Our Saturday, 29th September 8 Year 10 am - 8 pm Page 11 - 15 SEPT SOUTHEAST EXAMINER 2018 southeastexaminer.com “Your Neighborhood News Source” Vol 29 No 9 Portland, OR Artist Live/Work Facility Under New Ownership BY DAVID KROGH, income. Rodgers said, “Twelve of the tenants The artist communal living center, will need to relocate as their incomes are Milepost 5, in the Montavilla neighborhood above the qualification limit or they are at 850 NE 81st St., has been sold to CDP students who do not qualify for the reduced – Community Development Partners, a rates. CDP will, however, voluntarily help California- based business which develops those 12 tenants with relocation expenses.” and markets affordable housing projects in He indicated that CDP already has Oregon and California. 1400 affordable units in the Portland Milepost 5 began in 2007 with the area and will be proposing another 700 support of then Mayor Sam Adams who affordable units in the near future. Some of had the intention of providing low cost these will come from acquisition and rehab live/work accommodations for artists here. and others will be new construction. Rich Rodgers, Portland Development When asked about the possibility of Manager for CDP, stated, “The facility will new artist live/work type housing, Rodgers still provide for that need.” CDP purchased stated CDP is working on a new affordable the two older buildings at the site involved housing facility in North Portland (off Lyrin Murphy and Steve Day outside the Whidden and Lewis-designed structure on with artist housing/studios. The building Alberta St.) which will include 160 units, upper Belmont St. with the condo units, however, is still under some of which will be for homeless the ownership of the condo association that transition and others which are proposed Belmont’s Christmas House Lives continues to market the condos for sale. for artist units. There are currently ninety-five artist for Another Holiday units ranging from studios up to two Note: No other affordable housing bedroom units. These units all qualify as projects have been identified in Portland BY MIDGE PIERCE on several local projects. The Belmont affordable, according to Rodgers. Rents that would allow live/work for artists. house is Murphy’s eleventh restoration. will likely increase slightly as the building Many of the new apartment buildings being A once grand, century-old house With luck born of positive thinking and is older and in need of renovations, but constructed along transit streets (such as on upper Belmont is being meticulously a loyal construction crew, Murphy is are intended to still fall under the Federal Hawthorne, Belmont and Division) allow restored by a tour de force with the skill rescuing Portland one house at a time. affordable housing limit: renters cannot live/work, however, they do not fall into the and determination to save historically The handsome Jacob H. Cook House, earn more than 60% of the median family affordable housing category. significant architecture from the wrecking known by locals as the Christmas House ball. for its past profusion of holiday lights, lay Lyrin Murphy, a realtor with a self- abandoned for nearly a decade as squatters, described “really expensive passion,” graffiti, rodents and trash piled in. One Procedures Matter in Times of narrowly outbid developers seeking to auction morning, she said “I sat on the demolish the venerable Whidden and porch at the crack of dawn and pleaded, ‘If Lewis-designed structure dating from you want to be saved you will help me get Change the early 1900s. “We want to celebrate you’.” this wonderful house and honor the Since then she and her team have hit BY MIDGE PIERCE attending meetings in 2004. He says he neighborhood’s history and character.” the ground running, roughing in updated seeks RNA accountability for following Her financial partner, Steve Day, wiring and plumbing, preserving original A grievance filed within a SE process, not removal of anyone from the adds, “This house is a true work of art. You wall tapestries and turn-of-the-last-century neighborhood association may shed needed board. don’t tear down art.” He credits Murphy’s tubs, tuck-pointing foot thick rock walls, daylight on changing roles, responsibilities In a time of hotly divisive dedication, enthusiasm and eye for detail and straightening the original columns on and rules of NAs and their supporting issues – landuse, demolition, infill and for his confidence in investing in the the wrap around porch wherever possible. organizations. transportation – procedures matter. Field is project. “Lyrin is a master. When she falls Every item is being salvaged. Filed by a Richmond Neighborhood concerned about what he calls an almost in love with a house, she’s unstoppable.” Materials that need to be replaced such Association (RNA) board member two-year pattern of RNA Open Meeting She and Day have worked together as outdoor banisters on the upper balcony against another board member and the violations that could continue if the NA is will be repurposed as new balustrades are RNA, the grievance lands as the former not held to task. “This issue is important milled to meet code. Some days twenty or Office of Neighborhood Involvement to ensure the goals of transparency and more workers are on the project. (ONI) transitions to the Office of accountability that are at the heart of the At each step, Murphy undertakes Community and Civic Life (OCCL). With Open Meeting rules.” careful forensics to ensure work reflects “Neighborhood” no longer in OCCL’s RNA member Vivian Libson, a authenticity. “I love going to work,” name and the elimination of neighborhood grievance signatory, expressed outrage she says as the house reveals secrets coordinator positions, NA members over circumventing the election. “Our like writings from 1909 beneath peeling wonder if the agency will still support them votes were thrown away. We should not be bedroom wallpaper. Despite construction and function with the transparency they deprived of our right to vote. This is not and boarded up windows, the house is need to model in their own associations. Russia.” a solid “treasure,” according to a local Answers may come as the grievance One of the people appointed to the architect who says Murphy is doing plays out amid discussions of potential board is new chair Matt Otis, named in everything right to maintain the home’s process abuse and actions that effectively the grievance for violating Open Meeting integrity. overruled the RNA’s annual Board election. rules by emailing the board privately about Murphy, who names all the houses The grievance complaint filed by his plan to make a motion to cancel the By- she restores, calls this one Walter, perhaps Allen Field and signed by 30 members laws vote. because of rumored ties to Walt Disney’s alleges violations of Open Meetings rules, Otis declined to address the Portland family. set by still existing ONI standards and allegations specifically, saying he would “Walter never disappoints,” she says Code of Ethics, incorporated into RNA follow prescribed practices. He then offered pointing out 115-year-old arts and crafts bylaws. a measured summation of the imperfect fruit-sculptures that still adorn a mantel; The grievance stems from the nature of the all-volunteer organization. dining room pocket doors with oak on cancellation, without public notice, of a “Everyone here loves this neighborhood one side and mahogany on the other; Bylaws vote slated to go to the general and wants it to be better,” he said. leaded glass in perfect condition; earth- membership and the appointment of In August, RNA appointed a facili- toned tapestry beneath box beams; hand- individuals who had not received enough tator to select a committee to review the carved newel posts. The original parquet votes to be elected. Board members complaint for merit and report back to floors and elaborate woodwork is largely have always been elected, not appointed, the board. The committee will include a turn to page 19 according to Field, since he started turn to page 22 2 THE SOUTHEAST EXAMINER SEPTEMBER 18 LE Letters to the Editor Dear SE Examiner of the Portland City Council who us as a city, destroy so much of vote for it as defendants in the up- what we have built, why not use I realize the title of this coming lawsuits against the plan. our intellect to find another path? article is “Pushback Over Deposing these parties will Surely, in place of panic Parking Reform,” but perhaps force the truth to come out about mongering and strong arming, you could have found someone’s what special interests influenced we can calmly and methodically perspective that favors reform the R.I.P. and give Portlanders a solve the issues before us and besides PBOT’s to quote in your chance to “follow the money.” preserve the chronicle that is our article. This destructive idea, born architecture. The biggest employer from former developer lobbyist What is that alternative?. mentioned, Fred Meyer, and mayor Charlie Hales, and Science – which invented subsidizes a transit pass as an rammed through by the co- the cellphone, the jet plane, the option for employees. Paid conspirators at the Bureau of electric car, the drone, 3D printer Parking and permits will create Planning and Sustainability – the things we use to make our more space for customers cycling and the City Council, will not, lives better and safer and which through and would certainly not as experts have testified, solve make the world better to live in. put any employees or businesses the affordability issue touted by Surely there exists into the “dark ages.” R.I.P.