Fear & Loathing in NoPo

A well-written and comprehensive article from Streetroots published back in April about the struggles of urbanism here in North Portland.

"Fear and Loathing"
[Part one by Israel Bayer]
[Part two by Joshua Cinelli]

Skaters Unite!

Skaters for Portland Skateparks plan for Pier Park and got some good news from the Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association last month:

The Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association voted unanimously last night (09.14.04) to support our Pier Park redevelopment project with a $500.00 contribution. We are deeply grateful not only for the financial generosity, but also for their expediency. We offered our pitch and they immediately hit it with their contribution. Anybody looking for a community that gets behind their kids for skateboarding and skateparks need look no further than St. John's and Cathedral Park. We are privileged to work with them.

For more information, check out the link below.

Excerpt from pdxskaters.org

Walking Together

The neighborhood renovation plans were adopted in 2002 by the City of Portland's Bureau of Planning and highlights ongoing projects like the Portsmouth Neighborhood Plan, as well as the St. John's/Lombard Plan, the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal, and the Columbia Villa Hope IV.

Walking Together [.pdf document]

Kenton Action Plan

From Portland Development Commission

Historical Perspective: St. John's, the YWCS & Civil Rights

"Building Buildings: Mid-Century Growth"
Research by Rose M. Murdock, Tracy Christensen, and Patricia A. Schechter
From the Women & Social Movements Website

Piedmont & University Park

Guide to Portland's North Neighborhoods from Moving to Portland

North Lombard Street Closure

From Keep Portland Moving

Honda To Renew Port Lease

From The Business Journal

Reluctant YES on Measure 26-64

It's the last thing to fill out on my ballot. I've been agonizing over this measure more so than any other, including the state measures. Why? It seems straightforward enough I suppose. Measure 26-64 would repeal the voter approved county income tax, most likely leaving schools and other services in a bind over the next two years. No one wants to take money from children, least of all I, who has been advocating for better schools since I was in the 6th grade.

If I would of been a resident of Multnomah County last summer when the measure was first voted on, (I was living in Lane County while going to UO) I would have voted NO on the tax then (as I did with the same measure in Lane). But, I wasn't living here and those who were, already voted on the issue, whether I agreed with it or not. And, it's not my first inclination to change something already decided just because I don't agree.

Which is why this issue has been nagging at me for weeks now. For even though I believe in the cause, more money for our schools and services, I think the tax payers have already paid their fair share. The government has mis-managed the taxpayer's money by wasteful and frivolous spending. Furthermore, I think it is disgusting and disgraceful that it has come down to voters refusing to pay more for our own much needed services, just to make a point to our elected officials, who should be ashamed.

So, why then am I voting YES for the repeal? It's not to hurt our children, nor is it to give a proverbial middle finger to "the man". I decided to vote YES because of the unfair and poorly written text of the measure. Even if I was for a county tax increase (the only west of the Mississippi), the way the measure is written makes anyone who works outside of the county but lives in Portland required to pay and unfairly excludes some others from having to pay.

Plus, since the measure was first past last year, 1 of 3 taxpayers haven't paid. Why? No doubt because the extra chunk it takes out of their paycheck is too much of a burden on so many already hurting incomes. And, of the money collected from the tax increase, where has it gone? To the classroom? Well, not as promised. (Read more)

In the end, I think the people of Multnomah County deserve better from their elected officials. Certainly they can spend our money wiser and more efficiently, for causes that need the most attention like our schools. But, the three-year tax increase is not going to fix the shortfall and there is no sign from our officials that anything is being done to eliminate the issue for 2006.

From the editor

More Info On NoPo

There are two little newspapers serving North Portland.

• In & About (great news features) Great New publisher who has been involved in NOPO for several years!
• St. Johns Review (mostly advertising and some community listings)

In response to "The new North Portland":

This project is limited to the 80+ acres of the former Columbia Villa development in the Portsmouth Neighborhood. There are several other public projects that are helping to spur development in North Portland. But don't confuse the efforts of HAP which are isolated to the HOPE VI project. When the HAP development is completed the total public & private investment will be somewhere nearer to $250 million. I'm actively involved in the New Columbia Citizen's process.

See also:

• The Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area
• The St. Johns/Lombard Plan
• Also, don't forget that soon, there will be huge investments ($2-3 billion) invested in widening I-5 and the I-5 bridge. This will most likely happen within the next 2-3 years and will be funded by State and Federal dollars according to my State Rep. Gary Hansen (D - 44)

Also, feel free to read a couple other North Portland Bloggers:

• Scott Jensen
• Olivia Rebanal
• Mitch Gould

Special thanks to Scott Jensen for his submission.

Expectations collide over New Columbia project

Friday, October 15th article from The Oregonian

Trail puts St. Johns nearer to nature

Friday, October 15th article from The Oregonian

Ten Toe Express Neighborhood Walk

When: Saturday, October 16th from 9-11am
Where: Meet at Southeast corner of Overlook Park, corner of Interstate & Fremont
Why: Get out and meet your neighbors on this great North Portland walk

Description:
Discover N Portland’s hidden nooks that reveal spectacular views of the Willamette River and across to the Tualatin Hills. Wander the quiet streets of Overlook Neighborhood, cross the Concord St. pedestrian bridge and explore the new adidas Village and Madronna Park.

Distance: 3.5 miles, 7650 steps
Time: 1 ½ hours
Wear comfortable shoes. Bring water.

No registration required. For more information and full schedule of walks go to:
www.portlandtransportation.org and click on Current News.
Email us: TenToe@pdxtrans.orgPhone: 503-865-TOES

Accessibility:
This walk has a few barriers with missing curb ramps. Contact us for more specific information.

From Portland Online

The North Albina Project

North of Skidmore, Mississippi Ave. and Albina Ave. converge at Prescott Street; at the intersection lies a concrete triangle that is owned by the Portland Development Commission and the Portland Department of Transportation. The City Repair Project is working with these city agencies and members of the Humboldt and Boise Neighborhood Associations to develop a collaborative and creative project that will be ecologically and socially beneficial to the neighborhood.

DO YOU LIVE IN NORTH PORTLAND and want to be a part of this exciting transformation? contact lisa :: 503.235.8946 :: lisa@cityrepair.org

Another fun way to meet your North Portland neighbors, visit the project site and get involved, is to go to the concrete triangle where N. Albina and Mississippi meet and bring some yummy food for a potluck at 7pm on Sundays.

Check out the details as they emerge here!

From The City Repair Project

St. John's: Halloween Festival

CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN!

Where: St. John's Community Center, 8427 N. Central
When: Friday, October 29th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm

A carnival of holiday fun for preschoolers and grade schoolers with an adult! Games, crafts, tattoos, face and hair painting, refreshments, and more. Wear your costume! 6 tickets for $1; receive 6 free tickets with a donation of a can of food (limited to 18 free tickets per person).

Call 503-823-3192 for more info.

The new North Portland

Driving around North Portland you may have noticed new housing popping up, or even heard rumors about expanding the local parks. It's all thanks to the $35 million New Columbia HOPE VI Project, which was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to The Housing Authority of Portland (HAP). The HOPE VI grant sparked investor interest in making old North Portland new again.

New Columbia is a $150 million project that blends public and private investment to replace the aging, isolated Columbia Villa public housing in North Portland with a new mixed-income neighborhood that has a range of housing types. The New Columbia project spans five years, with construction starting by the end of 2003. The community investment, which leverages public and private dollars, involves replacing all of the existing streets, utilities and buildings. In their place will be a mixed -income community that is reconnected to the surrounding neighborhood and offers public housing and a range of rental and home ownership opportunities affordable at different income levels. In addition, the new community will provide services for residents and the broader community that are designed to promote self-sufficiency and link people to educational and recreational resources.

For more information about New Columbia, contact the Housing Authority of Portland at 503-802-8427 or visit the HOPE VI website at: http://www.hapdx.org/newcolumbia

From the Department of Planning & Development, Portland Parks & Recreation
http://www.portlandparks.org/Planning/newcolumbia.htm