BWNA Board Updates
Your BWNA board has been working on time sensitive, hot topics including the city’s upcoming changes at the NE Alameda/Fremont intersection, business corridor safety improvements, and facilitating discussions with McPeet’s and Tacovore regarding concerns raised by neighbors. McPeet’s outdoor seating area on NE 47th will be removed by September, relieving neighbors of access and noise frustrations. Tacovore continues to work with BWNA to complete a Good Neighbor Agreement around operational concerns including odors, pests, and amplified noise levels. The owner hopes to restore part of Tacovore’s onsite parking in the fall.
After two years of COVID 19, which has required the cancellation of large community events, the board hoped to have National Night Out again this year. However, due to continued COVID outbreaks, limited time for preparation, and a shortage of volunteers, the board voted against holding the event this year. We hope to bring everyone together in 2023.
The resignation of our board vice president leaves a vacancy effective Sept. 12. All members of BWNA, as defined in the bylaws, Article 3 Membership and Voting, will be considered for nomination to the BWNA board and the vacant officer position. Elections will be held at the Sept. 12 board meeting. Those interested are encouraged to participate in the election by either submitting their name as a candidate to president@bwnapdx.org or by attending and voting.
BWNA Committee Updates
Communications
We’re looking for help with communications and community engagement. If you’re interested, please email info@bwnapdx.org. Experienced reporters with interviewing experience are always appreciated, too! Email editor@bwnapdx.org.
Crime Prevention & Safety
BWNA continues to be one of the lower crime areas in the city, mostly limited to car thefts and stolen catalytic converters. In late July, neighbors near NE 38th reported shots fired, triggering calls to 911. While wait times continue to be high for non-emergency calls, people are encouraged to file on-line police reports to ensure the incidents are captured, as currently limited police resources are assigned based on needs informed by data.
Friends of Wilshire Park (FoWP)
Fremont Fest significantly helped our fundraising efforts to bring water to the dog park. The owner of Pig Sauce BBQ donated his time and sold BBQ pork sandwiches with all proceeds above his food costs going to our project. Later, the BWNA board voted to donate $500 to FoWP to cover the food supply costs, netting us $2,600 from the BBQ. Other festival fundraising brought the total raised that day to $3,900!
Other businesses were also generous in their donations of time or materials. Our big thanks to Pig Sauce, Blackbird Wine Shop, Brewery 26, McPeets, Tito’s, Tomorrow’s Verse, Green Dog Pet Supply, Wild Pet Supply, 3 Dogs Boarding and Day Care, and Pets on Broadway.
In other FoWP news, fencing and landscaping were installed between the children’s play area and the dog park, and volunteers, led by BWNA board member John Sandie, worked to keep new plants watered through the summer.
Land Use
Land use activity has been limited and primarily centered around remodels, design reviews, and a few deconstruction notices.
Transportation
Over the last few months, we’ve been working with PBOT (Portland Bureau of Transportation) to address neighborhood concerns expressed during the BWNA February and March meetings. Two primary issues have been the focus of the committee’s efforts:
- Pedestrian safety along the Fremont business corridor; and
- Reduction of vehicular accidents at intersection of NE Alameda/Fremont (adjacent to Tacovore).
PBOT already had a Greenway Project identified for Alameda at Fremont. Its focus is the reduction of daily vehicular traffic to 1,000 from its current average of 1,645. In response to the board’s 7-4 “no” vote on this proposal in March, PBOT offered an alternative design to the original proposed traffic diverter. However, this alternative design, while addressing the requested Alameda northbound left turn movement at Fremont, did not adequately address the main concerns some neighbors voiced about the original design, such as diverting traffic to side streets and removal of critical parking on Alameda. At the end of July, PBOT notified BWNA it was proceeding with the original diverter project and had mailed out 1,500 project announcement postcards to residents.
In response to pedestrian safety concerns, PBOT is working to install better lighting at NE 44th and Fremont, the location of the pedestrian fatality last December. Additionally, BWNA is working to implement “soft bump outs” at three existing marked crosswalks to improve visibility by preventing cars from encroaching on the crossing. Lighting along the corridor continues to be a concern, and BWNA has requested a lighting study.