On the one hand, the city of Portland is facing pressure to add new housing and development to meet the needs of a growing population and an expensive real estate market. On the other hand, change is never easy.
"Portland's past and future collided at the City Council last Wednesday," reports Jim Redden.
"At issue was the proposed construction of new six-story apartment building in a part of town where the council has encouraged growth, inner Southeast Portland," according to Redden.
The development proposal ran into trouble because of its proximity to two historic Victorian homes on the same block. The ensuing controversy led to five hearings by the city's Design Review Commission, compromises by the developer, and, finally, a failed appeal to the City Council. Those process setbacks have occurred despite the developers insistence that the proposal meets the city's land use policies.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler summed up the difficulties raised by this development project during the council hearing on the appeal. In his own words: "This is almost the perfect storm of old Portland and the future….Two worlds are colliding. It's a historic neighborhood, but in a city that's in high transition."
The article includes more of the political dynamics of the development process in Portland, both generally and with regard to this specific project.
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