1) Overlook Neighborhood Association joins homeless camping lawsuit
2) Celebrate Earth Day by helping clean up Overlook (April 30)
3) Public safety in Overlook
4) Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Workshop (April 30)
5) Community forum on homelessness (April 26)
6) Friends of Overlook House 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser (May 20)
7) Portland awards $47 million for affordable housing projects
1) Overlook Neighborhood Association joins homeless camping lawsuit
On Tuesday the Overlook Neighborhood Association board voted unanimously to join a coalition of neighborhood, businesses and residents in a lawsuit seeking to end Mayor Charlie Hales’ homeless camping policy that allows camping in many public spaces. You can learn more about the lawsuit on the OKNA website, where we have posted a FAQ, Fact Sheet and the legal filing.
There has been extensive media coverage of the lawsuit including at OPB, The Oregonian, KATU, KGW and Willamette Week. OKNA Board Member Chris Trejbal also spoke with KBOO.
2) Celebrate Earth Day by helping clean up Overlook (April 30)
Happy Earth Day! As you spend time today thinking about the planet, make plans to act locally next Saturday. Join your neighbors on April 30 to help spruce up N Going Street. Volunteers will meet at 10 a.m. in the Pittman HydroPark just north of Going Street at Concord Avenue (North side of the bike/pedestrian bridge). With enough volunteers, two hours of work along Going and N Greeley Avenue will make a significant difference.
For your efforts, you’ll receive an organic tomato start grown by Mulysa Melco of Resilience Design and the opportunity to get rid of any personal bulky waste too big to fit into your trash can. However, please don’t bring any hazardous, construction, remodeling or demolition materials; kitchen garbage or residential yard debris; or recyclables that can be collected at curbside.
Wear shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and bring work gloves and pruners, if you have them. We’ll need mechanical help to move filled garbage bags up the Going Street hill. If you have a Radio Flyer wagon or a cart, bringing it along would be a great contribution.
Please RSVP to graffiti@OverlookNeighborhood.org. Meet your neighbors, have some fun, get some exercise and enjoy some yummy tomatoes in August.
Special thanks to our partners, Swan Island Business Association and Metro.
Overlook Neighborhood cleanup
Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m.
Pittman HydroPark
At the recent OKNA General Meeting, residents heard from Mark Wells who coordinates Neighborhood Watch and Community Foot Patrol programs in the city. If you are interested in learning about how to set one up in your neighborhood, their online resources are the place to start.
We also learned at the meeting that Portland allocated uniformed patrol officers geographically based on reported crime rates. The more accurate the data that the Police Bureau has, the better it can target problem areas. Next time you see something going on, be sure to report it so that Overlook receives the police protection it needs. If it’s an emergency, dial 911. Otherwise, you can use the online reporting site.
Finally, Officer Bob Foster urged residents to register their bikes with Bike Index or Porject529. When Portland Police recover a stolen bicycle, they use those services to check the serial number so they can return it to the owner.
4) Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Workshop (April 30)
Portland’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan looks at Portland’s risks from natural hazards, and identifies strategies to make the city more resilient.
On Saturday, April 30, Portland Bureau of Emergency Management will come to Overlook to talk about the plan. Attend the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Workshop to:
- Get to know your natural hazard risks.
- Select and prioritize projects to make Portland more resilient.
- Ensure that your community’s needs and interests are considered.
- Connect with your neighbors about preparedness.
- There will be snacks, and kids are welcome!
Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Workshop (agenda)
Saturday, April 30, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Beach Elementary School Cafeteria (1710 N Humboldt St.)
5) Community forum on homelessness (April 26)
Portsmouth Neighborhood Association will host a community forum on homelessness on Tuesday, April 26. Presenters include OKNA Board Chair Dannielle Herman as well as Josh Alpert (Mayor Charlie Hale’s chief of staff), Marc Jolin (Home for Everyone), Karen Ward (St. Andrew and All Souls Church), and Edna Wilson-Hoesch (Hereford House Food Pantry).
Community forum on homelessness
Tuesday, April 26, 6:30 p.m.
Portland Abbey Arts (7600 N Hereford Ave.)
6) Friends of Overlook House 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser (May 20)
Join your neighbors to mark a decade of Friends of Overlook House’s management of the historic neighborhood site. The event will include complimentary appetizers, no-host wine and beer, “The Overlook” signature cocktail, music from a local jazz trio, free childcare for ages 3 and older, and a grand raffle drawing at 8 p.m.
Raffle and fundraising proceeds will help pay for improvements to the Overlook House basement.
Overlook House Celebration and Fundraiser
Friday, May 20, 6-9 p.m.
Overlook House (3839 N Melrose Dr.)
7) Portland awards $47 million for affordable housing projects
The Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) has awarded about $47 million in local and federal funds to eight proposed affordable housing projects. The money will support six new developments and two renovation projects. PHB estimates the award will result in 585 new units of affordable housing—and will preserve another 255 through renovation projects—including more than 120 total units for the lowest-income households
One of new developments, “Interstate,” will go up just north of Overlook Neighborhood and include 51 new units of affordable housing. The development will serve low-income households earning up to 60 percent of the median family income, with a portion of units reserved for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
On-site resident services will include culturally specific recovery and employment support. Additionally, the close proximity to Head Start child care, mass transit, two grocery stores, and medical facilities will help residents increase their overall self-sufficiency.
The project design aims to achieve efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint through smaller units and green building features, such as energy efficient appliances, low-flow toilets and faucets, and LED lighting.