President’s Message
As I’ve mentioned in this space before, our city is changing, and our neighborhood—like all others—is feeling these changes. While change is inevitable, and positive, we wrestle with how the city’s growth and increasing density are structured with the goal of maximizing the benefits and minimizing the downsides, all while hopefully keeping our neighborhood accessible to people from a broad range of incomes.
Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association (BWNA) Secretary Barb Strunk has served on the City of Portland’s Residential Infill Project’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee (RIPSAC) since it began its work two years ago. Barb has volunteered countless hours to provide a neighborhood perspective to this important process. The outcome of this project and ultimate recommendations adopted by the City Council will shape our neighborhoods—particularly on the east side of Portland—for decades to come. The Residential Infill Project was originally intended to address the size, scale, and compatibility of residential infill that often occurs following the demolition of older homes. Many voices in town have noted that the original mandate of the project appears to have drifted. As Barb reports later in this newsletter, the proposed solutions may unfortunately exacerbate the problems, while not necessarily increasing housing affordability. I encourage you to read Barb’s article and share your perspective with city leaders directly or through the upcoming public forums. The neighborhood association can help to amplify our collective voice. Please let me or other board members know your thoughts on the Residential Infill Project proposal, which is expected to come before the City Council early next year. As with all significant proposals impacting the neighborhood, the BWNA board likely will take a stand on this issue in the form of a resolution, and input from our residents is a valued and essential building block in the process.
On a separate note, the holiday season is upon us. As we gather with family and friends over the holidays remember to be thankful for the good fortune we have of calling this city and neighborhood our home. Best wishes for a happy holiday season.