CHINATOWN JAPANTOWN ANKENY PLAZA SKIDMORE WATERFRONT

March 20, 2017

Mayor Ted Wheeler 1221 SW 4th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97204

Mayor Wheeler,

The Old Town Chinatown Community Association appreciates your efforts to address Portland’s housing crisis while simultaneously following through on the City’s previous commitment to find a new home for Right 2 Dream Too. We have confidence in you and your ability to do that. We also understand that you have had very little time in office to identify an appropriate alternative location and facilitate the public process required to effectively relocate R2D2.

Taking this into consideration, we strongly urge the City of Portland and the Portland Development Commission to waive the condition that R2D2 vacate the property before closing. We know why the condition was put in place, but at this point it will be better for R2D2, the City, and the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood to have this critical gateway property in public ownership. Part of PDC’s 5-Year Action Plan, developed in partnership with our Community Association, includes revitalizing and activating key parcels in our neighborhood. This site at NW 4th/Burnside is one of those key parcels. It sits adjacent to the Chinatown Gate and within the New Chinatown/Japantown Historic District. It is also a significant entry point into our neighborhood from points south.

The City has already undertaken the task of relocating R2D2, so waiving this condition does not present additional risk or burden to the City. We support the City’s relocation efforts and feel it is important that the camp not be disbanded without a plan. Its members are well organized and R2D2 serves as a valuable resource for many of our unhoused neighbors. PDC negotiated a purchase price for this property in 2014 that did not seem overly attractive at the time, but things have changed. In Portland’s current real estate market the contract price makes sense. It would be unfortunate for PDC and the City to lose the benefit of a wisely negotiated land deal because of delays in identifying a new location for R2D2.

Our Community Association, representing a wide range of neighborhood stakeholders, calls on the City and PDC to acquire this key piece of land in our historic cultural district and use it to further the Old Town Chinatown 5-Year Action Plan. The City has come too far with this site to back out now.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Helen Ying, Chair Jessie Burke, Vice Chair David Hooff, Treasurer Cal Skate Skateboards The Society Hotel, Partner Northwest Health Foundation

Karen Bowler, Secretary Evan Ross, Board Member Zachary Fruchtengarten, Tube and Fortune Cycle Portland, Owner Gevurtz Menashe Fleischner Mayer Building Owner

Dan Lenzen , Board Member Sarah Stevenson , Board Member Annie Campos, Board Member Venture Hospitality Innovative Housing, Inc. Resident

David Leiken, Board Member Will Naito, Board Member Scarlett Stack, Board Member Roseland Theater Naito Development Resident

Sharon Fitzgerald Central City Concern