May 26. 2010
Clf* ^Jnrtlanò (Observer
IN S ID E
The Week ¡ Review
H ealth
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FredMeyer
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page 6-7
Urban Renewal Redo
Expansion wins support of local leaders
by J ake
O pinion
pages 8-9
T homas
T he P ortland O bserver
A community advisory panel
gave the green light last week to
expand urban renewal in north and
northeast Portland. It also expressed
support for two measures meant to
mitigate gentrification in the area,
while delaying to weigh in on a
proposal to redevelop the Rose
Quarter.
In August, the Portland Devel
opment Commission, the city’s eco
nomic development arm, assembled
a Community Advisory Committee
o f over 20 citizens, representing vari
ous interests, to evaluate the North/
Northeast Economic Development
Initiative, a proposal to expand the
acreage o f existing urban renewal
areas in the region.
Meeting about once a month, the
committee heard about the nuts and
bolts o f urban renewal, the historic
effects o f the controversial eco
nomic tool, how residents o f the
area felt about it, and what it could
do for the region.
The committee voted overwhelm
ing to expand the Oregon Conven
tion Center and the I nterstate Corri
dor urban renewal areas to encom-
process is a necessary and inten
tional one,” said Chris Duffy, the
chair o f the Arbor Lodge Neighbor
hood Association.
Duffy told the Portland Observer
after the meeting that residents were
beginning to see urban renewal as a
being as essential as city planning
and a key tool to properly direct the
rapid economic growth o f the area.
During the meeting, Sarah Carlin
Ames, representing Portland Public
Schools on the committee, asked
Roslyn Hill, a prominent developer
on Alberta Street and committee
member, for a clarification o f why
that street needed urban renewal
when it appears to have no shortage
o f “chi-chi boutiques.”
Hill explained that development
on the once crime-ridden street has
been uneven, with many lots left
vacant, and some businesses sorely
lacking capital.
“It has certain areas that will never
be done [without urban renewal],”
said Hill.
However, support isn’t unani
mous. The Eliot Neighborhood
Association has come out against
RoyJay
pass the St. Johns Town Center as
well as properties along Martin
Luther King Jr. Boulevard and
Alberta, Killingsworth, Lombard
streets. It also voted to prioritize
funding for the “Gem List,” a $70
million series o f projects in the Inter
state Corridor Urban Renewal Area,
The public comment period that
preceded the vote revealed strong
community support for the expan
sion o f urban renewal, with several
chairs o f neighborhood association
in north and northeast Portland
speaking in favor o f it
“People are coming to see this
continued
on page 16
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Job, Career Fair Saturday
imiiiaishim
C lassifieds
R eligion
pages 10-13
pages 14-15
page 18
W orkers with vocational and
Individuals who have com
trade skills are invited to a career pleted any o f the Oregon State
and job fair on Saturday, May 29, A pprenticeship program s or the
from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Irvington training program s operated by
CovenantChurch,4008N.E. Martin Oregon Tradesw om an, Cascade
Luther King Blvd
Trades Preparation Courses, the
S tra ig h t Path, a n o n -p ro fit Portland Youth Builders, or other
mentoring and employment organi program s are encouraged to at
zation that works with ex-offenders, tend.
is sponsoring the event.
All applicants should have cop-
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