Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, September 01, 2010, Page 20, Image 20

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    Page 20
_ iri'* ÿtartlanh (Obsemer
September I, 2010
Housing Project Back on Track
continued
from fron t
PDC is also granting $5.1 million
in tax revenues to the developer,
ineluding donation o f the land it­
self, to the $13 million project.
Winkier Development Corporation
has also secured a $4.6 million loan
from Wells Fargo Bank, according
to Winkler and PDC executive Sara
King.
The finished project will con­
tain 57 for-sale condom inium
units. O f these, 34 will be sold at
prices affordable to households
earning 80 percent or more o f
median family income. The build­
ing will also have 9,000 square
feet o f ground floor retail space. It
will be a LEED Gold construction
project with an eco-roof, recycling
o f storm water, and use o f highly
energy efficient m aterials for re­
duced energy consum ption.
The project has been on the draw­
ing boards for at least 10 years. PDC
acquired the 32,000 square foot site
between the years 2000 and 2003,
removing several existing homes in
the process. In 2004 PDC selected
the Kemper Company to develop
the site, but the firm withdrew the
following year for financial reasons.
In 2006 PDC gave Winkler a chance
to pursue developm ent o f the
project, and in 2008 the parties signed
on to a $3.3 million subsidy for the
project. However, the deal lan­
guished when W inkler’s couldn’t
secure the rem aining financing.
In her report to the Com mission,
King cited letters o f support for
the project from the Overlook
N eighborhood A ssociation, the
adjacent Arbor Lodge N eighbor­
hood A ssociation, and the Inter­
state C orridor Urban Renewal
Advisory Com m ittee which over­
sees the use o f the urban renewal
funds that are the source o f the
project’s subsidy and loans.
King noted that there was also
some opposition on the advisory
committee to the project because o f
a lack o f more family-sized units and
affordability.
Nearly all o f the units will have
just one bedroom, with most o f the
living spaces between 600 and 750
square feet, but Winkler told the
Portland Observer that there will
also be three two-bedroom units o f
1,062 square feet each.
For the PDC, the biggest issue
seemed to be the amount o f money
they were spending on the project,
but all o f the PCC commissioners
accepted its necessity.
PDC Chair Scott Andrews said,
“It’s significant that there’s bank
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financing behind this, though at a
lower level than in the past. There’s
a construction loan to be paid back,
and w ithout that, this project
wouldn't go. This will encourage
other development in these neigh­
borhoods.”
Commission member Charles
Wilhoite said, “The community re­
ally wants to see something happen
here.”
Commission member John Mohlis
said, “As we go from the new world
w e’re in back to the more traditional
one, we ’ II hopefully be able to stretch
our dollars further. Meanwhile, it’s
great to get this project going and
put people back to work.”
Lariviere’s
body," he said.
versify the university.
Under Laviviere’s financial sta­
"We know beyond a shadow o f
bility
plan,
which
he
said
hasn't
been
a doubt that they [test scores and
"And that infuriates me because
tried
at
any
other
public
university,
126 NE Aiberta - Portland OR 97211
GPA's] are skewed throughout the
they can go," he said, referring to
the
state
would
issue
$800
million
in
Main O ffice 971-255-0804
population in favor o f families that
financial aid through loans, grants
30-year
bonds
to
the
UO.
The
state
prepare their children from youth to
and scholarships that can make
Emergency Food Box & Clothing
Reverend
would
spend
about
$64.5
million
college
possible.
be ready to go to college. That's the
After school program Mon-Fn 3-6pm
T'D. Woods
But what makes matters worse is servicing the debt, which is about only thing that most parents focus
Wednesday night Prayer and Bible Study 7pm
that it's often unclear how much the same amount it gives to the on when they are in the upper edu­
Academic assistance, group counseling, mentorship,
tuition will be raised from year to university each year. UO would in­ cational socio-economic strata," he
1st & 3rd Friday 6-8pm Breaking the Cycle ’ Mountain Top’*
year. This year, at the University o f vest the money, creating an endow­ said.
Sunday Service 10am Christian Education 11am Worship
He hopes to bring in more stu­
Oregon, tuition shot up by 6 per­ ment that would steadily generate
money
for
the
school.
This
would
(5 0 3 )
«O H M
dents who may not have the best
cent. Last year it was increased 3
free
the
university
from
having
to
GPA's, but have life experiences that
PYD Youth & Family Services (503) 287-7338 percent.
rely
on
revenue
from
the
state's
in­
will enrich the university.
"It scares the hell out o f every-
creasingly volatile coffers.
Lariviere was also asked about
"If we know three years out how the tough job market for recent col­
much money is going to come from lege grads, which has prompted some
the state, we can now manage our to question if college is worth the
uneral
environment such that we can pre­ trouble.
ome
dict what the cost is going to be for
In responding, he recalled seeing
the entire four years that you're an a newspaper article describing how
undergraduate," he said.
the job market was the worst it's ever
Lariviere argues that if his plan is been for new grads. The date on the
successful, the university will be newspaper was 1972.
able to tell students about how much
"It's always terrible; there are no
they can expect to spend for tuition, guarantees," he said.
room and board. They will also have
However, Lariviere said that col­
a sense o f how much they will have lege grads, in the long run, will be
in grants, and how much they will richer, healthier, and happier.
Every time we arrange a personalized funeral service, we take special pride going
have in loans.
"No bank, no credit card com­
the extra mile. With our online Memorial Obituary, now we can do even more.
Currently the University o f Or­ pany can ever take away this educa­
egon is overseen by the State Board tion; it's yours," he said.
Friends and family can find out service information, view photos, read obituary,
o f Higher Education and the Legis­
He also weighed in on an incident
ordei llowcts and leave personal messages of condolences from anywhere, anytime.
lature. Lariviere’s proposal would that occurred last February, where a
create a new board to oversee it, swastika was found spray painted
Simply go to our website.
giving the school more autonomy. on an office for gay and lesbian
"This isn't a model that's radical students. In the aftermath, the stu­
or unknown in Oregon," he said. dent senate considered a resolution
Lariviere pointed to Portland Com­ asking the Pacifica Forum, a contro­
Dedicated to providing excellent service
munity College, which, like other versial organization some believed
and superior care o f your loved one' ’
community colleges, operates this to be tied to the incident, to leave the
similarly. Lariviere also mentioned campus.
that the PCC recently won approval
“The students argued about the
o f nearly $400 million in property tax principles o f free speech that in a
bonds.
way were more lucid, better in­
Dwight A. Terry
Lariviere
also
talked
about
his
formed, and clearer than almost any
Oregon License CO-3644
plan
to
revamp
the
UO
admission
other debate surrounding these is­
Amy S. Terry
process
putting
less
emphasis
on
sues," said Lariviere, who added
Oregon License FS-0395
test scores and GPA's in favor o f a that he was “intensely proud” o f
more holistic approach that will di­ how they handled it. ”
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503-249-1788
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