Category: Homeless

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Overlook Neighborhood Update (Jan. 8)

1) Hazelnut Grove homeless camp public meeting (Sunday, Jan. 15)
2) Portland’s new inclusionary housing program (Friday, Jan. 13)
3) Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup plan

1) Hazelnut Grove homeless camp public meeting (Sunday, Jan. 15)

There have been reports of leadership shakeups at the Hazelnut Grove homeless camp in Overlook. The Overlook Neighborhood Association has been in contact with Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office to discuss the future of the camp. We’ll update neighbors as we learn more.

In the meantime, Hazelnut Grove has invited the public to a meeting to hear about the turmoil there and changes. Members of the camp will respond to community concerns.

Hazelnut Grove homeless camp public meeting
Sunday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m.
Overlook Park

2) Portland’s new inclusionary housing program (Friday, Jan. 13)

Beginning Feb. 1, buildings with 20 or more residential units will be part of Portland’s Inclusionary Housing Program, which hopes to make affordable housing units available throughout the city. The program requires a minimum amount of units be affordable to households earning no more than 80 percent of area median income, with five alternatives for providing affordability, and varying incentives.

Developers and the general public are invited to a lunch session to hear more information about the program details and what to expect when submitting a building permit for a housing project.

The presentation will address questions such as:

  • Which developments are exempt from the Inclusionary Housing Program?
  • What are my options to meet the program requirements?
  • What incentives apply to help off-set the cost of providing affordable units?
  • Who do I contact with questions about a specific project?
  • How do I figure out what the rents will be for the affordable units?

Portland Housing Bureau and Bureau of Development Services staff will be available to answer questions. Registration is not required.

Inclusionary housing information session
Friday, Jan. 13, noon – 1 p.m.
Bureau of Development Services at CH2M Center (2020 SW 4th Ave.)
Lincoln Conference Room (1st Floor)

3) Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup plan

The Environmental Protection Agency last week released its final cleanup plan for about 10 miles of the Willamette River including areas adjacent to the Overlook Neighborhood. The plan addresses contaminated sediments through dredging, capping, enhanced natural recovery, and monitored natural recovery, including removal of over three million cubic yards of contaminated sediments. It also addresses contaminated groundwater that could re-contaminate the river and river banks. About 1,774 acres of the site with lower contaminant levels are expected to recover naturally over time. Active cleanup work at the site is now expected to take as much as 13 years and cost about $1 billion.

At the request of community groups and stakeholders, the EPA plans to host community information sessions to present the details of the final remedy this March. Details will be posted online as these information sessions are scheduled.