Parking Strip Gardens

The Sustainability Committee of the Buckman Community Association manages small community gardens usually located in the parking (planting) strip. Do you have a location that we could develop? This is a much better use of the space than lawn! We have three locations that you can check out —SE 27th and Salmon, 714 SE 19th and SE 15th and Alder. The property owner gets a check from each gardener for the water and we provide a much needed service for the community. Note: Portland Parks and Recreation has Community Gardens, but they have a long waiting list. Email buckmanboard@googlegroups.com if you know of a suitable sunny spot.

Proposed Rezoning in the 2035 Comprehensive Plan

As part of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan, the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has proposed rezoning for several properties in the Buckman neighborhood along SE Stark Street, 12th Avenue, Belmont and Morrison. Some of the properties currently zoned for residential could be designated commercial, allowing for higher density development. Other properties, currently zoned for industrial use, could become EX, also allowing for commercial and residential uses.

While this process, criteria for selection and specific properties chosen have been proposed by Planning Bureau staff, all concerns are being directed to the Planning and Sustainability Commission which is currently receiving comments and feedback about the proposed zoning changes via the web, public hearing or mailed testimony. To see what specific changes are proposed, visit the graphic interface at http://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/cpmapp2/

You can then submit your feedback, opinions or concerns these ways.

Online: directly via the map app. Email: Send to psc@portlandoregon.gov  with “Comprehensive Plan Testimony” in the subject line.

To testify in person, attend the last public hearing, November 4, 2014 at 4 p.m. 1900 SW 4th Avenue, Room 2500A

Via mail: Send a letter with your comments to the Planning and Sustainability Commission, 1900 SW 4th Avenue, Portland, OR 97201-5380

Note: To be considered valid testimony in any form and included in the record, all comments must include the sender’s full name and address. Omitting this critical information will also deny the sender the option and eligibility to appeal. The deadline for public comment on all these changes has been extended to March 13, 2015, but don’t delay as the hearings are all winding down.

Your opinions do matter. Speak to your neighbors about the proposed changes and organize them to send comments too. To contact the BCA and get help with land use and zoning issues, email: buckmanboard@googlegroups.com.

Lone Fir Cemetery Cultural Heritage Garden Will Honor History

In 2011, National Geographic included Lone Fir as one of the top ten cemeteries in the world to visit. While Lone Fir is a jewel in the heart of the Buckman neighborhood, one part of the cemetery is strewn with gravel, old concrete, broken glass and weeds. This seemingly forgotten corner of the cemetery has a rich past and story to tell. Members of the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation Board presented at the October 9th Buckman Community Association meeting and gave an update on efforts to develop the southwest corner of the cemetery at SE 20th and SE Morrison, known as Block 14, and to tell the stories buried there.

Block 14 is in the southwest corner of Lone Fir Cemetery. The Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation seeks to take this blank slate and aesthetically reunite it with the rest of Lone Fir to create a new, visible entrance to the cemetery in honor of those now-anonymous souls who were buried in this nondescript corner.

Block 14 is an empty lot that formerly housed a County building; there are no trees, greenery or headstones in this part of the cemetery. But the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation and Metro, the owner of the cemetery, have plans to develop Block 14 into a Cultural Heritage Garden that will honor the early Chinese workers and patients from a pioneer-era asylum that are buried there and provide an inviting and beautiful entrance to the cemetery.

Plans include a new entrance to Lone Fir Cemetery that includes welcoming signs with information about the Cultural Heritage Garden and the history of the cemetery.

A master plan for the Cultural Heritage Garden was completed in 2008 with the support of Metro and the involvement of a diverse group of community members, including the Buckman Community Association, and history experts. Today the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation is collaborating with government agencies to identify and secure the funding needed to bring the vision to life. The Foundation’s campaign has set a $3 million goal for the creation of the Cultural Heritage Garden. Foundation Board Chair Mary Faulkner invites everyone to get involved and help the Cultural Heritage Garden become a reality.

To learn more about the Lone Fir Cemetery Cultural Heritage Garden and how to get involved to support the project, visit the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation www.lonefir.org. You can also follow the Foundation on Facebook.

Submitted by Lake Strongheart McTighe

Transportation Update: East Burnside Safety Project and Ankeny Diverter

The East Burnside Safety Project has implemented Phase One, restriping of the street from 14th to 32nd. There is now one westbound lane and a center turn lane. In the spring of 2015, Phase Two will add median islands and marked crosswalks at the intersections of 18th, 22nd and 24th. For more about the Burnside Safety Project: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/61206

At the October BCA meeting, PBOT presented a proposal to add a diverter at the intersection of 15th and Ankeny from the NW corner to the SE corner, preventing cut through traffic from using Ankeny to avoid the Burnside/Couch couplet. There will be a public meeting for community feedback, which will be announced through the BCA’s blog and Facebook page. To send feedback to PBOT about the Ankeny Divider, email Roger.Geller@portlandoregon.gov

Submitted by Greg Molliet

PDC Seeks to Make Changes in the Central Eastside Urban Reneweal Area

On December 17th, the Portland City Council will host a public hearing on amendments to six urban renewal areas (URAs). The package of changes includes a potential expansion of the Central Eastside URA that would provide funding for infrastructure and redevelopment investments that would create jobs, particularly near the new Portland/Milwaukie Light Rail station areas.

Background

On May 7, 2014, Portland City Council through Resolution No. 37072 directed the Portland Development Commission and City of Portland staff to begin processing amendments to six urban renewal areas (URAs). With approval, these amendments would reduce the impact of urban renewal on taxing jurisdictions; provide resources to meet economic development, redevelopment, and affordable housing goals; and support Portland State University. Specific to the Buckman neighborhood area, the package of changes includes a potential expansion of the Central Eastside URA that would provide funding for infrastructure and redevelopment investments that would create jobs, particularly near the new Portland/Milwaukie Light Rail station areas.

With amendment approval, the inner east side might see the following:

• More resources to invest in projects in the Central Eastside Urban Renewal Area, SE 12th Avenue west to the Willamette River, such as storefront improvement grants and other business assistance along commercial corridors (e.g., MLK and Grand).
• Increased funding would be available for PDC to purchase and redevelop the ‘ODOT blocks’ (the three vacant properties near the base of the Hawthorne Bridge).
• Additional resources to invest in infrastructure improvements near the Clinton Triangle area that would increase pedestrian and automobile access near the intersection of SE 12th and Powell Blvd.
• It is estimated that the changes would provide approximately $6 million in additional resources to invest in affordable housing. Portland Housing Bureau staff and the URA Amendment Advisory Committee have discussed the possibility of investing the ~$6 million in affordable housing in the Clinton Triangle area near the new light rail station.

On December 17, 2014, City Council will host a public hearing on the proposed amendments.

For additional information, visit the project website: http://www.pdc.us/for-partners/public-participation/ura-amendments.aspx

Submitted by Susan Lindsay

Ideas for Parking Policy in Buckman and Portland

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has a new project called “Centers + Corridors, Parking Toolkit and Analysis”, which is exploring options for changing parking policy.

Buckman resident William Gregg is serving on the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and is looking for ideas:

“We will be developing several toolkits that can be used for varying situations and it will ultimately be sent to City Council for a vote.

While it seems like it is ultimately headed to the establishment of a new 24 hour area parking permit system and thus charging a monthly fee to park on the streets, I feel there are many other things that can also be implemented to increase the supply of spaces and reduce the demand for spaces.  I have come up with six ideas of my own, but would like to enlist the help of the community in coming up with some ideas of their own that I can present to the committee.

Building new parking garages is off the table.

Most any and all suggestions are fine and will be taken under consideration.   Feel free to send any ideas to William Gregg at:  WGregg123@aol.com“

Save the Date: BCA Board Holiday Party December 11th

The Buckman Community Association Board will host a holiday celebration December 11th. A great time to meet your neighbors and find out more about the BCA! The regular meeting will be held from 7–8 pm and the party 8–9 pm. Refreshments will be available; please also bring something to share if you wish. All are welcome and also invited to continue the celebration with us post 9pm up the street at the Lucky Lab Brew Pub.

BCA Board Holiday Party
Room 315, Multnomah County Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Regular Meeting: 7–8pm
Party: 8–9pm

WHS Building Revival Nears Completion

The former Washington High School Building, developed by Venerable Properties, is 75% leased as of press time, including a new rooftop deck with a 200 person capacity and the former school auditorium (announcement coming soon about its future use). New Seasons’ corporate headquarters is leasing the top floor and half of the third floor. A number of technology firms have leased space in the building, including Copious that has leased over 10,000 sf on the ground floor. A search continues for a restaurant or two to lease space on the ground floor.

The remodel is in the final stretch of construction with the shell and core work to be done in early December. Tenant improvement construction will start later this year with the first tenants beginning to occupy space January 1st, 2015 and the larger tenants with substantial tenant improvements will follow 30–60 days later.

A new driveway and initial paving is scheduled. Transom windows are being installed over the new ground floor openings. There are two new patios on the west side of the building and sidewalk repairs/replacement is ongoing. The remaining portion of the third floor not leased to New Seasons is completed and ready for occupancy. The offices on the South and East hallways of the second floor are completed and ready for occupancy. The roof top deck, which can accommodate as many as 200 people, has been completed. The overall building shell will be completed early December and the interior auditorium will be finished in late January.