Agatha’s Christie’s
“Murder on the Nile”
is playing this month
at the Lakewood
Theater.
– Page 5
Riverdale High
School senior is
politically active
– Page 8
Southwest was hit
by two snowstorms
in December—See
“Snapshots” on
Page 7
The Southwest Portland Post
Volume No. 25 Issue No. 3
www.swportlandpost.com
Portland, Oregon
Complimentary
January 2017
Multnomah subcommittee considers traffic calming in upcoming project
CAPITOL HIGHWAY PLAN
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
A large Multnomah subcommittee
drew nearly 40 people at the end
of November to consider a set of
improvements for the “Garden Home”
section of Southwest Capitol Highway.
This one-mile stretch extends from
Garden Home Road south to Barbur
Boulevard.
“The city is poised to spend $19
million on the improvements,” chair
Chris Lyons said as he opened the
meeting. “This seems way too much
money. We are trying to bring costs
down to $10-12 million so it’s not such
a wide thoroughfare.”
Marianne Fitzgerald of Ashcreek said
she has been working on the road’s
redevelopment since 1991. Some people
in the room said they have been working
to improve conditions since the 1950s.
Many in the room feared that the
city would not listen to their concerns
as with other issues regarding
Multnomah Village and the surrounding
neighborhoods.
One such fear is spending too much
money on improvements to make
this section of Capitol Highway a
thoroughfare like Multnomah Boulevard
or Oleson Road.
“Tonight’s purpose,”
Lyons explained, “is
to submit comments
with consensus to
both the Bureaus of
Transportation and
Environmental Services
for the highway
improvements.”
“How will this project
affect my property?”
one attendee inquired.
“There are so many
issues like right-of-way
and property boundary
lines, hedges, and
retaining walls.
“The city took 14 feet
back in the Fifties,” he
remarked. “They can’t
keep taking more land.”
There were additional
questions at the meeting
about property lines and
surveying.
Some 40 people turned out for the Multnomah Neighborhood Association’s Capitol Highway subcommittee
“I have confirmed that meeting in November. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
PBOT will have a survey
Bill Beebe has lived along Capitol
crew coming out probably in January,”
Some of the main recommendations at
Highway
for 49 years in a house more
Lyons assured everyone, “but mainly
the meeting were placing a sidewalk on
than 100 years old. Beebe, like his
to survey areas that have changed since
the east side only from the Multnomah
neighbors, is concerned about specific
2008.
Village viaduct to Barbur Boulevard,
things, especially people living along
“If at that point the crews find that
extending the proposed multi-use path
the highway.
the old and new data are not lining
for the entire west side length of the
“There are five adults living in my
up,” Lyons continued, “they would do
mile-long highway, and creating bike
home,” Beebe said. “We like to entertain
a more complete survey of the corridor,
lanes in both directions.
and many are elderly who come to visit.
which may result in more property
“This will also help to reduce the
Where will they park.”
corners being marked.”
(Continued on Page 3)
Plans for new 100-foot multiuse building include Comcast, Natural Grocers
THE COUNTRY STORE
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
In Multnomah Village, construction
continues on a new building at the
corner of Southwest 33rd Avenue
and Capitol Highway, across from
the Multnomah Arts Center. The
project consists of a four-story, 77,000
square foot apartment complex with
72 units, common space amenities,
5,600 square feet of ground floor retail,
and underground parking.
Neighborhood residents who have
been fighting the project are not content
with the size and scope of the building
as well as the lack of enough parking.
The Multnomah Village Business
Association remains neutral on the
development.
Matthew Lawton of Sexton Lawton
Architecture in Denver, Col., proposes
to construct a building at the current
l o c a t i o n o f t h e G o l d e n To u c h
Restaurant (8142 SW Barbur Blvd.)
with approximately 45,000 square feet
of commercial space, 223 dwelling
units, and 452 parking spaces.
Portland Typewriters relocated
farther south on Barbur Boulevard
some time ago and efforts are underway
to vacate a portion of Southwest Falcon
Street.
According to city permits, the project
has been granted a zoning variance
of building height of 101 feet from an
original height limit of 45 feet.
Matt Wickstrom, a senior city planner
with the Bureau of Development
Services, said that the project will
include a Natural Grocers supermarket.
“A Comcast facility is being
incorporated into the project,”
Wickstrom told The Post. “The media
company may move from its current
location into the middle of the site.”
Last year, the Hillsdale Neighborhood
Association responded to the city
regarding the permits. A spokesperson
for the neighborhood stated that
the proposed development overall
represents the type of a vibrant
residential and commercial project that
is well designed.
“It meets current and future zoning
and building codes. That will benefit
the long term pedestrian, bike, and
public transportation user needs of the
community,” the spokesperson said.
The Hillsdale response also includes
suggestions regarding right-of-way
improvements, utilities, electric car
charging stations, drinking fountains,
dog areas, roof gardens, accessibility
improvements, and affordable housing.
The association is also in agreement
with the proposed new height.
Don’t forget to renew your subscription. Form on Page 2.
The Southwest Portland Post
4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509
Portland, OR 97206
An architectural rendering of the proposed mixed use building as seen from Southwest
Barbur Boulevard and Evans Street. (Rendering provided by Sexton Lawton Architecture)