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Three social service agencies to inhabit new Glisan Street building

LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO

Editor's note:
Welcome to Perlman's Potpourri for October, a roundup of news items from the Gateway and Parkrose neighborhoods of mid-Multnomah County from veteran beat reporter Lee Perlman.

Coming up, three major social service providers are combining to build a new building on a site at Northeast Glisan Street and 100th Avenue.

Spirit of Portland winners were announced.

Also in this month's Potpourri, East Portland Neighborhood Office earmark applications are due by Nov. 1.

After two years of outreach, planners have a draft version of the Portland Plan. A hearing on the plan is scheduled for November at Parkrose High School.

Finally, this month, Venture Portland is the new name for the citywide business district support organization previously known as the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations.

First, news about plans for the newest building on Northeast Glisan Street …

Three agencies collaborate on Glisan project
Three major social service providers are combining to build a new mixed-use building on a two-third block site at Northeast Glisan Street and 100th Avenue. Architect Dave Otte, from Holst Architecture, told the Hazelwood Neighborhood Association last month that the principal occupant will be the non-profit housing and service provider Human Solutions, which will manage 67 affordable studio and one-bedroom units in a four-story structure. Rents will be geared to people earning 60 percent of median area household income. (This would translate to $24,000 for a couple).

The ground floor of an adjacent structure will be office space for Ride Connection, another non-profit that provides free transportation services for low-income people. They will have office space for 43 employees, plus a kitchen. An adjacent parking lot will have space for 10 vans and mini-buses used by the agency. In a second stage REACH Community Development, the city's largest non-profit housing provider, will build three stories, containing 60 units, of senior housing on top of the parking lot.

Otte said that the project will undergo a Type III design review process, with a mandatory hearing before the Portland Design Commission. Despite this, he said he was confident construction could begin by May, and last for 14 months.

Hazelwood board member Christopher Masciocchi told Otte, “We hope to see good quality (building) materials. It would make a big difference for us.” Otte said the project will seek a LEED gold rating for sustainability, and will “exceed the code minimum for insulation.”

In answer to a question, Human Solutions Executive Director Jean DeMaster said her agency had sought to purchase an adjacent lot, “but the owner was not selling at a price we could afford.” Among others, Human Solutions owns the Park Vista building on Southeast Stark Street at 109th Avenue and a building at Southeast 122nd Avenue and Ankeny Street. “As part of the East Portland Action Plan, we're happy to help bring workforce housing and 40 new employees to Gateway,” DeMaster said. She added that because of its proximity to transit and food services, residents will have less need to drive.

Spirit Awards feature east Portland
The Portland City Council will present Spirit of Portland Awards from 7 to 9 p.m. October 27, and east Portland will be well-represented among recipients. As if to emphasize this, the ceremony this year will be held at the East Portland Community Center, 740 S.E. 106th Ave. All are welcome, and there will be cake and light refreshments.

The awards are given to individuals and groups for activities that contribute to the city's livability. A citizen committee under the direction of the Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement selects winners from nominations submitted by the public (90 this year). In addition, each Portland City Council member can choose two winners.

This year the coveted Neighborhood of the Year and Business Association awards went to Lents and the 82nd Avenue of Roses Business Association, respectively. Lents was recognized collectively for the work of individual volunteers such as Jalene Littlejohn, Rebecca Stavenjord, Cora Lee Potter, and David Hyde. The 82nd Avenue Association was recognized for, among other things, planting roses and working for the upgrade of appearances on the avenue, and helping conduct an annual parade as part of the Rose Festival.

Other winners include:

Erika Silver of Human Solutions for her work there on behalf of the High Road Alliance; Communities for Equitable Economic Development; Coalition for Homeless Families; the Red Lodge Transition Services for Native American inmates; past efforts on behalf of Bradley-Angle House domestic violence shelter; the YWCA Lents Commons Coffeehouse as Small Business of the Year and owners Ryan Cloutier and Alex Amen for their aid to the Lents Park Master Plan process; and the Ramona Street Fair.

Neighborhood Grant applications due
This year the East Portland Neighborhood Office has $37,000 available for Neighborhood Small Grants. The grants will probably range from $500 to $3,500 apiece. All applications are due by November 1.

Funds for the program are allocated by Portland City Council through the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and distribution through EPNO and the city's six other neighborhood offices. They are awarded to community groups for projects that increase the capacity of the organization, encourage the involvement of under-represented communities, and encourage partnerships among grassroots groups. For more information or to obtain an application form, call 503-823-4550 or visit eastportland.org.

Portland Plan hearings due
After two years of outreach, planners have a draft version of the Portland Plan - which will set policy for city action and private development - and the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission has set a series of public hearings to hear feedback. The meetings are set for Nov. 8 at Jefferson High School, 520 N. Kerby Ave.; Nov. 15 at Parkrose High School, 12003 N.E. Shaver St.; and November 29 at the Portland Building, 1900 S.W. Fourth Ave. All three hearings are 5:30 to 9 p.m. To review the draft plan visit pdxplan.com.

Business group plans citywide gala
Venture Portland is the new name for the citywide business district support organization previously known as the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Association. The group is continuing to provide funds for two grant programs available to participating neighborhood business associations.

A new “venture” is called Celebrate the City. Each of the 34 recognized business associations is asked to assemble a set of prizes. These will be items in a silent auction at a gala event that Venture Portland will hold November 19, at a location unknown at press time. Venture Portland will return 100 percent of the profit on each auction item to the group that supplied it.

The day before, November 18, Venture Portland has designated Light the City. Each business district is encouraged to put up decorative or holiday lighting - and to turn it all on at once, at a designated time.
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