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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2017)
May 2017 NEWS The Southwest Portland Post • 7 Advisory committee considers community development along future light rail line SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR PLAN By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post Public comment opens each community advisory committee meeting of the Southwest Corridor light rail line. David George, a property owner on Barbur Boulevard, was first to speak at the April meeting. “ I h e a r d t h a t t h e Tr u m p administration was canceling funding for federal projects,” he said. “We’ll have to wait and see,” said Eryn Kehe, Metro project spokesperson. “We’re taking one step at a time.” Fifty percent of the funding for this project would come from the federal government. Another property owner asked when owners would know if their property would be taken (purchased) for the light rail project under laws relating to eminent domain. Kehe said that the area is being studied with an environmental impact study. “The study will be released at end of year,” Kehe said. Eric Engstrom, a principal planner for the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, said that most committee members considered transportation issues the highest concern of the project. “Various land use plans are already in place,” Engstrom said. “Many of you were involved with the Barbur Concept Plan in which engineers focused on redevelopment and transportation routes. “These were led by Metro, Oregon Department of Transportation, and Multnomah and Washington counties.” Surveys from years past suggested medium level development was the favorite with mixed-use buildings. Engstrom showed various road designs such as parallel, or frontage roads, main streets, and perpendicular streets. One committee m e m b e r reminded the group that other plans have been designed: a Barbur Boulevard streetscape review in 1999, the Southwest Community TriMet’s MAX Orange light rail line train stops in Milwaulkie. (Photo illustration courtesy of Metro) Plan in 2000, and a high-crash access to the Sylvania Campus of development centering on the Fred corridor safety project along Barbur Portland Community College. “But Meyer supermarket. Stormwater Boulevard in 2012. 53rd (Avenue) will keep its barrier and wildlife enhancement projects “We found that this corridor is at Barbur (Boulevard),” Engstrom south of the grocery store would auto-oriented,” Engstrom said. said. be included. “Few stop to shop and stroll and Several committee members The Safeway supermarket will there are lots of gaps in sidewalks. raised concerns about access to anchor a new main street area “Additionally, there is a soft lease Hillsdale and Multnomah Village. at Capitol Hill Road. Barbur and rental market in the area.” Kehe explained that this had Boulevard Rentals is for sale and On top of all of this, the report been vetted years ago with each will be eventually redeveloped. found, topography, stormwater, community and that the main At 19th Avenue, the Golden and pedestrian and bicyclist safety development would take place Touch Restaurant will be torn down are inadequate. along Barbur Boulevard. Bus routes to make way for a large apartment “Our goal is to turn Barbur will be enhanced in each of these complex featuring Natural Grocers Boulevard into a safe, vibrant, and communities. store as retail anchor. The Tryon enjoyable place to live, work, shop, Project construction is scheduled Creek headwaters near 26th Avenue and learn,” Engstrom said. to begin in 2021 and will last is another focus area. According to project managers, approximately four years, “Will this area have more housing seven different focus areas are Community Advisory Committee or commercial property?” asked a under design. meetings are scheduled the first member of the audience. One of these is the Southwest Kelly Monday of the month at the “Those details don’t go that far,” Street area in South Waterfront. This Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Kehe said. “It will most likely be area will improve connections to Capitol Highway, starting at 6:30 a mixed-use design. We’ll have Oregon Health & Science University p.m. Meetings are open to the a housing person come back to and the National College of Natural public and a comment period is respond.” Medicine and to redesign the Ross scheduled for the first 10 minutes. The Crossroads, (Capitol Island bridgehead area. The next (completely separate) Highway, Barbur Boulevard, In the South Portland Southwest Corridor Steering Taylors Ferry Road, and Interstate neighborhood, Southwest Committee meeting will be held 5), will have freeway onramps Hamilton and Corbett streets is on Monday, May 8, at 9 a.m. at the reconfigured, have a new Barbur a possible main street keeping in Metro Regional Center, 600 NE Transit Center, and develop a town mind the historic nature of Lair Grand Ave. center which would include 7 to 10 Hill. story buildings. The Woods is the third focus. “This area will see major bike “This area would include a park- Advertise in The Post! and pedestrian improvements,” like setting, recreation area, and Engstrom ensured. “This will tie Call Don at involve traffic calming,” Engstrom in configurations to the Southwest said. 503-244-6933 highway project.” Metro planners are proposing A smaller scale project at 53rd a perpendicular street at Avenue will have pedestrian and the intersection of Terwilliger bike improvements and better and Barbur boulevards with POST A-Z BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY 503-244-6933 9715 SW Barbur Blvd. Portland, OR 97219-6097 Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Phone: (503) 246-3373 Fax: (503) 246-2767 Rx Hotline: (503) 246-0861 503-246-2564 Open 7 days a week www.mvdentalcare.com www.pacif icveterinaryhospital.com Email: clientcare@pacvh.com 7717SW34thAvenue•Portland,OR97219 (MultnomahVillage•SWCapitolHighway&34thAve.) The IDEA Today … The SIGN Tomorrow! •SIGNS •BANNERS •GRAPHICS •MAGNETICS •LETTERING •LOGOS&MORE 503.244.0980 9220 SW Barbur Blvd. #111 - Portland - OR - 97219
