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ContactHNA 
Oct
31
2007
| October 3, 2007 |
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| Written by joevanderveer | |
| Wednesday, 31 October 2007 | |
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Hillsdale Neighborhood Association Meeting October 3, 2007 Reported by Rick Seifert and Robert Hamilton Rick Seifert There will be a meeting with Robert Burchfield of Portland Department of Transportation on October 16 to discuss crosswalks at Sunset at 18th/Martha as well as at Chestnut on Bertha Boulevard. The meeting will also address the five speed limit changes we have requested for Hillsdale streets, all to be five miles per hour lower. Approximately 60 neighbors have signed a petition asking for a raised crosswalk at Martha and Sunset as well as 18th and Sunset. Saturday, Oct 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., there will be a SWTrails and Hilllsdale work party to build a trail between Capitol Highway and 25th and Nebraska In preparation for a city-wide Portland Public Schools meeting on Nov. 6 at the Oregon Convention Center, HNA members discussed broadly what the schools should look like in 20 years. It was suggested that the school district consider visionPDX responses relating to schools. The VisionPDX statement on schools says: “4. Our schools are multiple-use facilities and integral components of our neighborhoods and communities.” The group did not pass a resolution but people were encouraged to attend the gathering and express their views. Robert Hamilton Regarding PPS property, it was asked whether it could be leased for other purposes. Richard Garfinkle stated that some school property can be leased. Glenn Bridger said that it is an “unlikely” prospect as “city zoning restricts or prohibits” such usage. An exception is the Hillsdale Farmers’ Market because such usage was written into the code as part of the Hillsdale Town Center Plan. Vincent Pimont said that schools are seen as a primary institution for socializing children, not as for-profit enterprises. It was also pointed out that Ashland’s core residential areas are now too expensive for many families with children to live. The downtown, in particular, has become an “adults only” preserve. What is the answer? Vincent Pimont suggested that PPS consider existing models for “continuous, lifetime education” such that adults could be re-integrated into facilities to benefit from them and help, beyond their tax dollars, to support them. Richard Garfinkle said that an important goal is “long-term stable funding.” Glenn Bridger and Duane Hunting supported both stable funding and continuous education. Martin Soloway said that good schools equal a prosperous community. Wilson High School’s representative to HNA reported that school directories are due in November, and that students are upset at the reduced lunch hour as it effectively prohibits juniors and seniors from having lunch off campus. He also pleaded for more money to support student activities at school which complement academic study. Martin Soloway reported on the status of the Watershed construction project. Temporary occupancy of the housing units is scheduled for late November and full occupancy in early December. A decision will be made in early October regarding the proposed December 9 book sale. (The nearby filling station lot is available if the Watershed is not on December 9.) There is robust interest in the commercial space, an open house is planned, and an outside drinking fountain will be a feature of the complex. A formal “wait list” is now in place. More information is available at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Martin also reported that the future use of the Sears Armory on Multnomah Boulevard is being coordinated by the Portland Development Commission which will determine both the type of use permissible and the wining bid. Those interested in expressing their views should attend a meeting at the Multnomah Center on October 13 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Four possible uses include those relating to PDOT, Portland Community College, a Christian high school, and affordable housing. Martin provided a handout of the project overview and said that the decision-making process is “very complicated.” Further information is available at the PDC Web site. Christine Appleberry reported on the Hillsdale Neighborhood Emergency Teams and a meeting scheduled for Saturday, October 6. Sheree Stewart will speak about first-hand experiences of Hurricane Rita and Lawrence Behmer will speak about NET and their workshops; Fulton Community Center. Don Baack reported that Wilson High School track use is being restricted in the morning by the track coach, who is reserving it for student use only. Don noted that the track is used by the community from early morning until late at night by neighborhood joggers, runners, seniors, and walkers who have always had a good relationship with students by not interfering with their physical education requirements. We shall work to restore that mutually accommodative and courteous relationship. Rick Seifert reported on several matters. 1. November 29: Metro meeting in Hillsdale 2. October 10: ReMax: Hillsdale Alliance meeting 3. October 11: Meeting at the Seifert home at 7 p.m. to plan for the Metro presentation of Hillsdale as a Model Town Center Richard Garfinkle reported on another successful pancake breakfast sponsored by the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association. Holly Jarvis, the general manager of Food Front, spoke of her food cooperative’s interest in the possibility of leasing the current site of Wild Oats, recently sold to Whole Foods. The latter plans to close the store site, perhaps as early as mid-October. Holly distributed literature about her co-op, a public-benefit-with-members organization. Currently Food Front has 3,500 non-voting members. The firm is doing a market analysis, considers the building and site to be of appropriate size, would maintain one board of directors for this store as well as the one on Thurman Street, and said Whole Foods will not sell but will lease the site. Glenn Bridger reported that Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. has hired Ruth Ann Bodenkaup half-time to recruit residents of SWNI’s catchment area to attend their local neighborhood association organizations, and to be the “small grants director.” Glenn also reminded members of an October 15 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Multnomah Center as part of Community Policing Day. He also reminded the audience of the Spirit of Portland awards and the various categories of service which can be publicly recognized. Finally, Glenn reported on three HALO-LID selections, projects focused upon improving and funding sidewalks—although not necessarily traditional sidewalks: 1. Hamilton Street; 2. Vermont (30th Avenue to the city limit); 3. 35th Avenue (from Jackson to Stephenson); and 4. Possibly a fourth project on SW Marquam Hill Road. State senator Ginny Burdick is now a resident of Hillsdale. Glenn and Don have discussed Barbur Boulevard with her as she is the new chair of the Oregon State Senate Finance Committee and may also be able to help with legislation to get improved bike and pedestrian facilities on three Barbur bridges when they are rebuilt. Two have wooden decks, and the Multnomah Blvd. Bridge has a concrete deck with seismic problems. None of the three has a bike lane. Holly Zimmerman reported that only 14 umbrellas remain and are available for purchase. Don reported that Hamilton and possibly Shattuck Road were scheduled for transformation from ditches-to-swales. Dosch may also have some work done on it. Don also reminded the members that November 3 is the annual SOLV cleanup day. Participants should meet near Neveh Shalom off Dosch. It is also the annual SWNI cleanup day as well. The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m. |
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