Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Report Illegal Dumping!

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

Find out how Metro’s RID Patrol tackles the problem of illegal dumping on public property. Report illegal dumpers and haulers online or call 503-234-3000.

Metro’s RID Patrol tackles the problem of illegal dumping in multiple ways: cleaning up dump sites, investigating evidence found at the dump sites, issuing citations to the guilty parties, investigating haulers that are illegally dumping and working with law enforcement agencies and communities that need education and help to reduce dumping in their neighborhood.

Alert the RID Patrol Watch and report illegal dumpers. Write down license plates and other identifying information. You can report online or by calling Metro Recycling Information at 503-234-3000. Report illegal dumping online

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=641

April 5th General Meeting addresses Alberta Street

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Events, Local Businesses

General Membership April 5 at 7 PM
Concordia University’s Luther Hall Room 121

This meeting, Sara Wittenberg, the new Executive Director of Alberta Main Street, will attend to tell us about their work to “advance efforts to develop Alberta Street as a vibrant, creative and sustainable commercial district serving residents and visitors to our community.”

A representative from Friends of Last Thursday will also join to discuss plans concerns for a safer, more family-friendly ‘Last Thursday.’

14 reasons we need to re-think the Columbia River Crossing

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Tell Salem: We Need To Re-Think The Columbia River Crossing

Oregon’s Legislature is being asked to endorse the Columbia River Crossing — the most expensive public works project in the state’s history.

The project’s initial costs to Oregon are estimated at $450 million, but that’s not the half of it: The state will be on the hook for any cost overruns or shortfalls in funding from any other source.  All three of ODOT’s biggest current projects — US 20, the Newberg-Dundee bypass, and the Grand Avenue Viaduct — are all more than 100 percent over their original budgets, and an overrun on the CRC would be devastating to the state.

  1. Too expensive: The Columbia River Crossing is a gigantic project and we can’t afford it; bridge construction represents only 10-20 percent of the total project cost.
  2. Smaller solutions work: Most of the traffic over the bridge is local and can be fixed with smaller, less expensive solutions.
  3. It will go over budget: ODOT is two times over budget on three of its largest projects, studies of mega-projects like the CRC over the past 70 years have found 90% of them go over budget.
  4. Our one big request: If this memorandum passes, the Columbia River Crossing will be our number one request to the Federal Government for funds, superseding all of Oregon’s other priorities.
  5. It locks us in: If the Federal Government comes through, the Legislature will now be on the hook for filling in any budget shortfalls that happen in the future (hint: it will).
  6. Fixing the bridge is cheap: Demolishing the bridge costs the same as retrofitting the bridge to be seismically safe.
  7. There are worse bridges: The Oregon Department of Transportation has identified 29 structurally unsafe interstate bridges in Oregon, the I-5 bridge ISN’T on that list (but the Marquam bridge is)
  8. A bridge for Washingtonian: The bridge mostly benefits commuters in Washington’s Clark County, but Oregonians will foot most of the cost.
  9. Not a bridge for Oregonians: And while the Columbia River Crossing wouldn’t benefit the whole state, the whole state will pay.
  10. Tolling causes chaos: Unless I-205 is tolled, traffic would flood over to that freeway crossing.
  11. Spreading Sprawl: The Columbia River Crossing would ignite Vancouver sprawl. Indeed, Clark County developers will benefit from avoiding Oregon’s income tax and urban growth boundary.
  12. Light rail is uncertain: There’s no commitment from Vancouver/Clark County to build light rail.
  13. Why not look at other answers? There has been no meaningful discussion by planners of alternatives like a freight lane, retro-fitting, or other alternatives that exist.
  14. Communities don’t want it: The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, which represents 12 neighborhood associations, has taken a position against the bridge.

TAKE ACTION NOW AT ONWARD OREGON

Open House for design input for Alberta Court Crossing on 42nd Avenue

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation, Local Businesses

We’re holding 2 Open Houses in the Witham & Dickey Conference Room to present the progress in design planning for the Village Building Convergence Alberta Crossing Intersection project (NE 42nd Ave & Alberta Count).  You can attend one or both meetings, as they are intended to give you 2 options for the best date that works for you:

Witham & Dickey Conference Room
4824 NE 42nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97218

Saturday, March 26 at 10:30am to noon.
Monday, March 28 at 3:15pm to 5 PM.

It’s essential that the project have considerable input from all of you as neighborhood and community stakeholders, and so your presence at one of these meetings is greatly valued. We want to develop a “master plan” that illustrates the long-term development goal for the intersection.

The design elements discussed include:

  • Seating area space on the four corners, with an coordinated design theme, shelter cover and landscaping where possible.
  • A structure design that incorporates metal and wood, and fits the architectural style of the corner buildings.
  • NE corner (US Bank corner) designed as tribute “Weather Station” seating area in honor of Eddie Morgan.
  • Wall murals on the north side of the Spare Room and south side of Doggy Business, with a design theme that links the two, and creates a visual flow between the two.
  • Painted sidewalks on the four corners of the intersection
  • Coordinated lighting on the four corners, that could also accommodate cross-street banners

Additional design elements for further enhancement and consideration:

  • Changes to the surface of the west wall of the Witham and Dickey buildingDe-paving of the concrete in front of Wilshire Dental
  • “Kiosk” created on the south side of the Doggie Business (in the closed-off doorway)

Priority sequence of development:

  • Creation of a Master Plan design for the corner, including structure and landscaping design, wall mural design and sidewalk corner painting design.
  • Wall murals (as a part of the VBC)
  • Painting of the sidewalk corners—if the City requirements can be met in time for the VBC
  • One corner landscaping and structure—to reflect the Master Plan.

Much discussion has already happened around design concepts.  We hope to be able to give you examples of some of these concepts at the Open House.