By Clarence Larkins | Contributing Writer
A new Tax Increment Finance (TIF) committee is in the process of developing the Cully district’s first action plan, a document intended to guide roughly $35 million of investment in affordable housing and economic development over the next five years. In addition to large areas of the Cully neighborhood, the district boundary includes smaller portions of Beaumont-Wilshire, Roseway and several blocks of Concordia, west of NE 42nd Avenue (see shaded area on map). The committee is seeking Concordia neighborhood residents to join and support its mission.
Project Background
In 2018, a coalition of partners in the Cully neighborhood approached Prosper Portland to explore a community-centered TIF district that took historically underserved, marginalized and underrepresented voices into account during the district creation process. The goal was to ensure all Cully area residents could stay and benefit from the prosperity that district growth can bring, rather than be pushed out and replaced by it.
The Cully TIF District Plan was adopted in November 2022. A governance charter was adopted as part of the District Plan, which established a Community Leadership Committee to partner with Prosper Portland and the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) in a co-creation model to guide investment.
By state law, TIF resources may only be used for physical, permanent improvements – so, for example, TIF dollars could be used to support the development of a daycare center, but could not be used to fund payroll for workers. These dollars can fund new residential or commercial development, home or business repairs, and things like down payment assistance for prospective low-income homeowners.
Get Involved
The TIF Action Plan committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month from 6 – 8 pm at 4636 NE 42nd Ave. Each meeting contains a public comment period, which provides opportunity for individuals to provide ideas and feedback directly to committee members, Prosper Portland and PHB staff. All are welcome.
For more info:
-Visit prosperportland.us/portfolio-items/cully-tifdistrict.
– Contact Kathryn Hartinger at Prosper Portland (hartingerk@prosperportland.us).
– Contact Leslie Goodlow at the Portland Housing Bureau (leslie.goodlow@portland- oregon.gov).
Clarence Larkins has been a NE Portland resident for over 50 years. He is the the founder and president of Straight Path Inc., a non-profit that helps pave promising paths for young adults transitioning from foster care.