to
access the creek.
Traffic updates continue through
a weekly email that people can
sign up for. Pullen noted that the
northbound lane of Hwy. 43 now
uses the new interchange ramps and
the southbound through lane travels
under the new bridge. This will
continue until summer 2016.
Southbound traffic uses the right
outside lane to access the bridge (not
the left lane as before). The left lane
is used for through traffic (Portland
to Lake Oswego). The southbound
TriMet bus stop by the cemetery is
closed until summer.
Shifting the traffic creates space
for the contractor to build the second
through lane under the bridge.
Pullen emphasized that there will
be no delays or closures during the
holiday season. The bridge is still
expected to open in early spring.
For a diagram of the new Sellwood
Bridge construction, visit www.
sellwoodbridge.org.