Montavilla Neighbors Oppose PCC Street Improvements

Some neighbors don't like PCC's proposal to improve SE 80th Avenue as part of its expansion.

Conventional wisdom may hold that a paved street is a better street, but for some residents of the Montavilla neighborhood, this is not necessarily the case. Concerns about traffic, both from cars and from students of the nearby Portland Community College (PCC) southeast campus, have caused some Montavilla residents to oppose proposed street improvements in the area. This is in contrast to some of their fellow neighbors, who feel that less traffic is not worth the damaged, sometimes unsightly streets.

The discussion—not a ‘debate,’ according to Lew Scholl, Montavilla Land Use Chair—dates back to last year when residents raised concerns regarding the condition of some neighborhood streets. Those residents found themselves up against two main obstacles: the high cost of thorough street improvements, and, perhaps more importantly, the fact that some neighbors did not actually want their streets improved. Those opposed to street improvements have made their presence felt, according to Scholl and Brian Wong, chair of the Montavilla Neighborhood Association (MNA). “There’s unimproved streets that people like, and unimproved streets that people don’t like,” says Scholl.

It is a tricky issue, because the desirable level of street improvement is a matter of opinion. What may be a crumbly road with overgrown vegetation for one person could be where his or her neighbor stores their beloved Camaro. Says Scholl, “It’s just a very situational thing, there might be people on the same street that have different views.”

Many residents feel that improvements to rarely used streets would increase car traffic and disturb the peace and safety of the neighborhood. Some of the streets in Montavilla may be visibly run down, but for some they are a protective buffer of sorts.

Compounding the discussion is the proposed PCC plan to expand its southeast campus in Montavilla around SE Division and 82nd. Street improvements would increase automobile and foot traffic in the area, and some Montavilla residents are wary of the results. “They’re frustrated because the students come out through the gate into the street and hang out on the street,” says Scholl. “[They] smoke and throw their cigarette butts around.”

One of the few constants is that residents prefer the street on which their residence sits to be in good shape. “If it’s the main access to your house, generally you want it improved,” says Scholl. This is where the issue of cost comes into play. According to Scholl, street improvements in Montavilla could cost a homeowner $20,000 or more. “Generally, when people see how much it costs to improve a street, they may have thought that they wanted it improved,” he says. “But they say, ‘no, I guess not, not at that price.’”

The unimproved street issue has a middle ground with some historical precedence in Southeast Portland. A 2010 study, entitled Roadway Not Improved, examines alternative uses for unpaved or decaying streets in the Woodstock Neighborhood. The report, conducted by Portland State University graduate students, defines unimproved streets as those that “typically lack curbs, and have a surface of dirt, gravel, or substandard pavement.”

The report, which has been used by the MNA throughout the discussion, suggests that in lieu of costly, city-run repairs to unimproved streets, residents might pursue a more do-it-yourself approach. Such a strategy could include pilot projects that make innovative use of unimproved streets, including gardens and other green spaces. The report also calls for partnerships between neighborhood associations “to create neighborhood transportation plans in order to identify and prioritize essential improvements to unimproved streets.”

Whatever route Montavilla residents end up taking, the discussion is likely to continue for quite some time. “It’s probably going to be an ongoing process,” says Scholl. “We’ll probably see things develop over several months.” In the midst of many conflicting opinions, however, one thing seems certain. Says Scholl, “The city needs to find alternative ways to do street improvements that fit more with the neighborhood’s needs and characteristics.”