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-
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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.
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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
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