Page A5
ìl!f JJn rtlan ò (©bseruer
March 16, 2005
»
g H ousing
Li
New Columbia: Fresh start for an old neighborhood
continued
from Front
Many of the relocated families
are still living on the east side of
Portland, but some have ventured
out to surrounding suburbs like
Gresham and Fairview, while oth
ers have moved out of Multnomah
County and the state.
Their relocation was supported
financially with the option of mov- |
ing to other public housing or be
ing given Section 8 vouchers,
which provides rent assistance.
Support and counseling was given
to the families through the Housing
Authority, as well as moving ser
vices and transportation.
B ut now that they ’ ve moved and
settled, are they really going to
want to up and move back? Sev
enty percent of those responding
to surveys indicated they wished
to return when the relocation steps
began. Today, around 40 percent
plan to cash in on their moving
allowance and come back, officials
_
.
■'I
k
.J
?. <
*
photo by M ark
W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Seed money is being raised to replace the aging John Ball Elemen
tary School with a new building that would serve an estimated 500
children moving into the New Columbia neighborhood.
Hopes Pinned on New
Neighborhood School
With new families come more
children, which means a revamped
school will be in order for New
Columbia.
Hopes are pinned on replacing
the aging John Ball Elementary
School with a new design for the
2006-07 school year, with the ex-
pectation of more than 500elemen-
tary-school aged children moving
into the neighborhood that once
served the old Columbia Villa.
The Housing Authority ot Port-
land made the decision last month,
with its Board ot Commissioners
voting unanim ously to donate
! $100,000toward the reconstruction.
Portland Public Schools also voted
to match that amount.
Still, the project still needs $10
million estimated for construction
costs.
John Ball Elementary was built
concurrently withColumbia Villain
1948. It faces some of the same
problems the old housing project
had itself. With no gym and a di lapi
dated septic system, the school
was listed in 2002 as a school dis
trict facility that needed to be re
placed.
Community leaders see the fu
ture of the school in partnership
with the city Bureau of Parks and
Recreation and the Boys and Girls
Club.
said.
Still, that percentage is much
higher than any other Hope VI
projects around the country.
The HOPE VI program was
__ _____________
started by the Department o f Hous
photo by M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
ing and Urban Development’s ef New streets and sidewalks better connect New Columbia to the surrounding Portsmouth neighbor-
forts to transform severely dis hood o f north Portland.
tressed public housing in 1992, but
assistance, but it’s not as apparent erty values going up in certain ar-
Income diversity coming t0 others
many o f the projects have resulted
eas of north and northeast Portland
One of the ideas behind New
in an urban gentrification rather
“It’s the invisible versus the vis- forcing low-income residents out
than keeping low-income residents Columbia will be integrating a mixed- ible subsidization," Wilhelm said, of the neighborhood. With a new
income neighborhood, in hopes “You don’t hear about home own- MAX light rail system, the restruc-
in the same spot.
that
those with a lower-income will ership subsidies written up in the turing of Mississippi Street and the
“W e’ve found that there was a
mill
with middle-income families.
real variety of responses to the
,,
A
problem in the past with Hope ^ W ilh e lm commented on prop-
">ntinued V
on page A 7
relocation,” said Sue Arbuthnot, a
VI
projects
has
been
that
the
poor
documentary filmmaker, who along
with Richard Wilhelm, produced were simply ushered out ot tall high-
the film “Imagining Home: Stories rises and expected to put them
of Columbia Villa,” which recently selves somewhere else.
“ It’s a big social experiment and
had screen in g s at Portsm outh
no
one knows if it’sgoing to work,"
Middle School and 5lh Avenue Cin
Wilhelm
said. “ But the research
ema.
“A lot o f people were really sad,” says it will. Neighborhoods tend to
Arbuthnot said. “There’s one fam build them selves and with the
ily that w e’ve been following that amount of work going into (New
are Angolan refugees and they've Columbia), it’s getting a push-start
been in this country since 1990. to success.”
The new site will feature 850
After many years of living as refu
units,
including public housing,
gees they felt very safe living in
affordable
rental housing, elderly
Columbia Villa. It was pretty dis
housing
and
homes for sale. An
ruptive for them to move. But
additional
92
public
housing units
they’re very much looking forward
will
be
built
off-site
do deal with
to coming back to New Columbia.
overcrowding
while
making sure
Although the old community
there
is
no
loss
of
public
housing in
was often seen to outsiders as a
Portland.
New
parks,
community
hub of gang and drug life, such was
centers and other recreational fa
not necessarily the case.
“It was a stigmatized neighbor cilities will also be created.
W ilhelm said that while the
hood,” Arbuthnot said. “There was
stigma
of public housing will be
a period in the late '80s and 90s
lessened
with the new buildings,
where there was a lot of gang activ
subtle
differences
may be found in
ity. T here’s such a wide array of
the
homes
that
are
rented
and those
perceptions that will have to be
that
are
owned.
Forexample,
many
reckoned with in the new commu
people
renting
or
in
public
housing
nity.”
Wilhelm saidColumbia Villa was will live in row homes.
“People who own homes will
• a vibrant community in spite of all
probably
have garages. People who
the bad mouthing that’s gone on
are
ren
tin
g p ro b ab ly w o n ’t,"
over the years.
“All that was put behind them Wilhelm said.
“People talk,” Arbuthnot said.
years ago,” he said. “They only
“But even people who are never
• thing that stuck was the stigma.
Wilhelm expects the former resi going to be able to work, disabled
dents that move back will regain or elderly - why shouldn't there be
an opportunity for them to have
ownership of their community.
Get money without any haggling.
“They loved their neighbors, safe and decent housing?”
The easiest way is a Home Equity Loan from U.S. Bank.
The filmmakers pointed out that
they loved the ability to find so
You can get loans up to 125% of your home’s value.
many different cultures in their even homeowners have subsidiza
W ith competitive rates, you’ll enjoy an easy way to manage debt, build an addition, or even start a new business.
tion through taxes and government
block,” he said.
There's an easier way to get
money from your home:
a Home Equity Loan from U.S. Bank.
Plus, the interest on the loan may be tax-deductible.
I t ’s all backed by our Five Star Service Guarantee.
No m atter what your financial situation, we have the loan option for you.
Take advantage of this offer without the worry of closing costs, points, or fees.
And keep your worldly possessions.
Go online at usbank.com, visit a local branch,
or call 1-888-444 BANK (2265) ext. 4100
for any other questions.
photo by
Five Star Service Guaranteed
M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver i
When construction is complete, many low-income people will live
in a brand new housing for the first time. New parks, community
centers and other recreational facilities will also come to New
Columbia.
• A Q Q - c R » ed A P R
, v „ . able for terms up to ?0 years on home equity loans w th a U S. B a n k -h e c k m o a u n u n tw ith A t.il and loan-tn-v,..,,.
h i r ? T V s Mimmum loan am ount or increase of $10 ooo required. C onw lt your tax adv sor regarding deduct ,b llty r f m
ih q h V r a e T a X C
r t
H igher rates apply fo r highe
Vs.
payments would be $ 7 1 .5 9 . Rales subject to change Offer is subject to norm al credit quai l.catio ns
On a $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 , 20-year loan at 5.99°.
apply. Not available w ith other discounts Home equity loans are offered through U.S. Bank National Ass< nation NO. Member FDIC.
Some additional restrictions may
U j
irm ta