Land Use Notebook (9/7): Willamette River Transit Bridge, New Cully Micro-Community, Portland Expo Expansion

Willamette River Transit Bridge

TriMet's Plan to Bridge the Willamette Drawing Near

The Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) seeks public comment before commencing on the construction of the Willamette River Transit Bridge, which, if approved, will make it the twelfth bridge to span the river. The bridge will link the south waterfront district at Southwest Porter Street to the a location over the river at Southeast Sherman. The bridge, which will span just over a quarter-mile, will be located between the Marquam and Ross Island bridges, and will make possible bike, bus and light-rail transit. Included in the plan is the proposed loop to link together the east and west sides by streetcar. The are also plans to incorporate public art in the project. However, before construction on the the bridge can begin, a smaller, temporary bridge must be first completed as a "staging bridge." Construction for that could begin as early as July 2011. This proposal covers only the development and construction of the west side of the bridge. A second land use proposal must be cleared by BDS before similar developments can take to place on the east side. Responses must be sent to BDS no later than September 27. (LU 10-151765 DZ GW)

Micro-Community in the Works for Cully Neighborhood

On the morning of September 8, a public hearing will be held regarding a proposal to replace two existing houses with 16 new units on 1.87 acres of land on two adjacent lots off the 4700 block of NE Going. The applicants propose that, when built, all new units shall be individually owned, and that the surrounding land shall be collectively owned by the new homeowners. Proposals for site amenities include a small community structure, two structures for parking and bike storage, a community garden and a grape arbor. (LU 10-148328 PD)

King Neighborhood Safeway Getting a Makeover

In concert with the interior renovations taking place inside the Safeway at the corner of Northeast Ainsworth and MLK, shoppers might soon see some exterior renovations, as well. Safeway is seeking to reduce by half the the required square feet of landscaped areas when redeveloping parking lots, proposing instead the installation of a low masonry wall along Northeast MLK and a trellis at the corner of Northeast Ainsworth. Residents have until September 21 to submit written comments regarding this proposal. (LU 10-163416 AD)
 

Master Plans Getting Another Look: Portland Expo in Kenton, Providence in North Tabor

Kenton

The Master Plan for the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center expires next year, so organizers are proposing to update it, increasing the available floor space from 410,000 to 522,510 square feet, especially for the Expo's primary structure, Halls A-C. The Expo attracts nearly half a million people each year for a variety of trade shows and exhibitions ranging from dogs and quilts to guns and knives. (EA 10-160756)

North Tabor (Hollywood, Rose City Park and Laurelhurst Within 1000 Feet)

During the pre-application conference that took place on on August 31, interested parties met to discuss updating the Providence Portland Medical Center's 2003 master plan, which aims to give the center the flexibility to develop more than 229,000 additional square feet of floor space. (EA 10-151118)

Pre-apps are the very first steps in the long process of potential development during which ideas and regulations are formally discussed.

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.