Under-Served Part of Portland to Get Attention and Resources
The Cully-Concordia neighborhood has long been deprived of basic services like sidewalks, parks and community centers. Through the Schools, Families, Housing program, the area was targeted for improvement, and the Bureau of Planning was enlisted to do an assessment. Planning staff along with engaged community partners will present the Cully-Concordia Community Assessment and Action Plan to City Council for their adoption on November 20 at 2 p.m.
The project's intent has been to improve the lives of children and their families while benefiting the whole Cully-Concordia community. Three public schools (Faubion, Rigler and Scott) and one school site near 42nd Ave./Killingsworth St were considered. Key questions addressed were:
How can schools become the center of community life?
What are the priority programs, services and infrastructure that are needed to support children and families?
What are the partnerships and strategies that can address these priorities?
The project began in the fall of 2007, and the Cully-Concordia Community Assessment report describing existing conditions was released in September 2008. It includes a "Community Voices" summary of interviews with more than 75 people, such as parents with children, school principals and service providers. Assessment report highlights include: population growth with increasing diversity; significant pockets of poverty; unmet local neighborhood commercial and business opportunities; affordable housing on the decline; lack of public facilities and infrastructure, especially complete streets with sidewalks and developed parks, community centers and a library; and a lack of services for children, including daycare, an early child development center with pre-school activities and after-school programming for children and youth.
A Community Discussion Group of 25 to 30 stakeholders met five times, reviewed information and developed a strategic action plan to address short- to longer term needs and desires. The actions focus on school improvements, local economic development and business opportunities, infrastructure facilities and services to improve neighborhood livability, and community building.
Non-Traditional Way of Planning
This has been a non-traditional planning study that operated under the principle that successful schools and neighborhoods are inextricably linked and that student and family success is dependent on livable neighborhoods that have community amenities. In addition, while this project was led by the City and Portland Public Schools, community members and organizations have had and will continue to have a central role in determining needed strategies, prioritizing them and carrying them out. The Cully-Concordia area is rich in active groups and individuals who are making contributions to the greater community, and this project has connected people and resulted in more partnerships and sharing of resources to build community schools and a stronger Cully-Concordia community. One example is the church across from Harvey Scott School, which is providing space for pre-kindergarten classes and an after-school chess program.
Priority Actions
The project is entering the implementation phase, and community partners are signing up to lead and/or participate in a number of action items. All interested individuals and community organizations are welcome to participate. Some priority actions being addressed by project participants are: providing more adult English as Second Language classes; establishing a SUN community school program at Harvey Scott; expanding the area's quality childcare options; further assessing community needs regarding neighborhood-serving commercial uses; pursuing improved transit service; and implementing additional recreational programming.
Project materials can be viewed at http://www.portlandonline.com/planning/index.cfm?c=46474. For more information about the project, contact Debbie Bischoff, senior planner, at 503-823-6946 or dbischoff@ci.portland.or.us.
