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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2017)
8 • The Southwest Portland Post NEWS June 2017 Budget problems blamed for delay in Spring Garden Park development By Erik Vidstrand The Southwest Portland Post Friends of Spring Garden Park have been curious about the development of their park. Hannah Davidson, a leading activist in the Multnomah neighborhood, contacted the city after no word or action at the park in some time. The response was that construction has been delayed due to budget reconfigurations. “They had planned to start in April,” said Ken Boltz, a neighbor who lives within earshot of the proposed amphitheatre. “We had an email from Travis Ruybal, the park project manager, which said the amphitheater was no longer on the list.” Because of the construction boom, all of their bids came in too high Boltz told The Post. “Even with the lowest bidder, [the park bureau] didn’t have enough money for everything they planned,” Boltz said. “Thank you for your patience,” Ruybal said. “We have been working through the details of the contracting process. We have a qualified low bidder for construction and we are working on contract execution. “Portland is experiencing a construction boom,” Ruybal said. “The high demand for labor and materials has significantly driven up costs.” As a result, the construction bid came in over the project budget. The park bureau is looking for ways to reduce costs while maintaining the integrity of the design. Some items have been removed from the plan, such as concrete pathways and stairs. Tile would replace rubber safety surfacing on the upper playground. The stone seat wall and concrete pad at the gathering area, or as many neighbors call it, “the amphitheater,” will be not be included and the area Dr. John Minahan (left) talks with neighbors Ken Bolz and Kathy Frost in July 2016 about development plans for Spring Garden Park. (Post file photo by Erik Vidstrand) will be converted into a grassy bowl. “This is good news for those of us that were against the amphitheater,” Boltz said. This was the biggest contention of many of the neighbors. “It looks like they won’t break ground until sometime in June,” Boltz said. “This makes it a two- month delay in the overall project.” Ruybal explained that the delay was not caused by the weather but by the budget. But he conceded that it was unlikely that contractors could have begun work any sooner given the record amounts of rainfall and the slope of the site. “Even with these changes,” Ruybal said, “the project will still require additional funding that we are hopeful will be approved.” The city’s budget was recently approved and the entire park budget allotment was reduced by $1.2 million. “It is our intention to deliver the park experience and aesthetic that you all worked so hard for and are so excited to realize,” Ruybal said. “We are confident that these changes will have limited impact on the beautiful and fun park you will soon be able to enjoy. The grand opening won’t happen until spring 2018.” Study reveals advertising with newspapers triples ad campaign effectiveness Advertisers who are cutting back on newspaper advertising are missing a beat. This is the message of a recent study, conducted by effectiveness consultancy Benchmarketing for Newsworks, which claims that advertising with newspapers increases overall revenue return on investment by three times. Contact The Post and let us show you how effective your newspaper ad campaign can be. A complete media kit including back issues, ad specs, demographics and current rates is available online now at www.SWPortlandPost.com. Call Don Snedecor at 503-244-6933 or email ads@multnomahpost.com for more information or to place your ad. Deadline for July is June 23. Parker Realty, Inc. Multnomah Village $455,000 Just listed! Two blocks to the Village. Restored home with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Built in 1913, this bungalow offers a separate ADU studio unit with kitchen and bath. Hardwood floors and newer mechanics and fireplace. Large kitchen with CVG fir cabinets and two skylights. Fenced yard, quiet location and garage. Jeff Parker Your Neighborhood Realtor Since 1980 The inventory of houses for sale in the Portland Metro area remains at historic lows. High demand for homes in our area coupled with low interest rates and lack of homes for sale translates to higher prices! If you are thinking of selling contact us today for a free market analysis. 503-515-4040 • 7830 SW 35th Ave., Portland, OR www.parkerrealtypdx.com This could be a banner month for your business Yes you can...buy a 4-color banner ad on the back page of the Southwest Portland Post. Call Don Snedecor at 503-244-6933 or email ads@multnomahpost.com for details. Deadline for July is June 23.
