Is the city
cramming in more
housing in guise
of livability,
affordability?
– Page 7
Kristin Robinson
stars in the musical
“Sister Act” at the
Lakewood Theatre
– Page 5
Spielman opens
fourth bagel & coffee
shop in Multnomah
Village
– Page 8
The Southwest Portland Post
Volume No. 26 Issue No. 7
www.swportlandpost.com
Portland, Oregon
Complimentary
May 2018
Two-alarm fire strikes Renner’s Grill in Multnomah Village, bar closed indefinitely
A two-alarm fire hits Renners Grill in Multnomah Village on March 28.
(Photo courtesy of Michael Wagner)
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
On a brisk, busy evening in
Multnomah Village, a two-alarm
fire struck Renner’s Grill. A little
before 7:00 in the evening on March
28, a grease fire began in the kitchen
of the iconic neighborhood bar.
Michael Wagner, a longtime
employee at John’s Marketplace,
was at the cash register when he
suddenly saw smoke outside and
ran outside to see it coming from
Capitol Highway.
“I went up to Renner’s and every-
one had evacuated except for one
cook still in the kitchen,” he said.
“I went inside and told him to get
out. The fire department was there
within minutes.”
Fire engines from stations 4, 5,
18, and 19 were there as well as
Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue.
Firefighters contained the fire by
cutting through the roof and dous-
ing it with a steady stream of water.
There were no injuries and no other
businesses were damaged.
Zach Horowitz was having din-
ner at Tastebud with his family.
“Tastebud provided the firefighters
with free pizza,” Horowitz told this
reporter who was on the scene.
Several village merchants re-
ceived texts that a fire was hap-
pening in the village and they im-
mediately dropped what they were
doing to check out the situation.
Lisa Jones, Portland Fire and
Rescue public information officer,
said it could have been a lot worse.
“It was hard to get in to the Vil-
lage with all the parked cars,” she
said. Some cars were stranded for
hours but no vehicles were dam-
aged.
According to a recent post on the
bar’s Facebook page, the place is
pretty much gutted.
“Front to back, top to bottom,”
the post reads. “Even though we
want to install chandeliers and
marble floors we’re gonna put ev-
erything back as close to original
as humanly possible. It’ll be New
Old.”
Established in 1939, Renner’s
Grill and Suburban Room has been
a cherished part of Multnomah Vil-
lage for decades.
O w n e r S t e ve P o t t e r s a i d h e
doesn’t know when Renner’s will
reopen. People can donate to a Go-
FundMe account, Renner’s Save the
Staff Fire Fund. Renner’s is seeking
a help in order to make payroll and
pay their utilities.
“We’re grinding away over here.
Keep your eyes on Facebook for
updates,” said Potter.
State economist discusses Portland housing issues at Hillsdale meeting
HILLSDALE NOTEBOOK
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
Nearly three dozen people attended
the April 4 Hillsdale Neighborhood
Association meeting to hear about
economic and housing issues affecting
Southwest Portland.
Josh Lehner, an economist for the
state of Oregon, was the keynote
speaker. Lehner began the meeting
with a presentation entitled, “Portland
and the Housing Trilemma.”
Lehner explained that the “tri-
lemma” for housing issues lies in the
contents of the Hillsdale Town Center
Plan drafted back in 1997. These issues
include affordability, quality of life,
and economic strength.
“Only eight of the 100 largest metro-
politan areas in the U.S. have all three
of these traits,” Lehner said.
“For example, Detroit has afford-
ability only,” he said. “Albuquerque
lies on the border of affordability and
quality. Affordability is about home
ownership, vacancy rates, and rental
affordability.”
Lehner stated that Youngstown, Ohio
is the most affordable city in the US.
“And when I speak about quality
of life, I’m speaking about the arts,
restaurants, and low crime rates. New
England cities and Sacramento fit this
trait.
“Economic strength relies on good,
high paying jobs, available employ-
ment, and housing that these workers
can afford.”
Cities at the bottom of economic
strength, according to Lehner’s analy-
sis, are Denver, Boston, New York,
Seattle, Austin, and Portland.
“These cities are not affordable,”
Lehner said. “Natural resources, like
timber, have been replaced by human
resources.”
An audience member asked why
there isn’t a strong transportation in-
frastructure [in Portland].
“People are driving less, the gas tax
has been losing funds over the last
30 years, and [construction] costs are
higher,” he said. “If you don’t accom-
modate sprawl and density, there will
be displacement. Economic growth
will be restrained and choked off.
“The only people moving here will
be the more affluent. Others will just
leave and young people will not move
here.”
Frederiksen provides update on
Residential Infill Project
“The city has been relooking at how
single-family zones are being ad-
dressed,” said Joan Frederiksen of the
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
“A proposed draft [of the Residential
Infill Project] has been released online
and can also be found at local libraries.
Public input is now happening until
May 15.”
Residents can write emails to resi-
dential.infill@portlandoregon.gov
or use an online app that features an
interactive map.
The city will hold a drop-in event at
the Hillsdale Library on May 3, from
4:30 to 6:30 p.m., for people who have
questions. Public hearings will be held
on May 8 and 15 at 5 p.m. at 1900 SW
4th Ave., Room 2500 in downtown
Portland.
“After public testimony, the
record is closed and there will
be no more input,” Frederik-
sen said. “The bureau will
then hold work sessions to
discuss the testimony and de-
velop any amendments before
they vote on their recommen-
dations for the city council.”
There will be more public
hearings on the recommend-
ed draft in front of the city
council this fall.
“The City Council is the fi-
nal decision maker,” Frederik-
sen said. “We encourage all
to provide input. A lot can
change from now until the
City Council vote.”
Hillsdale neighbor
asks group to oppose
Residential Infill Project
Vice President Leann
Knapp, who chaired the meet-
ing, then called for discussion
(Continued on Page 3)
Hillsdale resident Natalia Bronner discusses the
neighborhood's stance on the Residential Infill
Project as Leann Knapp looks on.
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
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