There were plenty of emotive issues opened for discussion during BWNA’s October meeting, prompting spirited views from many neighbors. Issues ranged from heartwarming efforts of neighbors in support of the family owners of Everest M Market to frustration—mixed with some admiration—for new development planned for Fremont Street.
Susan Prows and Kim Warner summarized their group’s efforts to help out Keshab Maharjan and his family after a brutal attack during the September robbery of the market that left Keshab severely injured. Charity events and GoFundMe efforts are all going towards helping his family with large medical expenses (three surgeries for Keshab so far), as well as loss of income from reduced market hours. See facebook page, Community Climb, or email: CommunityClimb@yahoo.com to find out ways you can help. Beaumont–Wilshire residents expressed pride in the level of support from the neighborhood community.
Meg Juarez, the new NE Portland Crime Prevention Coordinator, introduced herself to neighbors and quickly found out that she has some bridge–building to accomplish with more effective police communications directly with both neighbors and the neighborhood association. BWNA is committed to working with Ms. Juarez to improve the gaps noted during the meeting.
Paul Del Vecchio and his partners at Ethos Development, LLC presented their conceptual ideas of the three lot, mixed-use development at the northwest corner of NE Fremont and 46th Ave. Some key features of the plan include maintaining a walkway along the west side to allow viewing of the historic “Coca-Cola” sign on the adjacent building and having an atrium to break up the frontage façade, create some public space, and aesthetically soften the scale of building. The inclusion of approximately 13 parking spaces and a ZipCar space was considered by many residents woefully short of alleviating additional street parking pressure. The developers countered this was limited by architectural and financial limits. Although the 50 unit, four-story structure is allowed within existing code, it is larger than BWNA’s requested zoning position for Fremont Street within the new Comprehensive Plan Mixed-Use CM1 designation (Comp Plan draft maps indicate CM2 zoning that allows four or possibly five stories along most of the Beaumont Village area of Fremont). Mr. Del Vecchio committed to keeping the neighborhood informed as plans are firmed up through a website that was being developed in October, as well as requested meetings with neighborhood groups.
Wrapping up the evening was Mayor Hales’ presentation of his proposed demolition tax. Audience comment indicated general agreement with the concept of the tax with some concern that it may not achieve the desired results of curtailing the rate of residential housing demolition. Some thought there should be a higher dollar hurdle to demolition combined with incentives to remodel existing homes. The Mayor openly admitted he was not sure he had the three Council votes to enact his proposal or a modified version; as of writing of this article the “jury” was still out as City Council hearings on the tax had not taken place.
On a separate front, please mark your calendars for our December 14 meeting, where we offer holidays treats from local businesses and neighbors, and in the past have enjoyed musical entertainment from Beaumont Middle School choir.