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| “And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn or two blades of grass to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.” Jonathan Swift, 1667-1745, from “Gulliver’s Travels” |
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| Vol. 20, No. 5 • Mailed monthly to over 12, 400 homes in the Gateway & Parkrose Communities Free • SEPTEMBER 2004 | ||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLES | |
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | Home |
Neighbors and neighborhoods throughout Mid-Multnomah County participated in National Night Out events on Aug. 3. Part of the festivities at Argay Neighborhood Association’s National Night Out fete included the creation of colorful headwear. Admiring and enjoying the headwear were, from left to right, Portland Parks & Recreation area maintenance supervisor Don McTaggart, Argay Neighborhood Association Chairman Pet Schmidt, young party goers Maria, Matthew and Angus, along with Argay Neighborhood Association board members Robin and Darren Reed. Also attending the Argay event were State Rep. Jackie Dingfelder and Portland Police Bureau’s Central Precinct Commander Dave Benson; in addition, a mobile police command center, fire trucks and various police units were on hand. Neighbors and guests enjoyed music, entertainment and a bite to eat. One of the highlights of the evening was a raffle, with the grand prize weekend at the Oregon coast. National Night Out, in its 21st year, is a crime and drug prevention event for neighborhoods throughout the U.S., and is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. For more information on Argay Neighborhood Association, visit the association’s Web site at www.argay.org. |
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| Sheriff’s office may soon be for sale County may swap 122nd Hanson Building for new ‘Justice Center’ LEE PERLMAN THE MID-COUNTY MEMO Someday soon, it could be the only reason to visit 12240 N.E. Glisan St. will be to look at a used Toyota. Multnomah County, which has been thinking about getting rid of its Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office for years, may be ready to do something about it. According to Doug Butler, Multnomah County facilities director, a task force has been studying the creation of an East County Justice Center, and Multnomah County Commissioner Lonnie Roberts has drafted a resolution calling for it to be pursued. Such a center would have “as a minimum” a sheriff’s office, courtrooms and holding cells, Butler says. It would be financed in part by the sale of the existing sheriff’s office and the Edgefield property. The task force’s next meeting will be 11 a.m. Sept. 13 in Gresham City Hall, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway. Four acres in Gresham preferred Butler notes that the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, known as the Hanson Building, “has long been identified as being in very poor shape, and a property that if there is the means should be sold.” First, however, the county needs to find a substitute location and a means to acquire it, he says. No such site has been selected yet, but the county is looking for “something in the Gresham area of about four acres,” Butler says. “A preference would be for the Rockwood area where an urban renewal district exists, since that could be one more source of funding.” Although the idea has been “warmly received,” he says, “we’re a long way between here and there. So far we’ve been working with assumptions and guesses. We need to find out more definitely what this thing would look like and what it would cost.” More Tonkin? And who would then own the Hanson property? Who is the biggest property owner on 122nd Avenue? The Ron Tonkin car dealership empire “hasn’t made an offer, but they said they’d like to stay in touch,” Butler says. He added that any sale “would be a public process, not a private deal.” The news was a source of alarm at last month’s Hazelwood Neighborhood Association meeting. “Tonkin will own everything from Burnside to Glisan!” board member Linda Robinson complained. The matter adds significance to a proposed study of land use regulations on the avenue by the Portland Bureau of Planning. The study would include a look at development regulations that Tonkin has long called a bar to development, and that Hazelwood has defended as necessary to creating a pedestrian-friendly environment on the street. Tonkin will pay for part of the cost of the study, something Hazelwood fears will affect its conclusions. Hazelwood Chairwoman Arlene Kimura says she has tried to have the scope of the study expanded southward to Southeast Powell Boulevard, well past the Tonkin ownership, but that the Planning Bureau has rejected the request. “Some people lobby harder than others,” she said. |
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