Signed our letter to the Water Bureau yet (see below)? Email us ASAP to add your name electronically! woodsparkadvocates@yahoo Dear Mr. Shaff, Greetings from Woods Park Advocates – the neighbors, friends and other concerned Portland residents who have an interest in the fate of the Freeman Natural Area property at 8625 SW 42nd Avenue. As you know, the Portland Water Bureau is in the process of selling this public property to Renaissance Homes, who intends to develop the site into multiple residential units. We believe that it would be a mistake to develop this natural wooded area, which is home to many species of wildlife and native vegetation, and which abuts Woods Park. Instead, this greenway would allow access to Woods Park from other neighborhoods, providing invaluable connectivity for wildlife and pedestrians. As Portlanders and Water Bureau ratepayers, we value the proper stewardship of our city’s public lands and public dollars. With the rapid pace of private infill development in Portland, we do not take lightly any sale of precious and increasingly scarce public green space in our city – particularly an undeveloped and ecologically vibrant piece of public land adjacent to an established natural park. All of us, collectively, own the Freeman Natural Area property and have a stake in its future. A transparent and public process for its disposal is paramount in order to ensure that the public’s interest is best served. We appreciate your comments about the sale of the Freeman Natural Area at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Public Utility Review Board (PURB). Per the discussion, we look forward to receiving a copy of the Portland Water Bureau’s sale contract with Renaissance Homes, accompanied by information detailing what has been paid and when the transactions were made. Additionally, we ask that you include all information detailing the process undertaken by the Water Bureau to dispose of the site and sell to Renaissance. Per City of Portland Ordinance No. 183952, passed June 23, 2010 and enclosed with this letter, the Council found that “the public interest would be best served by selling each [surplused Water Bureau] property at the fair market value” and directed that the properties “be sold on the open market for the best price, terms and conditions in accordance with City codes.” Since only a select few knew that the property was for sale, and upon inquiry some neighbors were told that the property was not for sale, we conclude that the Water Bureau failed to conduct a sale on the open market in accordance with the City Council directive. Further, with a sale price of $140,000, we dispute that this comes anywhere close to the property’s fair market value given the fact that Freeman is a prime 0.72 acre piece of undeveloped land in the heart of Multnomah Village and in light of the value of neighboring properties of similar size & topography. With no apparent opportunity given to other interested purchasers, and a sale price that is most certainly well under market value, the Water Bureau has not acted in the public’s best interest. Also per the Ordinance, the Council found that the [water] bureau “offered [Freeman] to other City bureaus but there was no interest in purchasing the properties.” At the PURB meeting, you mentioned that you personally conducted this outreach to all city bureaus. We respectfully request copies of the records showing such offers, accompanied by the declines from each bureau. Without concrete proof of transparency, accountability, and following procedures in accordance with the Council ordinance, we believe the sale contract should be voided. Instead, this public wildlife greenspace represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve habitat for the existing giant trees, songbirds, foxes, owls, and deer, as well as current and future generations of Portlanders. The parcel also would serve as a key connector for pedestrian activity between neighborhoods, being adjacent to Walking Trail 7. The Portland Water Bureau should work with other government agencies and private groups and citizens who would be interested in adding the property to the adjacent Woods Memorial Natural Area. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 15:49:17 +0000
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