MAY 10 VOLUME 24, ISSUE 9 Serving Portland’s Northwest Neighborhoods since 1986 FREE On the fault line paul KObErStein Oregon’s entire gasoline supply is stored in an earthquake danger zone in Northwest Portland By Paul Koberstein hat structures would be first to topple if Portland were struck by The Big One—an epic earth- quake that some experts believe is due within the next 50 years? Bridges? Tall buildings? Homes in the West Hills? What about the 500 or so supersized gasoline storage tanks along U.S. Highway 30 in Linnton, where virtually all of Oregon’s petroleum isW stored? The tanks rest on weak soils that would liquefy in a major earth- quake, said Yumei Wang of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. “Some of the bulk facilities are old and vulnerable. Some important high-voltage electric lines are also in the area of liquefaction,” he said. At a public meeting in March, several Northwest Portland residents discussed earthquake risks of petroleum tanks with oil company representatives and the Oregon Department Linnton \ of Environmental Quality. DEQ scheduled the meeting to P o review proposals to renew air-pollution permits for three rt la Willamette River gasoline companies. n d “It is paralyzingly scary,” said Elizabeth Patte, who lives H il several miles from the tank farms in Willamette Heights. ls fa “And that fear is based on things we know about in the u lt Above: Some of the petroleum tanks in Northwest Portland are industrial area below us. I’m guessing there is an ocean of vaUghN very old, built long before modern seismic standards. toxic materials that we don’t know about down there too, rd stored in facilities built on fill along a fault line unmonitored 23 by DEQ or anyone else, no evacuation route to speak of with BURNSIDE Left: The Portland Hills Fault runs along the Willamette River the West Hills ridgeline to trap whatever is released. and under the Linnton-area tank farms. “We probably should have oxygen masks at hand,” said Patte. Continued on page 23 Northwest Examiner 2010 Community Award City lets Pearl developer Winners Phil Geffner Juliet Hyams ‘slip between tracks’ Paul Koberstein By Allan Classen Don Kruger he referred this reporter to Kurt Krueger, development review manager for the Portland Bureau of Transporta- Donna Matrazzo George Diamond is redeveloping a half block in the Thomas Manley tion. Pearl District while skirting a requirement that he simul- Krueger, in turn, referred the issue back to Heron. Elaine Mann taneously upgrade the sidewalk. “There are some things Tim should be answering,” he Mary Peveto Although his land-use application raised several red said. flags and appears to trigger the new sidewalk requirement, Quinn Rolfe Representatives of the Pearl District Neighborhood the city issued building permits last November without Laura Russo Association thought Heron had agreed to meet with them insisting that he bring the narrow, eight-foot walkway Jan Valentine in March, but they say he later refused to get together into compliance with the current 12-foot standard. Frank Weigel with them. Was it negligence on the part of the Portland Bureau “I’ve never seen such stonewalling,” said Ann Niles, the of Development Services to let the project slip through neighborhood association’s transportation specialist. Join us for the celebration despite involving work valued at $259,875, about $2,000 The confusion started when Diamond’s architect, in over the threshold at which sidewalk and other right of nd the initial design-review stage, claimed it was only an May 22 way improvements must be made? $80,000 project, far below the threshold. That lowball See page 26 for details. Tim Heron, senior city planner for BDS, has refused figure was used when Diamond went in for final approval to answer that question posed by the Examiner. Instead, Continued on page 11 A MAy HolidAy – MotHer’s dAy A MAy HolidAy – MeMoriAl dAy Gay Painted Lady Fly the Flag and Have a Picnic in the Formal Garden 1724 SW Clay Street Anyone’s mother would love to live in one of Goose Hollow’s 3436 SE Oak Street original Victorians. Built in 1890, it is bright and light and filled Why bother with the camping gear? What better way to celebrate with character. Pick Mom a bouquet from the city gardens. Serve the beginning of summer than to luxuriate in your own park-like her a cup of tea in the cheerful breakfast nook or a glass of yard? Or stroll across the street to Laurelhurst Park to walk the champagne for a sunny Sunday brunch on the patio. This century- dog and play some Frisbee. The formal, yet practical house shines old home has been lovingly maintained and richly restored with with its gumwood accents and uncompromised detailing from wonderful attention to original architectural detail. Located in a quiet bent wood bannister to auto-light entry closet. The spacious home neighborhood within walking distance to PSU, PGE Park, the MAX offers oversized public rooms and bedrooms, updated period baths, station and downtown Portland. sleeping porch, 3rd floor with room to grow and basement family 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2,592 Sq. Ft. $ 479,900. room and utility. If you still feel the need for summer activity, get out the boat or the Westfalia that are stored in the 3-car garage. Later in the evening, lounge on the front porch with a Memorial Day lemonade and view the Laurelhurst trees, mature before this house was built in 1925. Ay olidAy – CiNCo de MAyo 4 bedrooms, 2 full and 2 half baths, 5,362 finished Sq. Ft. A M H MLS# 10035396 $950,000. The Valencia, Casa Elegancia Restaurada Artesano A MAy HolidAy – MAy dAy Victorian Duplex with Fresh Bright Paint and Gardens Galore 2375 NW Northrup, Units A, B and D What a wonderful place to throw a spring Margarita party! Open the generous sized front porch or the balcony and let the mariachis begin at any of three beautiful south-facing Craftsman condos. They offer vintage charm with modern conveniences. Original 1913 details include wainscoting, plate-rail moldings, natural woodwork, gleaming refinished wood floors. Updates include new plumbing, updated electrical, slab marble & granite 2247 NW Irving Street kitchens & period-appropriate baths. A serene backyard lends a peaceful place to spend siesta time. Only ½ block to the An elegantly crafted 1891 Queen Anne with sunny spots for flowers streetcar & NW 23rd Ave boutiques, cafes, & more! Forest Park and gardens. Raise the May Pole in the side yard but be careful not to trails 1 mile away! dance on the newly planted vegetable garden. On one of the Historic Alphabet District’s undisturbed residential blocks this quiet leafy 2 bedrooms, 1 full and 1 half baths, 1,328 – 1,413 Sq. Ft. garden belies the fact that it’s just steps away from all you’ll ever MLS# 10031465/10031456 $369,000 or $379,900. need for quality living. This century-old grand dame is hoping for a Morris dancer/new owner to start planning the festival for next year. Front unit: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1,660 finished Sq. Ft., 1,177 Sq. Ft. basement with laundry Back unit: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1,087 finished Sq. Ft., garage and A MAy HolidAy – NAtioNAl BArBeque MoNtH 140 Sq. Ft. basement laundry The Perfect Patio for Outdoor Cooking, All Year Long MLS# 10005152/10005156 $689,000. 2445 NW Westover Road, #206 Invite your friends or the friendly neighbors over for a “Q” any day of the week. The gracious entertaining unit opens directly onto its oversized private patio and its sleek Neil Kelly kitchen improves the ease of preparing those mouth-watering meals. This fresh, clean, two-level unit has elevator access to both floors making the upper level easily useable as a home office or separate living area. Do you want your master upstairs or down? The two suite-style bedrooms each have private baths with lots of storage. The Westover is the ideal residence for lovers of walking and NW Portland. Leave the cars in your 2 garage spaces: walk one block to Uptown Shopping, Zupan’s or Phil’s Meat Market for all of your Barbeque needs. 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1,571 Sq. Ft. MLS# 10031034 $419,000. 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, May 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. Anti-Semitic reference You’ve done it again. Your caricature can only reflect an anti-Semitic appearance of Richard Singer on the front page feature article [“Business front,” April 2010 Northwest Examiner]. Whether you agree or not with Mr. Singer on issues in the Northwest District, your use of symbolism is out of order. On another subject, why not report on some of the good things that go on in the Separate and unequal district, such as the Food Pantry and the Goose Hollow overnight shelter, and other activities in which Northwest Portland Ministries volunteers participate? I’m tired After crying for years that the city’s sys- get the idea that this program isn’t work- of seeing the same front page topics every issue.