Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

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Leaders Push for Equity in City Planning

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation

By Rich Burton | LUTC Chair

In November 2024, Portlanders will vote for three representatives in each district, expanding the City Commission to 12 members. The districts are North / Northeast, East, Southeast, and West. There are three proposed maps for district boundaries and the Concordia neighborhood designation is in the North / Northeast district in all three proposals.

This is a result of Ballot Measure 26-228, which was approved in November 2022. Ballot Measure 26-228 directed the City of Portland to implement these three changes by January 1st, 2025:

  • Establish four geographic districts, with three city council members elected to represent each district, expanding the city council to a total of 12 members
  • Allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, using ranked choice voting
  • Establish a city council that focuses on setting policy and engaging with community, transitioning day-to-day oversight of bureaus to a mayor elected citywide and a professional city administrator

The Independent District Commission (IDC); tasked with implementing these changes, has been conducting in-person meetings and collecting feedback on the district proposals.

A meeting was held on July 13th in the North / Northeast district at Self Enhancement Inc., a nonprofit aimed at serving underserved youth. At the meeting, North / Northeast Portland community leaders urged to boost engagement efforts and hear all voices to improve equity. Community leaders testified on how the districting process might impact Black Portlanders. Speakers mentioned communities of color and renters as key voices that should be heard when determining the four geographic voting districts. Renters, they said, have traditionally not had a voice on the City Commission and urged the IDC to consider access issues so engagement is truly inclusive. Watch a video of their testimony here.

Feedback gleaned from these community engagements will be used in development of the district plan. Learn more at Portland.gov/transition/districtcommission.

Rich Burton is the Chair of the Land Use and Transportation committee and serves as Member at Large #4 for the Concordia Neighborhood Association board. He is interested in building community.

Fall Happenings in Concordia Neighborhood

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Events

By Michelle Fitzgerald | Social Committee Member

Check out the neighborhood yard sale at homes across Concordia on September 16th-17th.

Welcome to the very teeny tiny beginning of fall! Just because the seasons aren’t changing doesn’t mean the social committee isn’t hard at work planning events to bring our community together.

Our next exciting event is an opportunity to meet your neighbors, check out their cool wares and pick up a few treasures at the Annual Yard Sale. This event will run for two days, on Saturday September 16th and Sunday, September 17th from 8am–3pm each day. Maps of participating houses will be made and posted to the CNA website and will also be available at each participating house.

In October, we are working on two cool things for you! First, we are looking for new ways to enjoy the decorations, haunted houses, and events celebrating Halloween in our neighborhood. Stay tuned for more information and please reach out to the Social Committee at Social@ConcordiaPDX.org if you have ideas. Second, we will also host our Candy & Goodies Giveaway at the lovely Bar Cala. Details will be announced as we get closer.

And remember, the Community Room at McMenamins Kennedy School is available to rent for your own social gatherings. The money supports CNA social activities, all of which are open to our neighbors. Book the space at ConcordiaPDX.org/community-roomrental.

These events run on team spirit and dedicated volunteers are still needed. If you have a particular interest or would like to volunteer, please let us know. Our social committee meetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at various locations. Drop in, come for sweet treats or just say hello. We will change locations monthly and post reminders on our social media pages and our website.

Michelle, alongside her husband John, loves connecting with neighbors and creating opportunities to build deeper connections in our community. She is an avid quilter and loves antiques.

LUTC – What Is Residential Infill Project Zoning?

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation

By Rich Burton | LUTC Committee Chair

Residents of Concordia and other inner NE neighborhoods might have noticed new construction that reflects Portland zoning changes known as Residential Infill Project (RIP). If you see two, four, six or eight-unit structures popping up where you once saw one home, that likely is the result of RIP.

RIP took effect in August 2021 and its second iteration, RIP2, took effect in June 2022. Both measures were intended to address housing shortages and affordability by allowing more density and flexibility on plots that previously allowed only single-family homes. People who aren’t familiar with zoning rules (particularly during the COVID pandemic) might be surprised to learn some of the specific impacts of RIP and RIP2:

  • With the changes introduced, a developer could opt to put four to eight units on a lot on your street, depending on the lot size and their ability to divide the lot.
  • No on-site parking is required for these new multi-household units.
  • Required setback s; minimum distances from the property line to the structure, have been reduced to 10 feet.

Proponents hailed RIP as a way to bring much-needed affordable housing to Portland, but the effort also had critics. Andre Baugh, a Planning and Sustainability and Commission (PSC) member at the time, objected with concerns about displacing low-income and minority residents. Others worried about traffic congestion, strain on infrastructure and lack of true affordability. Check out this YouTube video of Baugh addressing the PSC in 2018.

Anticipating the impact of RIP/ RIP2, the Laurelhurst and Eastmoreland neighborhoods worked to be designated as historic districts, which reduced their being affected.

Here are a few links to learn more about this topic:

For more information, email the CNA LUTC (Land Use and Transportation Committee) at landuse@concordiapdx. org or share your thoughts with us at the LUTC meeting held the 3rd Wednesday of each month, 7-8:30 PM at the Kennedy School Community Room.

Rich Burton is the Chair of the Land Use and Transportation committee and serves as Member at Large #4 for the Concordia Neighborhood Association board. He is interested in building community.

Law and Psych Students, KISS Coffee Coming to University of Oregon Campus This Fall

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Schools

By Kathy Crabtree | Contributing Writer

New University of Oregon banner at former Concordia campus, photo by Raymond Crabtree

After a year of anticipation, months of behind-the-scenes planning, and a recent frenzy of activity, the former Concordia University campus will be populated with University of Oregon (U of O) students this month. U of O bought the campus over a year ago and has been preparing for all Portland programs and courses currently housed in Old Town to be moved to Concordia by the academic year 2024-25. The first students to attend the new campus will be third-year law students and in September, additional programs will begin on the new campus. According to Heidi Hiaasen, Assistant Director of Communication for U of O; the College of Education’s Masters School of Psychology and the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health will likely also be moving to the new campus.

“We are pleased to announce that KISS Coffee will take over the coffeeshop in the Library and Learning Center and is expected to open in late fall,” she says.

Students will initially be housed in the 27th Street Apartments which are equipped with kitchens and independent living spaces offering two, three, or four bedroom units. Hiassen says that security precautions will be provided by the University of Oregon Police Department (UOPD); the Director of Security will oversee campus safety. Additional UOPD community service officers and unarmed private security officers will be on-site.

Administrative offices set to open this fall include Student Life and Belonging, University Advancement, Government and Community Relations, Facility Management and the university vice president’s office. Those offices will provide support for both campuses.

The Library and Learning Center has landscaping, new paint and carpet, and new University of Oregon banners have sprung up throughout the neighborhood. The Library and Learning Center will be open to both students and the public later this month and may include evening and weekend hours.

The University is hosting a Community Connection Event on August 9th from 4:30-6 pm. It will be held at the Library and Learning Center at 2900 NE Liberty St. Community members are invited to come and learn more about recent building renovation schedules, academic programs and other details related to the move. The April Meeting had more than 100 people in attendance.

Kathryn Crabtree is a retired Nursing Educator and author of books that celebrate women of a certain age- invisible to many, who use their deductive reasoning to solve mysteries. The bad guys never see them coming.

News from the NET – How to maintain a firewise landscape

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Micha Wolf | Concordia/Vernon/Woodlawn Neighborhood  Emergency Team

True summer is beginning, temperatures are rising and so is the danger of a fire starting in our backyards. We live in an urban area, and you may think that fires (especially forest and wildfires) only affect homes far away in the mountains…

You might even be conscientious about watering your lawns and gardens, take measures to store your barbecue safely or if you smoke, diligently dispose of your stubs in a proper container.

Even so, it does not take much to start a fire in dry conditions and when occurring in summer, fires are more likely to result in damage and property loss.

A fire may start small by a burning coal, a dry patch of grass or a match accidentally tossed into your yard. While you might be able to get a smaller fire under control rather quickly, the real danger is a ladder fuel–a process where a small fire grows bigger by moving upward fast, through vegetation of different heights and possibly even advancing dangerously close to a building. Concordia neighborhood is susceptible to ladder fuels because it boasts lots of old-growth fir trees and many older homes have mature landscaping (tall trees and shrubs) around them.

Here are some tips from the Neighborhood Emergency Team on how to keep and maintain a firewise landscape:

  • Water plants adequately
  • Clear any debris from the yard
  • Mow grass and keep it under 4 inches of height
  • Prune trees high (at least 10 ft) to create a safe distance from other plants around and under it
  • Space mature plants two times their circumference apart
  • Cut dead material out of bushes (especially Arborvitae and Cedar) Following these precautions will significantly reduce the likelihood of a fire.

To fight a fire, always keep a functioning and serviced fire extinguisher nearby. Stomp out a very small fire. If in doubt, call 911 immediately. For more information on fire and smoke, see publicalerts.org/wildfire-smoke.

Next month’s News from the NET: how to plant a firewise garden.

Micha Wolf ha s retired from teaching primary school, loves being in nature and believes in building community through engagement.

LUTC Column – Land Use & Transportation Committee active again

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation

By Kepper Petzing | LUTC Member

The Land Use and Transportation Committee (LUTC) of the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) has been reestablished after being inactive for about a year.

The purpose of the committee, chaired by Rich Burton, is to get together, discuss and take actions on issues that affect land use and transportation within the Concordia neighborhood. These issues include zoning and comprehensive plan maps, construction and development, demolition, bicycle and pedestrian issues, speed limit, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainability, among others.

This is the first installment of a new monthly column for Concordia News. Below is an overview of the issues that are currently being discussed at the LUTC meetings.

New speed safety cameras

Approximate locations

  1. Eastbound: 2800 NE Columbia Blvd.
  2. Westbound: 3000 NE Columbia Blvd. The cameras are installed and functioning. They are preceded with a sign that reads “Traffic Laws Photo Enforced,” a speed limit sign, and a speed reader board displaying the driver’s current rate of speed. Speeding tickets are automatically generated.

New bridges under construction

  1. 33rd Ave. over Lombard St. Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is now hoping for an Aug. 25 opening date, subject to delays. Check the PBOT website for updates (plus find cool details about construction).
  2. 42nd Ave Bridge over NE Lombard PBOT is constructing a new earthquake-ready bridge that will also provide better access for freight, walking and biking. Construction will begin shortly after the 33rd bridge opens. Check the PBOT website for updates updates.

Safety concerns

  1. Intersection at 36th Ave. and Lombard St. LUTC supports neighbors’ concerns about safety at this intersection – especially with left hand turns on to and off of 36th Ave. We are recommending this intersection allow right hand turns only from Lombard or from 36th. Because Lombard is a highway (U.S. Highway 30 Bypass), control over it falls under Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) jurisdiction. LUTC is beginning inquiries to ODOT.
  2. Prescott Street speeding and volume of traffic LUTC is coordinating with other impacted neighborhoods to encourage PBOT to conduct a safety analysis of Prescott Street and consider what abatements and/or traffic calming measures might improve the issue. We encourage neighbors to write letters in support.
  3. Building at 2734 NE Alberta St. This building sheds bricks and has been labeled “dangerous” by city officials. We remain concerned about this hazard and are questioning the city about enforcement of building regulations.

Housing needs

LUTC understands the need for infill housing in our neighborhood but would like our community to have a say in how development occurs. We are hoping for more transparency from the city regarding planned developments. If you know about building plans, have questions or concerns, please reach out.

Help us help you!

Consider attending our monthly meetings which are held in-person at 7:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month in the Community Room at McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave. Everyone who lives or works in Concordia is invited.

Email us with ideas, information, or concerns at LandUse@ConcordiaPDX.org. Find us on the Concordia Neighborhood association website at ConcordiaPDX.org/lutc.

Kepper Petzing has lived in Concordia for 40 years, where, with their partner Lowen, they raised two children. They are nonbinary. They love community and are grateful for Concordia News.

Special Event – Gay pride in Concordia neighborhood

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

by Jon Dickman | Contributing Writer

Concordia is hosting its first ever gay pride event; a celebration on July 15 from 3-9 at Bonne Chance Wine Bar. Javier Puga-Phillips, former social chair of the CNA board, feels proud that Concordia is having its own gay pride celebration and encourages everyone to attend. He and CNA Treasurer Heather Pashley organized the event and when planning, wanted to make sure they were supporting local businesses that were welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.

Puga-Phillips moved to Concordia from West Hollywood and points out that unlike other large progressive cities in the United States, Portland does not have its own gay neighborhood, which he feels is important for residents to feel affiliated. For him, Concordia having its own gay pride event is “a way to bring light into our community and bring a sense of belonging to the gay people here.”

Three themed parades and a waterfront festival are also set to take place the same weekend at Waterfront Park. Many businesses, religious groups, cultural groups, sports teams, and LGTBQ+ organizations will gather at the festival to celebrate and show support for the community. Pride Northwest, Inc., a local non-profit aimed at celebrating the diversity of the gay community, has sponsored the parade since 1994. According to the sponsor’s website, the parade draws tens of thousands of people to downtown Portland and has a reputation for being “one of the largest small town pride parades west of the Mississippi.” The main parade begins on Sunday, July 16 at the North park blocks, and goes from 11-3.

Historically, gay pride parades began in 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall riots. In response to a police raid at The Stonewall Inn; a gay hangout in Greenwich Village, in 1969, the gay community led protests in the streets of New York for 6 days. The first Gay Pride Liberation March took place in Manhattan one year later and is often cited as the first gay pride parade and the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. In 1999, former president Bill Clinton made June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month”.

Federally, June is still recognized as LGBTQ pride month, but this year, Portland’s festivities are in July. Pride Northwest says the reasons for this change include Waterfront Park’s limited availability in June and other significant cultural events such as Juneteenth and Delta Park Pow Wow. More information about gay pride events and Portland Pride Northwest can be found at PortlandPride.org.

Jon Dickman, 71, has lived for 26 years in the Concordia Neighborhood with his husband Bob Wilson, who grew up in the home they live in. They have participated in five Portland pride parades together.

From the Board – Former CNA chair reelected

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Volunteer Opportunities

By Astrid Furstner, CNA Board Chair

Greetings Concordia! I would like to begin by reintroducing myself to you. My name is Astrid Furstner and I served as Board Chair in 2019 after Chris and before Peter and Kieran. I would like to thank those who came before me, the board members, all of you, and especially Brittany van der Salm for holding things together while a new chair was elected.

I am a Hispanic woman. I was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States when I was a little girl. I live in Concordia with my husband, Brent, and our daughter. We are a family of woodworkers and artists. My husband makes guitars, I make wood carvings, puzzles and portraits; and our daughter helps with everything! We sell our work and you may see us around town at local BIPOC markets such as the Portland Indigenous Marketplace, the Come Thru Market, or My People’s Market. If you see us, say hi!

I believe in finding common ground and having open conversations about the Concordia community and it is my hope that as chair, I can make a little bit of a difference in our neighborhood.

Currently, the CNA does a variety of things. Thanks to Javier and other team members this year, we have been successful with neighborhood cleanups, the Easter egg hunt, and various neighborhood meetups. These social events are a wonderful opportunity to bring our neighbors together.

We also contend with more serious matters, such as traffic, land use, in-fill, city projects and other issues that are important to us and our neighbors.

Like many of you, CNA has faced its challenges this year. We are, after all, a non-profit organization run by volunteers. We are looking for new volunteers who can help with social events such as yard sales, clean-up events, summer concerts at the park, and, as we head into the holidays, various holiday activities.

You don’t have to be a chair or take on a huge amount of responsibility, but if writing letters is your thing, help us out. If attending meetings and reporting back is something you can do, help us out. If writing an article on a favorite topic is your thing, help us out. Do you have time to deliver newspapers to a few local businesses in Concordia? Do you have ideas on how to improve our community or an idea for a group or event? Let us know.

I hope that each of you will reach out and help in any way you can to continue to makeing Concordia a welcoming and diverse neighborhood. I look forward to working with each of you once again and hope to hear from you. Juntos, (together) we make Concordia our home.

Astrid Furstner is a mother, a wife, an immigrant, a local artist and a woodworker. She lives with her luthier husband, Brent, and her artist-in-themaking daughter, Luciana. Together, they call Concordia their home.