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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2000)
October 4, 2000 Page 0 7 NfltioMfli Minority Business Week ÿtartlanh ©bseruer Preserving Historic Commençai Sites B> S eas O ’S k i a eur T he P orilasu O bserver M any ethnic neighborhoods con tain a w ealth o f historic structures. In tow ns across the nation, m inority neighborhoods are am ong the oldest )n the com m unity. A s w ealthy citizens abandoned older neighborhoods for newer and more fashionable addresses, lower income families moved in. These families and businesses w ere often unable to afford the popular rem odel ing “upgrades” that so harm ed the historic character o f other neighbor hoods. Their build ings were, in a way, preserved over the years. Today, these neighborhoods of fer w onderful op portunity to restore the historic charac ter ofthe homes and com mercial build ings found there. Hr» c*;*» / Care m ust be taken, however, to avoid • -iJ ' the g en trification ■r that has frequently o c c u rre d w hen older, ethnic areas becom e popular re- h a b ilita tio n d i s tricts. D evelopers often snatch up dilapidated buildings and pour thousands o f dollars into their rehabilitation. That is great forthe historic buildings, but the increased rent or sale price o f the rehabilitated buildings is frequently beyond the means o f the neighborhood’s inhabit ants. The families that previously lived in the neighborhood are scattered, de stroying the sense o f com m unity that urban planners are so often trying to create in renew al projects. O ne excel lent way for preservation to occur with out gentrification, is for developers to take advantage ofFederal low income tax credits, which allow portions o f the cost o f project to be refunded in the form o f tax credits. Historic buildings are at their most vulnerable when they are vacant. Neighborhoods that have few services and businesses will likely lose population, creating a downward spiral o f population loss and going- out-of-business sales. Furthermore, a beautifully restored building with a “for rent” sign in the window does little to help the local economy. So the best thing for both historic buildings and inner city neighborhoods is to have i ’LfSil ' ■ 1 i « H fT T ÿ Bp \ j 7 : Ja ’ Ä IM jm J irr ■■ * ai rehabilitated buildings filled with thriv ing businesses. Unfortunately, many inner city business are having trouble staying afloat. Small-business loans and building rehabilitation grants w ould go a long w ay in improving and stabilizing inner-city historic neigh borhoods. T he am ount o f m oney needed to turn entire neighborhoods around w ould be a fraction o f that spent by municipalities in meeting the dem ands o f corporate retailers. Bil lions are spent annually by cities across the country to pave the w ay (literally) for corporate commercial development at the edge o f town. In some cases local governments will pick up as m uch as 50% o fth e cost o f massive projects by powerful developers and banks. W hen was the last time a city picked up h alf the cost o f establishing a small busi ness in an older neighborhood? Healthy businesses in m ixed-use neighbor hoods are essential for the stability o f older areas. N ot only do the busi nesses add to the tax base o f an area, and protect the historic buildings they occupy from dem olition, but they also create a sense o f com m unity as local residents live, work, and shop in their neigh borhoods. This helps keep cars o ff the road as residents can easily w alk to local establish ments, rather than be forced to use their cars for even the simplest errands, as is the case in the suburbs. It also prevents less-m obile residents from being cut o ff from goods and services. It generates activity in the neigh borhood, w hich deters crim e and encourages growth. Furthermore, local, small businesses offer em ploym ent opportunities and independence from suburban retail ers. Preservation o f individual build ings can often occur because o f phi lanthropy, far-sighted developers, or grass roots efforts. But the preserva tion o f historic neighborhoods can only occur w hen the businesses in those districts are thriving. Therefore it is essential that public money be made available to small-business own ers in historic areas. This will not only improve the quality o f life for the neighborhood’s residents but also save a great m any historic structures. león D. M c K enzie INSURANCE AGENCY LIFE INSURANCE & FINANCIAL PLANNING 232 S.E. OAK SUITE #107 PORTLAND, OREGON 97214 503/233-9588 f opportunity inclusive iimctices OPOWth econom ic vitality Healthy communities Minority business is the economic reality of the new millenium. Th'e City of Portland, Multnomah County, Port of Portland and Portland Development Commission are committed to building the economic vitality of the Portland region’s diverse businesses by utilizing fair contracting and employment practices to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens. We appreciate this special opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many valuable contributions made by minority businesses in the metropolitan area. Multnomah County Opportunity Hotline (503)797-1933 Sheila McDaniel, Contract Aministrator: (503)988-4049 www.co.multnomah.or.us/contracts Port of Portland FaxBack Line: (503)944-7592 Jerry Walker, DBE Program Manager: (503)944-7587 www.portofportlandor.com roc PORTLAND Portland Development Commission Tyrone Henry, Contract Compliance Coordinator: (503)823-3315 www.portlanddev.org/about/contract.html City of Portland Bureau of Purchases BuyLine (503)823-5513 Loretta Young, M/W/ESB Liaison: (503)823-6850 www.ci.portland.or.us/purchase/purchase.htm 1 p f x a r v of P ortland T ransportation T office of City of Portland Office of Transportation Contracting information and contacts at www.trans.ci.portland.or.us I
