Community process under way for Natural Grocers project at MLK& Alberta.

Portland Development Commission has issued this announcement about upcoming Vanport working group meetings:

With the late-August announcement that property owned by the Portland Development Commission at Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Alberta Street will be the site for Natural Grocers, the community process related to the project is getting under way.

Majestic Realty, with Colas Construction as the primary contractor and Natural Grocers as the anchor tenant, is proposing to construct an urban retail shopping center consisting of approximately 20,000 square feet of gross leasable area in two separate buildings to include commercial/retail lease space for between four to 10 businesses in addition to Natural Grocers, along with approximately 100 parking spaces.

Natural Grocers, a community-centric grocery store that focuses on free nutrition education and healthy food, is a Colorado-based chain with stores in 14 states. The company currently has eight locations in Oregon, including four in the Portland area.

A Project Working Group (PWG) has formed to provide input on building and site design, and to develop a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). The PWG membership represents a diversity of expertise and experience in the community including N/NE small business owners, long-time property owners, business assistance and workforce training providers, area residents, and community members.

PWG meetings are open to the public and meeting details can be found at www.pdc.us/mlkalberta. The first meeting is this coming Monday.

The proposed development will serve North/Northeast Portland neighbors and businesses. It will increase the foot traffic and profitability of nearby businesses, introduce Portlanders to a high-quality, affordable grocer and revitalize a parcel of land that has sat dormant for 15 years.

PDC’s equity policy will apply and construction opportunities will be available for majority/minority joint ventures as well as subcontracting and workforce.

Portland Traffic and Transportation Class. – learn how planners build a transportation system.

Transportation-options

The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation & Portland State University are pleased to announce the 2014 Portland Traffic and Transportation Class.  This interactive Portland State University class is open to all Portland citizens and offers a unique opportunity to learn about the city’s transportation system while working on actual neighborhood projects that affect your community. Continue reading

Leaf Day(s) 2012 Coming, Will Cost $30

It’s that time of year again! Leaf Day is fast approaching. If you live in King west of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., city crews will be sweeping streets and removing the leaves on November 20th and December 13th. You will be billed $30 for the service unless you opt out due to not having street trees or because you agree to take care of your own leaves. To opt out or for more information, go to the PBOT website: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/55380

Leaf Day Made Easy

KNA June Meeting Tonight, May Minutes Online

The June meeting of the King Neighborhood Association will take place 6:30 tonight at the King Neighborhood Facility, 4815 NE 7th Avenue. Access is via the door facing 7th. The draft minutes from the May meeting are online here.

Tonight’s Agenda:

6:30     Welcome & introductions, agenda, announcements, meeting minutes.

6:40     Update from the Portland Police Bureau.

6:45     Update from the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN).

6:50     KNA tasks & projects:

  • 7-11; communications funds
  • Portland Playhouse & parking;
  • Soil to Soul’s Backpack campaign;
  • Movie in the Park;
  • Summer potluck picnic;

KNA needs a secretary to keep minutes & records.

7:30     KNA by-laws; Neighborhood Association structure.

At last month’s meeting:

  • KNA supported Portland Flea, a resale market proposed for the King Facility lot. The market has since been denied use of the space due to zoning regulations.
  • KNA residents on Sumner Street continue to oppose the proposed 7-Eleven on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and are trying to find a way to mitigate traffic impacts.
  • Woody Broadnax received KNA support for an event at the vacant lot at MLK and Alberta on July 21-22nd.  It will be a voter registration drive with food, music, and speakers.
  • Dr. Maila Davenport introduced a year-long World Tree Project-six sites that would have a world tree and community art element.  A letter from KNA is required for Maila’s grant application to Regional Arts and Culture Council. KNA will discuss the idea via email.
  • KNA is partnering with NECN on a fund raising drive for the Backpack Lunch Program. KNA and the King School PTA would jointly aim to have enough food and enough money to do a big packing day in November.
  • KNA voted to form the Soil to Soul food security committee, which would address King Neighborhood food-related topics as they arose (i.e.,7-Eleven actions, the Sprite Spark Parks Project at King School).
  • KNA’s Movie in the Park will be ET: The Extraterrestrial, screened on Saturday June 30.  Several people are working on selling advertisements, finding volunteers, and asking for raffle donations.

Meeting on 7-Eleven April 18th

Do you want a 7-Eleven in your neighborhood?

What do you want neighborhood revitalization to look like?

The King Neighborhood Association
Invites you to a meeting with representatives from 7-Eleven to discuss their proposal to build a store
at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd & Sumner.

Residents near the location have adamantly opposed construction of a 7-Eleven.

Our meeting will feature community speakers addressing issues of store-related crime, effects on local minority-owned businesses, an increase in traffic on a neighborhood residential street, what it means to have a chain store sited in an area zoned for the creation and promotion of locally-owned business, and the fact that 7-11 profits from addictive and poisonous products, at the expense of community and individual health & wellness.

Join us as neighbors working with neighbors for a healthy community.
Let 7-Eleven know what you think!

Wednesday, April 18th
6:30 – 8 pm
King Elementary School library
4906 NE 6th Avenue