november ’10 VOLUME 25, ISSUE 3 FREE Northwest Portland neighborhoo Serving ds since 1986 — celebrating our 25th year! DEQ gives Mixed Message auditor Merchants make one more noise in ‘hood, chance mum at City Hall By allan Classen By allan Classen In response to criticism from envi- ronmental advocates, the Oregon On the street and in the press, opposi- Department of Environmental Qual- tion to parking meters and permits in the ity agreed to start over on a process to Northwest District is loud and clear. hire an independent auditor of ESCO’s But at City Hall, where Mayor Sam steel foundries in Northwest Portland Adams is considering the concerns of n last month. so n stakeholders before instituting a compre- I A new request for proposal has been k hensive pay-to-park and permit system, os issued, giving Bay Area engineer Jim there’s hardly a peep of protest. Karas, whose initial application was Dana H Dana Phil Geffner (right), Adams asked the 15-member panel thrown out in July for lack of a signa- owner of Escape From New York Pizza, used this to react to each element of his proposed ture, another opportunity to be consid- photo on postcards stirring business opposition to proposed parking regulations. Northwest Parking Plan by holding up ered. The back of the cards read, “No permits. No meters. Give peace a chance.” red cards if they had serious objections, Karas is strongly favored by Sha- yellow cards if they had some concerns ron Genasci, chair of the Northwest and green cards if they were in accord limp resistance. He opened the Oct. 14 sion. That would seem to put him within District Association Health and Envi- with that part of the plan. stakeholders meeting acknowledging the parameters of the petition statement, ronment Committee. Genasci called On the topic of creating a permit pro- receipt of the petition, which was signed which opposes the plan until the economy him a “wonderful” candidate, with years gram for residents and employees, nothing by 109 businesses. improves. of experience analyzing steel foundries but green cards appeared. Even business “I understand there’s concern on all Adams hopes to finish a parking plan around the country. owners supporting the petition, such as sides of the issue,” said Adams. “Parking by the end of the year or early 2011, but “If everything you say about Karas Deborah Haynes of Blush Beauty Bar, issues are never easy, and in this part of he emphasized that there may be a gap is right,” said Keith Johnson, DEQ’s were on board. town, they’re never fun.” between completion of the plan and its regional manager of air quality, “there As to a meter program, the business The mayor noted that he also gets implementation. would have to be a higher power inter- cohort flashed nothing but green. Other pushback from residents who want a per- Haynes said the concerns of merchants vening to get this away from him.” business representatives at the table mit system implemented immediately, a are “just timing. … We don’t want it right The conversation was part of an Oct. included Loreen Officer, president of the request he resists because it would be now.” 11 meeting at DEQ headquarters with Nob Hill Business Association, Pat Fiedler “foolhardy” to introduce either permits or Fiedler suggested a public meeting be agency staff and neighborhood activ- of Child’s Play and Mike Cronan of Café meters without the other. held to explain the program. ists, who were represented by Aubrey Mingo. A few yellow cards were raised by As to his timetable, Adams acknowl- “People aren’t well educated,” she said, Baldwin, attorney for Northwest Envi- other stakeholders. edged that he does not consider it wise adding that “it’s easier to complain to your ronmental Advocates. Adams did not seem surprised at the to institute paid parking during a reces- neighbor than to get the facts.” Continued on page 27 New Forest Park reservoir rouses inside activists’ interest, suspicion julie keefE By Cornelius Swart Plans to install two underground reservoirs along Northwest Skyline Boulevard have surprised many local residents and raised the suspicion of Portland Water Bureau watchdogs. While the Water Bureau said that the two new tanks are needed to provide adequate water pressure at higher levels in the West Hills, reservoir activists say they’ve been kept in the dark about a project they believe will do little more than raise water rates. The Water Bureau asserts that the $7 million project, with a com- bined capacity of 3.3 million gallons, is needed to help equalize water pressure to homes between West Burnside Street and Northwest Germantown Road that are also between 900 and 1,200 feet above sea level. They will also provide water for fire fighting. The area is currently Project Return served by three above-ground water towers. Homeless kids in after-school In mid-October, city crews began clearing blackberry brambles and program took soil samples at the 1.6-acre project site. The first of the two reser- PagE 6 voirs will break ground in April 2012, and the second at an unspecified date. “Once we have design [work] done to about 30 to 60 percent, we’ll Cold case take them to the neighborhood for comment,” said Water Bureau They don’t get colder than this Scott Fernandez sees a proposed new reservoir along Northwest spokesman Tim Hall. “We don’t anticipate that for another six months.” Skyline Road as another step toward decommissioning the open PagE 21 Continued on page 5 reservoirs in Washington Park. NO BETTER TIME Stand up, on this Thanksgiving Day, stand upon your feet. FEAST Believe in man. Soberly and with clear eyes, believe in your own time and place. There is not, and there never has been a better Heap high the board with plenteous cheer and gather to the feast, time, or a better place to live in. — Phillips Brooks And toast the sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased. — Alice W. Brotherton 3366 NW Vaughn Street 2364 NW Hoyt Street There would truly be no better time to consider a home like this. Eighty-six years of charm restored to its original elegance give this This 1906 Colonial Revival exudes the warmth and historic patina charmer a new lease on life. Original built-ins, oak floors, picture of an Olde English Pub. Gracious and spacious public rooms sparkle windows that capture views of the snow-capped Cascades and a big with light and give you the entertaining spaces for raising a pint and updated kitchen that opens to the landscaped backyard: perfect for sharing the bounty. Have your Thanksgiving guests stay overnight in Thanksgiving entertaining. All this within the coveted Willamette the ample bedrooms. Elegance with a flat yard less than a half block Heights neighborhood. from the excitement of NW 23rd Avenue, at this price: give thanks! 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2,012 finished Sq. Ft. MLS#10081835. 5 bedrooms, 2 full and 1 half baths, off-street parking for 4 cars, $550,000. 3,271 finished Sq. Ft., $550,000. A TREASURE We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our ACTION hearts are conscious of our treasures. — Thornton Wilder Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. — W.J. Cameron 1724-28 NW 29th Avenue 2375 NW Northrup Street, Unit 1: The Valencia This treasure has terrific investment potential: situated in one Action, as in being able to find a newly constructed 2-bedroom of Portland’s most desired neighborhoods, Willamette Heights, unit in a grand old Craftsman building at a price like this. Action, is this duplex with two identical floor plans, 9-foot ceilings, and as in a garden-level unit that is sleek and new with heated original charm waiting to be repolished. Features include: Bay concrete floors, an open floor plan and granite-and-stainless windows, picture rail moldings, a big butler’s pantry and original kitchen, Clean Air Energy Recovery Air Ventilator. Action, as in built-ins, large 30'×6' decks and a level backyard. Enjoy being being only ½ block to the streetcar, NW 23rd Avenue, and a few able to walk to Portland’s urban wilderness, Forest Park. more to Forest Park where an urbanite can really LIVE. Two 2-bedroom 1-bath flats, each is 1,560 Sq. Ft. (approx.), 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, 1,198 Sq. Ft. MLS# 10080897. $275,000. 1 garage space. MLS#10082961 & 10083062. $550,000. Our featured property is 5212 NE Garfield, Northeast Portland’s “Pittock Mansion.” This restored National Historic Landmark has won numerous preservation awards. It offers 4,100 Sq. Ft. of renovated gorgeousness on a 100'×100' lot with a walk score of 94! $699,000. The Dan Volkmer Team Dan Volkmer PrinciPal broker burDean barTlem, kishra oTT & anne Yoo, brokers WalTer anD TeD, Too. For your real estate needs in the Northwest neighborhood. Call us to find out your property’s top market value. 503-497-5158 www.danvolkmer.com Anne, Burdean, Kishra, Dan, Walter & Ted 2 northwest Examiner, november 2010 Letters can be sent to By Allan Classen [email protected] or 2825 NW Upshur St., Ste. C, Portland, OR 97210. Editor’sEditor & Publisher Turn readerLetters should be 300 words or fewer; include areply name and a street of residence. Deadline third Saturday of the month. Parking meters not tied to garage The October article on parking made a lot of false assumptions and repre- sentations about our intent regarding the city’s parking plan and meter revenue.