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Prosperity districts approved; funding uncertain

LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO

Last month, in a largely ceremonial hearing, the Portland City Council officially approved the creation of six Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative districts, two in the Cully neighborhood, the rest in east Portland.

Meanwhile, the local leaders of those districts continue to struggle to meet the fundraising requirements that come with the designation.

The six are, essentially, mini-urban renewal districts. Beginning next year, the increment of property taxes above those currently generated in the district boundaries will be funneled into special Tax Increment Fund that can be used only within the district boundaries.

However, as Portland Development Commission Executive Director Patrick Quinton explained to Council, TIF will make up only about half of the $1.25 million that each district will get; the rest will be government assistance and private institutions; Craft III, formerly known as Shore Bank, alone will contribute $1.5 million.

This is appropriate, Quinton said, because TIF funds can only be used for physical improvements - “sticks and bricks” - either in physical improvements to workplaces through such programs as Storefront Improvement, or public projects. The other funds can be used for things such as the funding of community events.

Multnomah County Commission chair Jeff Cogen, who spoke at the hearing, said the distinction was critical for him. “In the past we've had issues with urban renewal,” he said. “Sometimes we've created districts that go on and on and on, and focus on the central city. This is a new kind of urban renewal, and it makes sense. Investments are carefully targeted and narrowly focused. There is a time limit, ten years, and that is it. There has been terrific community engagement. There's empowerment, but it also ensures that the districts are ready for investment. It may take a few years to see if it works well, but I think it will.”

Some of this was oblique references to the demands made on local communities, including substantial fundraising, which, among other things, requires them to come up with $30,000 by June 30. “There is money you have to raise on your own,” Mayor Sam Adams said. “As bitter medicine as that is, it will make you stronger.” The intent is to “put policy and financial muscle behind the feel-good words for equity for east Portland and North (sic) Portland. We still have a long way to go, but this is a great leap forward.”

Members of the various districts' Stakeholders Committees, including Jerome Funchess and Valerie Salazar of Rosewood, Nancy Chapin of the 82nd and Division “Jade” district, and Joe Rossi, new chair of the Parkrose NPI spoke in favor of the effort. “I'm really excited about this opportunity,” Rossi said. “This is a really good group.” Parkrose is “an historic business district that's fallen into decay. This is a smart approach - targeting the area, involving citizens. The hurdles are pretty high, but it's given us the incentive to unite as citizens.”

Indeed, as reported last month, the six districts have spontaneously come together to devise a fundraising strategy. At press time, they had had at least four meetings and, according to reliable reports, are seeking local funding and a deep pocket champion to help them reach the June goal.

Meanwhile, however, Parkrose has unique problems. As reported last month, the Parkrose Business Association will be tied up with dealing with its own internal difficulties at least until mid-May. There have also been difficulties on the NPI Stakeholders Committee. Colleen Gifford last month sent the membership a letter saying that while she wholeheartedly supports the effort and will continue to come to meeting, she was resigning as chair in order to meet her commitments to her project, the Gateway Eco District and other activities. Another Parkrose NPI Stakeholder, Luke Shepard, also has resigned.
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