Overlook Neighborhood Association on Tuesday issued the following press release regarding negotiations between the neighborhood, the city and the Hazelnut Grove homeless camp:
For Immediate Release
Mayor Hales and Hazelnut Grove abandon permit negotiations;
Overlook Neighborhood renews call to end illegal camping
Mayor Charlie Hales and the Hazelnut Grove Homeless Camp have withdrawn from discussions with the Overlook Neighborhood Association (OKNA) about the future of Hazelnut Grove. What had been a productive process moving toward a temporary permit that would officially sanction the camp has halted. Until Hales and Hazelnut Grove leaders return to the table, OKNA renews its request that the City of Portland shut down this illegal, unsafe and unhealthy homeless camp.
City, camp and neighborhood representatives most recently met on April 26 to discuss a temporary permit. Since then, both the camp and the mayor’s office have gone silent. Repeated emails and phone calls made by OKNA have not been returned. Camp leaders said they will no longer negotiate with the neighborhood, demanding that the permit be for permanent occupation of the city owned property near the intersection of N Greeley Avenue and N Interstate Avenue.
“We want to be at the table with the City and Hazelnut Grove,” OKNA Chair Dannielle Herman said. “The permit discussion had reached a good point, and we were ready to sign off on it once the details were put in writing. It is deeply disappointing that the city appears to have abandoned a fruitful public process.”
Representatives of OKNA, Hales’ office and Hazelnut Grove first met in February to negotiate a temporary permit for the camp that would address concerns and needs of all stakeholders. Over a few months we made substantial progress and were close to finalizing a permit with an October initial expiration and the possibility of City Council renewing it month to month up to six months, i.e., until April 2017. The permit also included provisions for management and delivery of services, information sharing, insurance, and delivery of basic public services.
OKNA hosted a forum at its March neighborhood meeting that featured homeless service providers and opportunities for Overlook residents to contribute and volunteer.
In the absence of Hales’ leadership on this issue, Hazelnut Grove’s leaders are developing plans for illegal permanent structures on the publicly owned land. Among the structures camp residents plan to build are 25 more homes – for a total of 30 – a movie/event theater, a storage facility, and a bathhouse. None of these structures would be subject to city building code and safety review under the mayor’s current hands-off approach to the camp.
The promise of permanency at the site misleads Hazelnut Grove residents who deserve honest representations that the Hazelnut Grove community might be permanent but the location is not. A temporary permit would afford camp residents and the City of Portland time to develop a plan for more stable, safer and healthier housing at a suitable location. OKNA fully endorses a community model for homeless camps when developed intentionally and with careful site selection.
“Mayor Hales might be a lame-duck, but he still needs to provide leadership and engage with the public about Hazelnut Grove and other unregulated camping,” OKNA Board Member Chris Trejbal said. “This camp is on public land and therefore should have public oversight, management and accountability to ensure that conditions do not deteriorate even further.”
Since the Hazelnut Grove camp and related camping expanded in Overlook last year, OKNA has sought to work with the city and the camp to find a better solution than leaving Portland’s homeless to struggle on a site that is not suitable for habitation. Winter rains saw frequent flooding , mud, unsanitary conditions and a rat infestation at Hazelnut Grove. As summer heat and dryness arrive, the risk of a fire that could spread along the Willamette River Bluff to Kaiser Medical Center and the Overlook Neighborhood is very real. Portland has witnessed many fires at homeless camps in recent months. OKNA has worked with the Portland Fire Department to deliver training and inspections at the camp.
Hazelnut Grove still lacks access to fresh water, and garbage pickup is sporadic. As a result, large piles of trash frequently accumulate both in the camp and on adjacent bicycle, pedestrian and roadways.
About the Overlook Neighborhood Association
The Overlook Neighborhood includes approximately 3,800 homes, 5,800 people, a thriving industrial area and several business associations. Everyone who lives, owns property or who works within the boundaries of Overlook is part of The Overlook Neighborhood Association (OKNA).
OKNA is one of Portland’s recognized Neighborhood Associations and serves as a liaison between residents of the neighborhood and the city government.