King Neighborhood Chairman Resigns

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Scott Breon, King Neigborhood Chair, has resigned effective August 11. This leaves the KNA board without executive leadership since the Co-Chair position has been vacant since this May’s election when Trace Salmon resigned and Scott was elected to fill the vacant Chair position.

Trace resigned to focus on his roles as King School Site Council Chair and PTA Treasurer, coordinating with the new principal and the school’s continuing transformation and International Baccalaureate adoption. Trace was filling in for Chair Charles Boardman who resigned to return to medical school. Scott has resigned to dedicate his full energies to his search for employment after his employer was taken over by another company.

While the KNA bylaws state that only current board members of at least a year can serve as Chair, the Co-chair is not so restricted and if filled, will act as Chair. Interim appointments must be made by the KNA board. Interested parties are encouraged to attend the next meeting or contact the Association at info@kingneighborhood.org or call the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods.

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.

Spirit of Portland Award nominations due Monday, August 16th

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July 28, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Dennis LoGiudice
Office of Neighborhood Involvement
503-865-2626
Dennis.LoGiudice@portlandoregon.gov

Spirit of Portland Award nominations due Monday, August 16th
PORTLAND – Nominations are due Monday, August 16, 2010 for the 25th annual Spirit of Portland Awards. Celebrated since 1985, the award ceremony has been an important way for the city to recognize those whose volunteer efforts make a positive difference in our community. Each year there are from 20 – 30 winners in the following categories:

Sandy Diedrich Environmental Stewardship
Business Association
New/Emerging Community Leader
Emergency Preparedness
Public Involvement
Community Policing/Public Safety
Humanitarian
Independent Spirit
Community Harmony
Large Business
Small Business
Non-Profit Organization
Neighborhood
Outstanding Partnership
Employee of the Year
Youth Volunteer

The above awards are chosen by a Selection Committee made up of representatives from the Mayor’s and City Commissioner’s offices, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the Neighborhood District Coalition offices, Business Associations, non-profit community organizations and past award winners.

Nominees will be evaluated in each of the following areas:
• Participation in outstanding projects
• Enrichment of our community and neighborhoods
• Providing a special service to the community
• Demonstration of responsiveness, creativity and civic values
• Raising cross-cultural awareness

The Council created additional Commissioner’s Spirit of Portland Awards in 2008. Now each commissioner, as well as the Mayor, can select an individual and a group for recognition.

Send complete application forms AND one-page written narrative to:
Office of Neighborhood Involvement, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 110, Portland, Oregon 97204,
fax: 503-823-3050, or e-mail: Dennis.LoGiudice@portlandoregon.gov
Forms can be downloaded from the web at www.portlandonline.com/oni

Spirit of Portland Awards Ceremony
Monday, November 8, 2010
7 PM – 9 PM
Double Tree Hotel Portland
1000 NE Multnomah
Near the Lloyd Center/NE 11th Avenue MAX Station

NECN to Form CRC Subcommittee

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The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is forming a LUTC (Land Use and Transportation Committee) subcommittee to consider how the neighborhoods can continue to advocate for a Columbia River Crossing project that increases neighborhood livability.

If you are interested in working on this issue, please join in on Friday, August 13th at 8am at the Cadillac Café at 1801 NE Broadway. Please let us know you’ll be coming so we can look out for you! Contact Shoshana Cohen at Shosana@necoalition.org