Category Archives: development

New Housing Planned for Vacant MLK Frontage

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Ivy City Homes is the name of a new mixed-income housing development planned for Ivy Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. just south of King Neighborhood. It is to be one of the first projects nationally to earn the Earth Advantage Community certification for sustainability.

A public/private partnership with the Portland Development Commission, the project provides a provision for permanently affordable homeownership with a subcontractor base consisting of a high percentage of minority-owned, women-owned, and emerging small businesses. Permanent affordability of 30% of the units to families earning up to 80% of the median family income through a partnership with Proud Ground, a community land trust with deed covenants that restrict the resale prices of the permanently affordable units through future resales.

The homes are to achieve a LEED for Homes certification with energy-efficiency of 45% over current energy code and will have energy efficient appliances and secure bike parking. Construction on the 28 units of residential and live/work space is scheduled to be completed summer 2011. Of the 28 units available for sale, approximately nine will be affordable to families earning 60-80% of the median family income for the area.

http://aristondev.com/projects/ivy-city-homes

Vanport Phase 2, 3 May Go Forward

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KNA’s Alan Silver attended the latest PDC Oregon Convention Center Urban Renewal Committee meeting. For those less wonkish of you, the OCCURA is the urban renewal district that includes most of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in NE and the Vanport Square project. Here’s what he has learned:

Ray Leary and Jeana Woolley (Vanport Square LLC) originally proposed 16 townhouses for Vanport phase 2, priced somewhere north of $300,000. They’ve concluded that there’s not a market for those at present, and are now proposing to build 8 single-family homes on the site, priced between $260-290,000. PDC is negotiating contracts with Leary/Woolley, and a construction start date of fall 2011 is anticipated.

PDC has been approached by two development teams about Vanport phase 3. One proposal would include the Urban League, medical offices, and commercial; the other team includes Jeff Sackett (one of the developers of Vanport Square), and its proposal includes commercial real estate, including negotiations with an anchor tenant whose identity the team is “not disclosing publicly at this time.”

The PDC is ‘gathering information’ on these two proposals at present. It expects to have no funds available to aid developers of Vanport phase 3, who will have to rely entirely on private financing to complete construction.

As far as OCCURA/Interstate – no one knows when the transfer of prpoerties between URAs is going to happen, and so PDC is writing out its 2010-11 budget for OCCURA knowing that it might have to rewrite it entirely. OCCURA is on a ‘status quo’ budget – anticipating no major changes in its priorities. Interestingly, OCCURA will go on operating even if every parcel in it is transferred to Interstate URA. As long as revenue generated by OCCURA activities continues to accrue to PDC (repayment of loans, etc), then OCCURA will exist to spend that money – and it must spend that money within the original boundaries of OCCURA (Interstate URA can’t access it).

So, we may see something built at Alberta/MLK. Just don’t bet on when yet.

Columbia River Crossing: A More Sensible Alternative?

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A conversation with George Crandall, urban designer; Bill Scott, founder and general manager of Zipcar; and Joe Cortright, economist.

Three of the region’s top experts in design, economics and transportation offer a cheaper, more buildable alternative to the proposed 1-5 bridge over the Columbia River.

Part of the Agora events series of the City Club of Portland

Presented in partnership with Portland Monthly magazine.

Date: November 15, 2010 – 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Jimmy Mak’s 221 NW 10th Ave.

Alberta Main Street Community/Visioning Meetings

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From the Alberta Main Street Program:

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF ALBERTA STREET LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

Have a Say – Get Involved – Join Us
Monday, November 1, 2010 – 6:30 – 7:30PM @ The Alberta Rose Theatre:  Alberta Main Street Community Meeting.
Get an update about Alberta Main Street, learn about the Main Street Committees & the upcoming Community Visioning Session and ask questions about the program. No RSVP required. Everyone is welcome!
Monday, November 29, 2010 – 5 – 9 PM @ The Alberta Rose Theatre: Alberta Main Street Community Visioning Session. Diverse community-wide participation is critical to the success of the program. Please share with your friends & neighbors and let us know you are coming! Register online: http://www.albertastreetfair.com/mainstreet/community-visioning-session/ or call Sara @ (503) 683-3252.

WE NEED YOUR IDEAS, INSIGHTS AND IMAGINATION! THANK YOU TO THE ALBERTA ROSE THEATRE FOR OPENING YOUR DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY

ALBERTA ROSE THEATRE – 3000 NE ALBERTA STREET – PORTLAND, OR 97211
Alberta Main Street is a program of Portland Main Street and member of the National Main Street Network

Participate on a Main Street Committee:
The four Main Street committees include Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. Find out more about these committees online at:
http://www.albertastreetfair.com/main-street/four-point-approach/. You can also learn more about these opportunities at the November 1st Community Meeting.

Support Alberta Main Street:
Healthy commercial districts create opportunities for locally based businesses to succeed, for residents to shop and eat locally and for the preservation of historic structures and an increased tax base. Everybody wins; it will also take everyone’s support. Ranging from $20 – $5000, 101 residents, neighborhood associations, school groups, non-profit & faith-based organizations, business owners and commercial property owners have contributed to our community. Alberta Main Street needs your help too. If you haven’t already, please contribute today: http://www.albertastreetfair.com/main-street/contribute/
STAY UP TO DATE: Visit Alberta Main Street facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alberta-Main-Street/164339070242860 for the latest news and information about the program. A new website is currently under development.

Grants for Green Stormwater Projects

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The City of Portland is now accepting applications for their 1% for Green program. This program provides money for green infrastructure facilities that manage stormwater, preserve or mimic the natural hydrologic cycle, control flow, improve water quality, enhance livability and provide other environmental benefits. Projects such as green Street swales, curb extensions, planters, vegetated infiltration basins and porous paving are eligible.

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