Attendees at BWNA’s Winter Holidays General Meeting were treated to an array of holiday edibles and sounds of the season—the food courtesy of BWNA Board members and the songs performed by the Beaumont Middle School Choir under the direction of music director Cynthia Plank. Selections included the classic “Frosty the Snowman” and a cute choreographed rendition of “Twelve Days of Christmas”—sing-a-long favorites that were a big hit with the appreciative audience.
Crime Prevention Coordinator Meg Juarez and Neighborhood Response Team Officer Craig Andersen were present to field neighbors’ questions regarding crime in the area. According to Officer Anderson, the Beaumont-Wilshire and Alameda neighborhoods have two of the lowest crime rates in the City. Ms. Juarez provided crime prevention tips (see front page of this issue) and made printed material available to attendees.
The efforts of a couple of BWNA Board members were rewarded with grants: 1) Margaret Davis, in partnership with United Neighborhoods for Reform (UNR) and Lead Safe America, received a grant from Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) Small Grants Program to support the showing of a lead hazards film, misLEAD, at the Hollywood Theater (tentatively scheduled for February), with panel discussion follow-up and a recruitment effort to get fliers delivered to homes in the vicinity of house demolitions throughout Portland; and 2) David Whitaker received support from an East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District grant program to plant native plants along the Alameda stairs by 43rd Avenue. (See more about the project on the front page.)
BWNA Board member Barb Strunk presented an overview of work done by the Residential Infill Project’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee (RIP SAC). Barb is the UNR representative on committee. (Read more about UNR on page 4 of this issue.) Funded by the city, the committee is charged with making recommendations to the Bureau of Development Services, which in turn will offer recommendations to the City Council for changes in the building code in three specific areas: scale and mass of new residential development, skinny lots usage, and alternative housing. (RIP SAC was formed and supported by the Council as result of UNR’s Demolition/Development Resolution presented to city leadership about a year ago.)
Jack Bookwalter, BWNA Land Use Chair, reminded everyone of upcoming Mixed Use Zoning public hearings—residents’ last opportunity to provide input. BWNA has strongly supported new CM1 zoning along the Fremont business district versus proposed higher density CM2 designation.
Featured at the next BWNA General Meeting on February 8 will be updates on neighborhood issues and activities discussed at the December meeting as well as a presentation by a representative from Villages PDX Northeast—a group that helps interested seniors remain in their homes.