Interstate Corridor

Portland Development Commission
Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area

Advisory Committee Meeting
January 27, 2003
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
OAME – 4134 N. Vancouver Avenue

Meeting Summary

Attendees: Lenny Anderson, Pam Arden, Pauline Bradford, Joe Dennis, Diane Feldt, Carl Flipper, Warren Fluker, Cathy Galbraith, Terrell Garrett, Kurt Haapala, Brad Halvorsen, Gary Hampton, Doug Hartman, Alan Hipolito, Sheila Holden, Lisa Horne, Mark Kirchmeier, Jerry Lindsay, Julie Metcalf-Kinney, Bill Mildenburger, Larry Mills, Kay Newell, Tonya Parker, Jennie Portis, Betsy Radigan, Jose Rivera, Walter Valenta, Wyman Winston.

New Baseball Stadium (Portland Baseball Group - Carl Flipper, et al)

Summary of comments made by the Baseball Group representatives:

• The Blanchard School Board site is 1 of 5 sites being considered (others: Train station area, Post Office, 405 & Burnside, Lincoln High School)
• Baseball is big business and a new stadium will stimulate economic growth and community pride
• The decision will ultimately be the City’s and Major League Baseball’s
• The Group will work with the State Legislature regarding bonds to help pay for the stadium. Other funding sources will include ticket surcharges, team owner, etc. If you don’t go to a game, you won’t have to pay for it
• The Group is looking into sustainable building methods, getting charitable contributions from the team/players, minority local ownership (small percentage)
• Need: Finance plan, local funding mechanism
• Will hold public forums to solicit input – also visit www.portlandbaseballgroup.org

Columbia Villa Update (HAP)

• HOPE VI grant was awarded – project will consist of 850 new units, in a neighborhood that’s physically and socially integrated with its surroundings – mixed income housing
• Timeline: Between March or April to August, 2003: will relocate about 1200 residents; 9/03: deconstruction/demolition; 12/03: new home construction begins; 8/05: 1st residents can move back; 12/06: completion
• Total project cost $150M, City of Portland committed $20M (in 2001)
• Looking at utility bureaus for funding; looking at fee waivers to forego as expense; BHCD will give $5M.
• The City may recommend that TIF be used for a portion of the City share
• The project is in line with ICURAC’s goals, 200 new market rate housing units will help generate more TIF
• Residents will be relocated to units of their choice, to the extent possible; HAP will work with BHCD to find the right places
• HAP will hire a construction manager and relocation expert to oversee process; a Safety Action Team will oversee demolition/deconstruction until it is finished
• Next open community meetings: 2/8 and 2/11

Killingsworth/Lower Albina Street Plan

• Art Pearce is new PDOT representative (Steve Iwata moving onto other projects)
• Looking at curb ramps, traffic calming, funding for the next year will go to Kirby and Commercial, along Killingsworth
• The public process is ending and the plan will go to Council about April

Killingsworth Block

• PDC has almost completed purchase of the NE Killingsworth corner block
• PDC will soon pursue a development offering. PDC’s intentions is that this be a solid early example of how new development can fulfill community goals as set forth in the Interstate URA Plan, implementation strategies, etc.
• PDC will be soliciting interests to serve on a small CAC to provide input as PDC prepares an RFP and to work with the selected developer.

Housing Update

• Home 24, a 1st time home buyer program, just finished first round. 326 families received reservations and are starting plans to purchase home within the next 2 years
• Within the first 3 months of the program, about $35M in mortgages were committed. The state put out an additional $20M in funding but is waiting to distribute until potential program improvements are identified and there is greater participation of N/NE groups. The bulk of past outreach was targeted at N/NE but only 27% of the program participants are from there
• March 5: Issuing a Spring Housing RFP (City-wide) for city and federal funding
• HAP finishing Fenwick project community process, will hopefully be a signature project

Parks Needs Assessment

• April 3: Will present findings of the 20 year planning process
• Beech Community Garden: Overlook Neighborhood Association supports the garden; Construction will take place during March and April 2003; there will be 25 public area plots, a bioswale, education component and 2 raised beds.

Big Picture Questions

• How does ICURAC deal with new issues? More meetings? Subcommittees?
• How will ICURAC approach proposed projects that may help ICURAC reach its goals?
• How does ICURAC ensure that projects using URA funding are identified as ICURAC projects?
• Comment: ICURAC needs to reserve more time for discussion and less time for presentations

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