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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 2016)
Page 4 * The ST. JOHNS REVIEW * #3 Feb. 12, 2016 * Email: reviewnewspaper@gmail.com * M Letters: Continued from Page 2 of, or against, giving the Gateway Island to a developer. Regretfully, due to time constraints, I was not able to read all the questions and concerns of the attendees. I was, however, able to call on all the hands that were raised to allow viewpoints of the current question/ concern being discussed. There were a couple moments were the debate got “hot”, but I think it was “mostly civil”. In summary, nei- ther side was able to convince the other of “their” perspective, but ar- guments were made on both sides. In my opinion, redevelopment of the Gateway should have commu- nity involvement, multiple voices should be heard. To quote the St. Johns/Lombard Plan in regards to the Gateway redevelopment, “Specific design details still need to be developed through a design engineering process with public involvement” (P.86). How much of the Public been involved? Tony Darco ======================== Dear Editor, By the time your readers have picked up this paper, Portland City Council will have heard Ivy Island testimony, for and against. What happens now? Now the City Council will consider testimony and make their decision on Feb- ruary 17, 2016. I encourage your readers, no matter what side you are on, to call the City Council and make your wishes known con- cerning Ivy Island and the Bolouri Development, or the Union at St. Johns as it’s called. They’re still thinking about it and trying to de- cide. Let them know what you want them to do. A Recap of the Positions The Union at St. Johns is com- ing to St Johns in SOME form or another. Mr. Bolouri has said that there will be a four-story, 106 unit complex with mixed retail space, with or without Ivy Island. And that is what is at issue: Ivy Island and the Lombard Slip Lane. The two opposing sides have different ideas as to what the City Council should do. The Pro-Vacation, DON’T save Ivy Island side, would like the slip lane removed for a safety issue at Charleston. This requires that Public Land be made Private. The removal, along with the accom- panying new right turn into St. Johns will slow traffic and make the Charleston corner safer. They also believe that the plazas that will be created have value; that the Union at St. Johns will create an enhanced Gateway into St Johns, and that the ensuing four-story building is an appropriate structure for St. Johns. The Save Ivy Island side believes that the configuration that we cur- rently have, with the mature trees and the marquee sign is an icon- ic, historic and effective Gateway into our business district. We be- lieve that the slip lane prevents traffic congestion, and that there are other, more traditional ways of calming traffic at the slip lane and making the Charleston corner saf- er. We also believe that the Union at St. Johns ruins this intersection as a Gateway, that the proposed plaza has little value, and that it is vitally important that Public Land remains Public. I believe that it’s unfortunate that PBOT, Portland Planning, or City Hall did not ask our commu- nity about this project by holding hearings, having Town Halls, etc. Something that changes the face of St. Johns so radically, so irrevers- ibly, needed more discussion and consensus. For the two opposing sides it’s been a street fight with- out a referee. St. Johns has a reputation in City Hall for being an unpredictable, contentious and raucous commu- nity, so let’s not disappoint. I say both sides should go out swing- ing. They didn’t ask our opinion, but let’s give it to them anyways. What you do now will make a difference. NO MATTER WHAT SIDE YOU ARE ON, CALL TO- DAY. City Hall is deciding our future for our community. It’s our last chance for all of us, no matter what your position is, to let them know what you think. These are the five people voting on this issue. Calling them is easy, just say you want to leave a mes- sage, they’ll switch you over. You won’t have to talk to anybody! You can call anytime, even after hours and go to voicemail. Easy peasy. Mayor Charlie Hales- 503.823.4120 Commissioner Amanda Fritz-503.823.3008 Commissioner Steve Novick -503.823.4682 Commissioner Nick Fish- 503.823.3589 Commissioner Dan Saltzman 503.823.4151 Thank-you, John Teply, Director for Save Ivy Island ======================== Let’s Make Our St. Johns Gateway Better Dear Editor, St. Johnsians, you thought it was over? That you wouldn’t see an- other letter about Ivy Island? Not yet. On Feb. 17 the final vote will be taken. The Portland City Coun- cil will decide on that date. You can still call each person on the City Council and tell them what you want. My final thoughts: Our neighbors in favor of the vacation of Ivy Is- land and the Lombard Slip Lane often use the St Johns Lombard Plan (SJLP) as justification for supporting the vacation, but I take issue over WHAT the Developer intends to build in this location if we give him our public land. The SJLP NOWHERE suggests that we fill up the space left emptied by Ivy Island with a large, four-story structure. In fact, on page 36 of the SJLP, there is a drawing that il- lustrates the recommended chang- es to Ivy Island and the Lombard Slip Lane, namely, a PARK, trees and greenery at the entryway to the “new and improved” gateway to St Johns. With the Union At St Johns, tall trees are missing, the greenspace is missing and so is the pedestrian walkway. The SJLP has several recommendations fo the “new” gateway to downtown St Johns: 1 It should be clear that this is THE GATEWA to the business core, 2) Visibility into th downtown center should be increased, an 3) There should be greenspace and a protec ed pedestrian corridor. The original idea wa that the Lombard Slip lane would be close off and Ivy Island would be shifted north t accommodate the traffic improvements at N Richmond and Jersey. What remained of Iv Island, along with the now closed-off Sli Lane, would essentially become a park an pedestrian walk way. With our current configuration, we alread have a Gateway into the downtown distric It is clear, with the Lombard Slip and Ivy Is land as they stand, that this is the entrance t our downtown. The problem we have wit the Slip Lane, where vehicles enter the down town too fast, is an easier problem to fix tha the opposite, where no vehicles enter at al I am concerned about this. I worry that th only people who will come downtown will b the people who already know the downtow is there. Instead of a Gateway, I fear that th new development will function like a wal closing off our current access to our down town. There will no longer be an obvious an unique gateway into St Johns. What we’ have is “just” a corner, a corner that look like all the other newly minted corners on N Williams or Mississippi. And we’ll JUST b North Portland. Furthermore, with an underground parkin garage, like the one slated to be built unde the current Ivy Island, trees won’t grow as ta as the 40 foot tall trees that currently stan on Ivy Island. We want our children to enjo the trees, just as we want ALL the residen and visitors to St Johns to be able to enjoy th view of the St Johns Bridge as they approac our downtown, not just the well-to-do peopl lucky enough to live on the top floors of th Union at St Johns. My neighbors in favor of the vacation wi say, “But Shae, what about that dangerou blind curve? You heartless woman! Don you care about the safety of our children?” O course I care, as do all of us fighting to sav Ivy Island. How about a speed bump and flashing red light and a sign that says, “En Color Business Card Advertisements Pricing: 3 Months (6 times) $38 each ($228 total) 6 Months (12 times) $35 each ($420 total) 9 Months (19 times) $33 each ($627 total) 12 Months ( 26 times) $32 each ($832 total) Call 503-283-5086 for more information