Wrecking Ball Might Soon Come for the Dirty Duck in
Old Town-Chinatown
The Bureau of Development Services (BDS) is requesting responses for the demolition of the historic brick Kiernan Building, built in 1916 at the corner of Northwest 3rd and Glisan which, until recently, was the home of Gail's Dirty Duck Tavern. The applicant, the neighboring Blanchet House, seeks to demo the one-story building in order to construct a modern four-story structure, complete with an eco-roof, on the site. If approved, the folks at Blanchet House will relocate their operations, bequeathing to the city the 9,500 square-foot, 100-plus-year-old building they currently occupy. The Blanchet House, which offers a safe environment to the city's drug- and alcohol-dependent streetwise community, hopes to double the daily meals they serve and nightly shelter up to 40 men. Written comments regarding this proposal must be received by September 3. (LU 10-152663 HDZ)
Portland Parks and Recreation Wants to Replace Diseased Trees Downtown
Because of evidence of Dutch Elm Disease, The Bureau of Parks and Recreation, Urban Forestry (BPRUF), is seeking approval to uproot and replace 10 trees in the South Auditorium District with trees of like species, some of which currently stand on private property. Private property owners will be responsible for replacing trees removed from their property or in the adjacent right-of-way by the winter planting season, while the city will take on the responsibility of replacing diseased trees in parks and median strips. In addition, BPRUF requests immediate design approval to remove any tree in the district discovered to be diseased at any time in the future without additional design review. Written comments regarding this proposal must be received by September 2. (LU 10-162913 DZ)
Pedestrian Park Planned for East Burnside/Couch Couplet in Kerns
The Portland Bureau of Transportation is seeking approval to permanently close to traffic Northeast 13th Avenue, between Burnside and Couch, off Sandy. Despite the couplet's meterless rhyme scheme, plans are in the works to take the patch of public right-of-way there and transform it into a sort-of mini-park offering temporary respite for bicyclists and pedestrians, complete with seating, pavers, landscaping and public art. (LU 10-163327 DZ)
Filling Station Coming to Fred Meyer in St. Johns
Fred Meyer has plans in the works to offer petrol to shoppers and motorists passing by their store at the corner of North Ida and North Lombard. When completed, the new filling station will feature five pumps and a kiosk for the cashier. (LU 10-154028 AD)
Portland Composts!: Pre-Application Conferences
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Lents
Recology, the commercial trash collecting company hoping to reduce trash by recycling more, proposes to accept organic food waste at their 6400 SE 101st Avenue facility in Lents (EA 10-152033), with the plan to transport it to an off-site composting facility. The waste will temporarily be stored in a covered pre-existing building that Recology wants to upgrade with odor-controlling technology. The conference is scheduled for August 25, 1:30 p.m. at the BDS offices at 1900 SW 4th Avenue.
Kenton
Ninety minutes later in the same room, Recology will propose a nearly identical proposal for the 4044 N Suttle Road site in Kenton (EA 10-152026). However, Recology wishes to build a 3,000 square-foot building for composting retail, as well as paving nearby areas to accommodate potential customers. This proposal will require a stormwater management facility, to be located at the site's southwest corner, which will partially rest in an environmental overlay zone.
What's a Pre-Application Conference? Pre-Apps are the very first among what will be many formal meetings between potential developers and BDS, during which ideas and regulations for a site are exchanged. Think of the 12-year-old wallflower deliberating on whether he will ask his crush for a slow dance, which will finally come two years later on the last day of middle school. Read: it's the first step of a long, slow process.
Antennas
Sabin
Clearwire is seeking approval to upgrade and augment their wireless capabilities by three additional antennas on the water tower near the playground on the 1900 block of Northeast Skidmore. Written comments regarding the proposal must be received by August 27. (LU 10-158794 CU)
Update: Public Hearing, Wapato Correctional Facility in St. Johns
A public hearing is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, September 1, to discuss the fate of the never-been-used, but already-built Wapato Correctional Facility. The site's operator, Multnomah County, proposes the option to lease jail beds to surrounding counties or to convert them to prison beds and lease them to the state of Oregon. The county also proposes the completion of a Transportation Demand Management Plan, as well an agreeable Good Neighbor Agreement with the St. Johns Neighborhood Association. Note that all evidence must be submitted to the public hearings officer on this date, as the city council will accept no further evidence should an appeal be forthcoming. (LU 10-146928 CU/PC # 10-103372)
Have we missed something happening in your neighborhood? Do you have any tips about something we (and your neighbors!) should know? If so, email us at landuse@neighborhoodnotes.com.
