Category Archives: livability

N/NE Quadrant / Stakeholder Advisory Committee

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A Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) is being formed to advise project staff and make recommendations to the Portland City Council and the Director of the Oregon Department Transportation on policy and project proposals resulting from the N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler planning process. The committee will have approximately 30 members, with wide representation from area stakeholders and community interests, including: business and neighborhood associations, property owners, affordable housing, cultural heritage, the environment, economic equity, labor, urban design and transportation.

Subcommittees of the SAC will be formed to address specific issues, such as transportation, land use and urban design, and will include additional stakeholders with expertise and interest in the topic issues. Subcommittees will help frame the issues for the full SAC, especially on specific subject areas requiring more analysis and input. SAC and subcommittee meetings will be open to the public and have opportunities for public comment. Agenda, minutes and materials will be posted on this website as they are available.

A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), representing public agencies with specialized expertise related to the plan and implementation, will serve as a resource for the SAC throughout the planning process.

More information about the SAC process and procedures may be found in the Draft Stakeholder Advisory Committee Collaboration Principles.

N/NEQ News: Are you interested in serving on the Central N/NE Quadrant Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee?

The City of Portland and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) are seeking applications for two “at-large” positions in order to broaden the diversity of perspectives on the Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

The project will launch with the first SAC meeting on September 16, 2010 (tentative date) and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. The SAC will meet approximately 12 times during that period. The deadline to submit an application for an “at-large” position is September 3, 2010. See the Application Form for more information

Get Involved–click here!

Pizza Hut to Lease Former Adidas Store

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Pizza Hut is reported to have signed a lease for the vacant property at the corner of Alberta and MLK. The store will provide take-out and delivery only. Pil Jun Chung, owner of several local businesses and properties including the Alberta Street Market, has had difficult finding a lessee for the property since Adidas moved out over a year ago. Long envisioned as a focal intersection in the plans to rejuvenate the King commercial district, the site has been plagued by poor foot traffic, no onstreet parking and a lack of commercial activity in the vicinity. With another large national chain expanding into the area, the continuing development of walkable communities with local identities is in question in King.

The Portland Development Commision’s Vanport Square project stalled after the first third was completed and is still not fully leased. The existing buildings on the south end of the site were bulldozed for a phase of the project that never began and removed a noise buffer from neighbors on Garfield Street.

Unable to wait indefinitely for economic conditions to change, private landowners are put in the postion of leasing to whomever can profit from the decreasing affluence of the community as customers with means patronize other neighborhoods. King could benefit from a renewed discussion about what we want our community to look like long-term and not wait for apathy or resignation to make that decision for us.

Tall Grass and Weed Complaint Pilot Project

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From the Bureau of Development Services:

Contact: Ross Caron, Bureau of Development Services 503.823.4268

Effective July 19, 2010. In an effort to provide the highest level of service, while maximizing limited resources, the Bureau of Development Services has created a pilot project for the summer that allows citizens to submit online complaints accompanied with a digital photograph of tall grass and weed violations at properties within the City of Portland.

Title 29 of Portland City Code requires the owner of any property to cut and remove, and keep cut and removed all weeds, and grass that are located in lawn areas and have a prevailing height of more than 10 inches. In October 2009, BDS was forced to prioritize various enforcement/complaint types in order to effectively process the most critical cases with reduced resources. Unfortunately, limited resources have not allowed BDS to respond to tall grass and weed complaints.

“Even though tall grass and weed conditions have been deemed a lower priority, I do understand the importance of the outdoor maintenance regulations as they relate to increased vandalism, graffiti, and other conditions that can lead to neighborhood deterioration” said Paul Scarlett, Bureau of Development Services Director. “While BDS enforcement resources remain limited at this time, we are very excited to create this opportunity to allow citizens to partner with us to address tall grass and weed violations to improve the livability and safety of our community.”

To participate in the pilot project and report a property with grass and weeds in excess of 10 inches high, citizens are encouraged to submit a complaint accompanied by a digital photograph online at http://www.portlandonline.com/bds/gwcomplaints. Due to limited resources, complaints may only be submitted online and must be accompanied by a digital photograph of the reported violation.

If you have questions or concerns about this press release, please contact Ross Caron, BDS Public Information Officer, at 503-823-4268 or via email at ross.caron@portlandoregon.gov. You can also get more information regarding this pilot program by visiting http://www.portlandonline.com/bds/gwinfo.

Sunday Parkways NE is May 16th

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NE Sunday Parkways Map 2010

A 2-way route of city streets open to walk, bike, roll, run, jump and skip – without having to watch out for cars! The 5.8-mile Northeast Portland Sunday Parkways route will have two loops, connecting Woodlawn, Alberta, Fernhill and Wilshire Parks. Food, music and activities are located in the parks and along the route.

Equity and Accountability Forum: Primary Election 2010

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What will the candidates do for you?

Jobs. Housing and homeownership. Health Equity. Police Accountability. Education. Economic Development and Support for Minority Owned Business. Justice and Public Safety.

Come ask candidates running for the Portland City Council and Multnomah County Commissioner how they will address issues facing our communities.

Candidates for Portland City Commissioner Position 2 and 3, Multnomah County Chair and Multnomah County Commissioner, District 2 will field questions from organizations representing Portland’s African American community, other communities of color, immigrant, refugees, and women at a forum on Tuesday, May 4 from 5PM-8PM at Emmanuel Temple Church, 1033 N Sumner St, Portland, OR 97217.

The County and City Primary Candidates Forum is sponsored by a coalition of organization representing communities of color, immigrants, refugees and women.

The forum will be preceded by an hour-long hospitality period, allowing members of the community to engage with the candidates individually.

Candidates participating in the Forum:
Portland City Council, Position 2
Nick Fish
Walt Nichols
Timothy Youker

Portland City Council, Position 3
Dan Saltzman
Spencer Burton
Mary Volm
Jesse Cornett
Ed Garren
Martha Perez

Multnomah County Chair
Jeff Cogen

Multnomah County Commissioner, District 2
Karol Collymore
Loretta Smith
Gary Hansen
Maria Rubio
Paul van Orden
Tom Markgraf

This forum will be hosted by the Urban League of Portland and sponsored by the Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA), Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Immigrant Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), Latino Network, Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO) and others.

Date & Time
Tuesday, May 4 at 5:00 PM (PDT)

Location
Emmanuel Temple Church
1033 N Sumner St.
Portland, OR 97217
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