BCA Mayoral & City Commissioner Candidate Forum, Thursday, October 11th

Still having trouble deciding who you should vote for in the upcoming Mayoral and City Commissioner elections? Come bring your ballot and figure it out at the Candidate’s Forum on Thursday, October 11th, sponsored by the Buckman Community Association. We’ll be asking Charlie Hales, Jefferson Smith, Amanda Fritz, and Mary Nolan where they stand on such topics as:

• The Coal Train
• Parking requirements (or lack thereof) for new apartment buildings
• Fees associated with building permits and historic reviews
• Access (or lack thereof) to the Public Involvement Process
• Funding and support for neighborhood associations

There will also be an opportunity for attendees to submit their own question to the candidates. Here are the details:

What: The Candidate’s Forum
When: October 11th, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Multnomah County Headquarters Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Commissioners Board Room 100

Position 1 Commissioner’s Forum
Amanda Fritz and Mary Nolan
7:15 – 8:00

Mayor’s Forum
Charlie Hales and Jefferson Smith
8:15 – 9:00

Pizza and light refreshments will be provided.

Independent Living Resources Block Party, Friday, September 21st

We were recently contact by a non-profit agency called Independent Living Resources, located at 1839 NE Couch, between 18th and 19th Avenues. ILR promotes the philosophy of independent living by creating opportunities, encouraging choices, advancing equal access, and furthering the level of independence for all people with disabilities.

Next Friday, September 21st, from 11am-2pm, ILR will be hosting a block party on NE Couch Street between 18th and 19th Avenues. The block party is an annual celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ILR be joined by 15 other community organizations and agencies that work towards empowering the disabilities community. There will be arts and crafts, performances, entertainment, and food throughout the day.  Several of the local Burnside restaurants have donated food for the event, and local businesses have generously donated gift certificates for door prizes.

You can learn more about ILR at their website or Facebook page.

Art DeMuro

“[Art] DeMuro, a Portland developer and preservationist, whose firm redeveloped the White Stag Block in Old Town and a number of other historical properties, died Saturday after a battle with cancer. He was 57. “

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/09/art_demuro_portland_developer.html

The Buckman neighborhood has lost a friend in Art DeMuro. BCA Chair Susan Lindsay, who worked with Art on the proposed redevelopment of Washington High School, penned this tribute:

By now most of you have heard the very sad news that Art DeMuro died Saturday night. I don’t know any details other than it was cancer of a rare and aggressive type.  I did not know he was sick, and always commented whenever we met how great he looked.

Art was an unusual developer. While a keen businessman, he did what he did motivated by a desire to preserve buildings of historic worth from the wrecking ball.  His projects, showcased on the Venerable Properties website, demonstrate his love of history and the restored buildings are beautiful to behold.

All of Portland has lost a friend this week….and especially Buckman. Art’s professional level of high standards and care in redevelopment took seed in Buckman in recent years and we have a number of preserved structures to show for it.

While meeting with Art over the years on other projects, it during was the Washington High School Redevelopment plan that I really got to know Art. Let’s just say, here was someone who didn’t bat an eye when I told him the school building talked to me……as I’m sure he in his own way had experienced this with his love of old forgotten buildings.

Last spring when Art was finally awarded the exclusive rights on the building and a purchase agreement was approved by the school board was one of the happiest days of my life.  I felt so ‘relieved’..that at last the building was in the hands of someone who cared, and knew of its beauty and potential…and had the means and experience to make it anew again.

While I have no idea what his unexpected passing will mean for Washington High, I know what it means for us and me.  We have suddenly and with no warning lost a wonderful, caring, intelligent, gifted man who knew how to navigate the difficult world of loans agreements, contracts, timelines and especially personalities to make beautiful, useful buildings appear from decades of waste and neglect.  And I and many others have lost a man we considered a friend.

It’s ironic on another level for me.  Last Thursday, having returned to Portland from being away much of August, I called some folks to specifically express gratitude for their work on projects we’ve been engaged with.  I started to call Art, and then hesitated.  I had so much to say to him..about how fabulous I thought he was, I decided to collect my thoughts some more before I called.

He was fabulous…and truly one of a kind.  I will miss him very much.  He was our friend.