May 2018
NEWS
The Southwest Portland Post • 7
Is the city cramming in more housing in guise of livability, affordability?
out the city),
former Mayor
Charlie Hales
ordered a re-
view of hous-
ing redevel-
opments and
created the
Residential
Infill Project
in 2016.
G o r t e r
represented
Southwest
neighbor-
hoods on the
Residential
Infill Project
Stakehold-
er Advisory
Committee
Jim Gorter speaks to the Multnomah Neighborhood Association which includ-
while vice-chair Leslie Hammond listens.
ed city staff,
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
neighborhood
association representatives, develop-
ers, and architects.
MULTNOMAH NOTEBOOK
Gorter is a retired educator and
served most of his career as the direc-
tor of outdoor environmental educa-
By Erik Vidstrand
tion for a local agency.
The Southwest Portland Post
“In the last few years,” Gorter said,
“the project has morphed into cram-
Longtime Burlingame resident and
ming in more housing and people
activist Jim Gorter was the keynote
in the guise of livability and afford-
speaker at the Multnomah Neighbor-
ability.”
hood Association meeting on April
He said the city wanted to focus
10.
on “little picture” issues such as the
Gorter said that due to demoli-
number of stairs a new development
tions (and the resulting building of
could have or setback distances.
“mcmansions” happening through-
“They weren’t concerned about the
bigger picture issues like displace-
ment, affordability, or infrastruc-
ture,” he said. “An affordable house
is the one that is already there.
“Since its inception,” Gorter said,
“the RIP has gone through several
renditions. I am planning to attend
two upcoming hearings in May. Pub-
lic comments are open until May 15.”
According to Gorter, the RIPSAC
committee was disbanded a year ago
without even a thank you. Gorter is
now working with United Neighbors
for Reform which is focused on asbes-
tos and lead paint abatement when
demolishing older properties.
“Rules have been made for that,”
he said, “but there is some concern
about the definition of demolition.”
UNR supports the reduced scale
of houses, setbacks, and a reduced
height to 35 feet. There are incentives
for affordable housing and historic
properties being kept but there con-
tinues to be no required parking.
Accessory dwelling units up to 800
square feet are allowed. One audience
member who is pro-ADU and pro-
middle housing asked what if these
units become short-term rentals like
Air BnB.
“I thought this was about providing
housing options to youth, seniors,
or other low-income residents and
families,” he said.
“We’re not against ADUs or middle
housing,” Chair Martie Sucec said.
“Forty-five percent of Multnomah
is made up of apartments and town
houses. What we are opposed to is the
overlay adding even more housing
such as duplexes and triplexes.”
Another member said she would
like to see a restraint on these rental
units, yet another member said this
could cause antagonism to neighbors,
as it is their right to have additional
income.
“The neighborhood association
has already provided the city with
areas where density could work in
Multnomah,” Sucec said. “Additional
housing could be phased in over
time.”
Someone asked if middle housing
options would bring affordable op-
tions.
“No, it is a sham,” Sucec said.
A motion was made to limit ADUs
in the area but due to by-laws, the
motion could not be accepted.
“We can’t pass a motion because it
needs to allow adequate discussion to
debate it,” Sucec said.
The motion was withdrawn. Sucec
said she would hold a town hall meet-
ing on short-term rentals in the future.
The city has set up drop-in hours at
the Hillsdale Library on May 3 from
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. for those who would
like to meet with staff to answer
questions about the Residential Infill
Project.
Hearings begin at 5 p.m. on both
May 8 and 15 at 1900 SW Fourth Ave.,
Rm. 2500. The Portland City Council
will hear testimony in the fall.
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Joan Lunden, journalist, former host of Good
Morning America and senior living advocate.