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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2016)
2 • The Southwest Portland Post EDITORIAL Don Snedecor, The Post, May 2016. The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Fax: (866) 727-5336 email: editor@multnomahpost.com Build sidewalks along arterials but leave quieter side roads untouched RE: “From The Editor’s Desk: New construction should automatically trigger creation of a local improvement district,” by There has been a lot of discussion over the years of the need to try to maintain the rather unique and original character of Portland’s Southwest area, particularly its immediate sense of greenery, trees, “ruralness” and nature. As a resident of Multnomah Village, I share the view with other locals that it is the actual lack of curbs, sidewalks and pavement that in many instances very effectively helps generate that special natural feeling and distinctive character. Their absence also helps to return and retain water in the soil and reduce the sense of barrenness and radiated heat a street can possess when so much concrete is in put in place. But yes, there is also a greater need for pedestrian safety in many instances. How to reconcile the two? June 2016 Our proposed solution, when the city has consulted residents over the development needs of the Southwest area, is to deliberately install sidewalks on the major identified access and arterial roads that locals most often use to make relevant pedestrian connections, but to intentionally leave all the quieter side roads untouched, and just as they are. Blanket or “one size fits all” approaches, through the setting of standard requirements for all (and potentially involving undesirable or unnecessary compulsory spending and expense to residents on dubious “improvements”) are not a good idea. Particularly if such key aspects to what keeps the Southwest beautiful and different are overlooked and ignored. the Tryon-Stephens Plan is the first collaboration between the transportation and environmental bureaus at the neighborhood scale. Tr y o n - S t e p h e n s f u r t h e r s t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f n e w s t re e t a n d stormwater designs that are more flexible and more affordable than the traditional street and stormwater designs that were the only option until a few years ago. And the plan lays the foundation for cross-bureau collaboration and for creative thinking about street and stormwater infrastructure. F o r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e Tr y o n - S t e p h e n s P l a n v i s i t https://www.portlandoregon.gov/ transportation/65574. Bruce Dickson Multnomah Village Closure of Sears homeless shelter insisted upon by vocal minority Don Snedecor responds: Thanks for your letter, Bruce. I understand your concerns about a “one size fits all” remedy for local street improvements. But siphoning money from local streets to pay for sidewalks, bike lanes and other necessary improvements along arterials doesn’t solve the problem. The Tryon-Stephens Headwaters Neighborhood Street Plan recently passed by the Portland City Council provides a framework for improvements that maintain the rural character of local streets while tackling serious erosion, flooding and infrastructure needs. To paraphrase the introduction, As a Multnomah resident, I am saddened to hear that the city of Portland and Transition Projects will close down the temporary Sears homeless shelter, potentially throwing vulnerable homeless citizens back on the streets. Portland Mayor Charlie Hales, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury and their staffs have worked diligently over the past months to open hundreds of new permanent shelter beds across the county. [Hales and Kafoury] recently came to our neighborhood in good faith to request (Continued on Page 3) well be … and well informed Bowman’s Hillsdale Pharmacy 6256 SW Capitol Hwy. 503-244-7582 email: pharmacy@hillsdalerx.com • Flu shots available •Blisters? We can help •Experienced compounding pharmacists Celebrating 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509, Portland, OR 97206 Years in Business! Phone: (503) 244-6933; Fax: (866) 727-5336 general email: news@multnomahpost.com web address: www.swportlandpost.com 23 Editor & Publisher .........Don Snedecor Contributors...... ...............KC Cowan, Janet Goetze, ................Jack Rubinger, Erik Vidstrand Copy Editor ......................Rich Riegel Advertising Sales ...........Rich Riegel, Don Snedecor Graphic Design ..............Leslie Baird Design Printing ............................Oregon Lithoprint Circulation .......................Rick Hepper © 2016 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. 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 Advertise in the Hillsdale special section in July For details call Don at 503-244-6933 or visit www.SWPortlandPost.com. Deadline is June 20.