07/08/2020
Update: July 8th 2020
Hello Arbor Lodge,
We are sharing this posting from Multnomah County. Please use the links to participate.
Thank you,
Arbor Lodge NA Board
Multnomah County’s Office of Sustainability has received a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) grant to implement a community campaign about health and wood smoke. The goal of the campaign is to promote clean air and reduce wood smoke in the county. We are in the early stages of brainstorming and appreciate feedback about wood burning from people who burn wood.
We would love to hear from Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association. Please share this message and survey with members of your community who burn wood:
“Multnomah County’s Office of Sustainability has received a DEQ grant to implement a community campaign about health and wood smoke. The goal of the campaign is to promote clean air and reduce wood smoke in the county.
They are in the early stages of brainstorming and would appreciate feedback about wood burning.
If you burn wood, this 10 minute survey will help inform our 2020-2021 Wood Smoke Campaign. Please fill out by midnight Monday, July 13th for a chance to win one of four $25 Fred Meyer gift cards.
Please reach out to sustainability@multco.us with any questions or concerns. Thank you!”
We look forward to the responses, sharing back the themes learned, and implementing a community-informed campaign.
Please reach out to sustainability@multco.us with any questions or concerns. Thank you!
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Office of Sustainability
Multnomah County
06/30/2020
Neighborhood Contact Meeting 6942 N Montana Monday July 6th, 6pm
Representatives from the development team building a multifamily residential building at 6942 N Montana will present their project and receive questions during a public online meeting Monday July 6th at 6pm.
The meeting will be held over Zoomhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/82116380321?pwd=em94L2x2dm56d0F0SDVneVNjV3NIZz09
Information and renderings are available here:
https://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/neighborhood-contact/#/detail/49601?confirmation=true
If you have questions or would like to contact the developer their representative is Kimberly Culver Cell: 503 764 7657 | Office: 503 850 3173 kculver@windermere.com
06/18/2020
Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association Statement On Police Reform
On the eve of Juneteenth, 2020 the Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association offers the following statement on police reform:
Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association (ALNA) joins the many members in our larger community in calling for change in the way we are policed. We know that black lives matter. We know that systems need to change to benefit the marginalized. We know that white supremacy and white nationalism as well as the systems that support them are a threat to our community. We know that tangible actions need to be taken to address these issues.
ALNA stands with all those in our community calling for police reform. We support the work of black-lead organizations and civic leaders who are calling for a transformational change in the relationship between law enforcement and community members. This includes:
• The Portland Police Reform Network’s call for a public, transparent negotiation process with the Portland Police Association (PPA) on a forthcoming renewal of a labor agreement between the City of Portland and the PPA. The current collective bargaining agreement works directly against the goals of accountability and transparency. ALNA pledges our support, and to educate our neighbors so that we may be engaged and informed on the critical work to create a labor agreement that lives up to the values of fairness and racial justice.
• The Portland African American Leadership Forum’s work to repurpose the role, and corresponding fiscal investment in law enforcement. We support PAALF’s call to eliminate units within the Portland Police whose violation of trust within the Black community cannot be repaired.
• The work of our State Senator Lew Frederick, and the People of Color Caucus in the state legislature. We call upon the legislature to immediately pass into law Senator Frederick’s bill to address significant loopholes in police disciplinary protocols. As residents of Arbor Lodge we also call upon our State Representative Speaker Tina Kotek to utilize her influence to support the legislative priorities of the POC caucus lead by Senator Frederick. This includes the demand to shift prosecutorial responsibilities to the State Attorney General for any investigation regarding the use of deadly force by police.
• The leadership of Portland City Commissioner Joanne Hardesty. ALNA expresses gratitude to Commissioner Hardesty for her wisdom, perspective and leadership. We support her policy goals, which largely coincide with the civic groups mentioned above but also includes a vision to cease the use of armed law enforcement to engage residents experiencing mental health crisis.
These actions represent a start, and not a destination. The reforms needed extend beyond the current calls for action from the organizations and elected officials listed above. ALNA pledges to do our part to improve understanding and communication between neighbors, and to provide a forum to educate and engage. Ultimately the reform that is needed must balance the rights and interests of the community at large, honorable members of law enforcement, and the victims of crime seeking redress. As a community we cannot let fear stand in the way of change. Above all else, police reform must be rooted in the core value that black lives matter.
In Solidarity,
Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association
06/10/2020
Thursday June 18th Meeting Agenda
The Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association will meet Thursday June 18th from 7-8:30pm.
The meeting will be held over Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/95772446619?pwd=ZXZxREdieWtoajNWU0VRRGZYaEFVZz09
Meeting ID: 957 7244 6619 Password: 658710
Dial in audio: (253) 215 8782
Agenda:
Opening, roll call of board members
Approval of May minutes
Arbor Lodge-Kenton Sewer Repair Project. Presentation on forthcoming infrastructure work by April Hassan, public outreach for the Beaureu of Environmental Services.
Support For Police Reform community member Todd Diskin and boardmember Mark Wyman will facilitate a dialog on the forthcoming renewal of the Portland Police Association labor agreement
Outreach To Houseless Residents board chair Ginger Edwards to provide an update on dialog and engagement with Arbor Lodge residents experiencing homelessness
06/07/2020
Save Downtown Land Use Appeal
SAVE DOWNTOWN ARBOR LODGE
June 7, 2020 Update
On May 19th the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) formally dismissed the Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association's challenge of the proposed 66 unit building at 6545 N Denver. LUBA's dismissal left us with two remaining options, the first to pursue our case with the circuit court of appeals, the second to suspend our legal challenge and wait to see how this project materializes. On Thursday, May 21 2020 the ALNA board voted to suspend the legal challenge, allowing LUBA's motion to dismiss to stand. We did this because our chances of success with the court of appeals were very small, and we did not know if our remaining funds donated for the legal campaign (~$1,000) would be sufficient. These funds can be used at a future juncture with 6545 N Denver, or can be repurposed to support other community building efforts.
As of June 7th the developers still do not have a permit to build, despite the city's affirmation that the project has met all the requirements to be issued a permit. To obtain a permit the developer must pay permitting and development fees, including their system development charges (SDCs). Based on the developer's prior statements, and the continued inactivity it is our assumption that the project remains delayed due to lack of funding.
As a community we have stood up for affordable housing opportunity and for public spaces that welcome us to gather and get to know each other. Moving forward, the neighborhood association will continue to monitor this project, and if there is an opportunity for us to re-engage to advocate for these two objectives we will do so.
Regardless of what happens with 6545 N Denver, the intersection remains a gathering point in our neighborhood. Pictured below is Downtown Arbor Lodge, this past week.
Thank you for contributing this campaign and much gratitude to our neighbors who are claiming this space to stand up for racial justice.
March 10, 2020 Update
The developers at 6545 N Denver have requested that LUBA dismiss our challenge. LUBA have communicated they will first decide on the request to dismiss our challenge, and then (as applicable) set a date for our appeal to be heard. The good news is that if LUBA confirm they have jurisdiction in our case, it all but affirms our challenge and ups the pressure on the developer to return to a dialog with our community and to acknowledge the 2035 Comprehensive Planning goals they are trying to exempt themselves from. We can expect the developers to pursue delay and postponing tactics as their pockets are deep, and we're relying on community donations to keep our case moving forward. If you support housing opportunity AND you support vibrant, walkable neighborhoods, join us as we stand up for Arbor Lodge!
Developers are seeking to build a 66 unit, market-rate residential building, with no public space
6545 N Denver is zoned “CE” for commercial employment
Healthy, walkable communities need local businesses
We are contesting 6545 N Denver with the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), and your support is urgently needed. The Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association has allocated funding to support the legal fees, however our budget is limited and most of our funds are granted to us for specific activities. We are seeking contributions to fund our legal campaign. Our city is growing, and we need more housing. If you support housing opportunity AND you support vibrant, walkable neighborhoods, join us as we stand up for Arbor Lodge!
Spread The Word! Tell Us Your Story!
We need to know how this projects impacts you personally, or your sense of how it impacts your community. E mail landuse@arborlodgeneighborhood.com to add your voice.
Below are answers to frequently asked questions. A summary of our engagement at 6545 N Denver is available here.
Q: Portland needs more housing, why are you objecting to this development?
A: Our goal is to modify the design of this project to include some ground floor active use. We are not seeking to prevent the redevelopment of 6545 N Denver. There are roughly 500 units of new housing coming online throughout Arbor Lodge with no onsite parking, with more on the way. We need to build a walkable neighborhood, complete and connected to local services!
Q: If the parcel is zoned CE, why isn't there already commercial space included?
A: While the intent of the code is to “support healthy complete neighborhoods—places where people of all ages and abilities have safe and convenient access to the goods and services they need in their daily life, ” it does not prohibit the conversion of commercial spaces to exclusively residential uses.
Q: If code allows 100% residential, what is the basis of the appeal?
A: We are focused on the process for granting the developers multiple permit extensions. The developer first applied for a permit in late May of 2018 to avoid a June 1 2018 code change. Developers are required to show "good faith" intent to pursue a project in order to receive an extension. The entities behind 6545 N Denver have left the property to neglect and hazard from squatters, and have never had the financing secured to build their project. Lack of funds is explicitly prohibited as grounds for an extension.
The second basis of our appeal is procedural. Discretionary land use decisions obligate the city of Portland to seek public input, and to notify neighborhood associations along with all property owners within 100 feet of 6545 N Denver. Our position is that the decision to grant multiple extensions is a discretionary act on behalf of the Bureau of Development Services.
We believe the city has violated procedural and substantive provisions in favor of the developer.
Q: What happens if ALNA wins its appeal?
A: Our expectation is the developer will not be able to secure a construction permit without public input and property notification regarding their extension requests. If the permit extensions are nullified, the project must be resubmitted under the current code. This creates a renewed opportunity to include active uses at the ground floor with either the current, or a future development team.
Q: What happens if ALNA does not appeal?
A: If we don't raise the funds, then the developer will continue to receive improper assistance from the city of Portland. We believe the neighborhood association is the only entity attempting to defend the city's own urban planning goals against developer self-interest.
Q: What happens ALNA loses its appeal?
A: Even if we lose, we are demonstrating a willingness to stand up for a more equitable and sustainable vision of development.
Q: The old building was demolished, is it too late to contest?
A: Demolition permits are separate from construction permits. The developer does not have a permit to build.
Q: What will you do with the donations you receive?
A: We need $400 to submit a LUBA appeal, the remainder is for our attorney's work to support our appeal. Funds donated to help save downtown Arbor Lodge will solely be utilized for this purpose.
The Mighty Cause funding campaign has been closed. Thank you all for all your contributions!