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March 2006 Boise Newsletter Articles:
VANCOUVER/WILLIAMS SAFETY STUDY, PDC
Citizens have been concerned about traffic speed and pedestrian and bicycle safety along the North Vancouver and Williams corridor for many years.
In March and April, a group of community stakeholders representing Eliot, Humboldt, and Boise Neighborhoods, Legacy Emanuel Hospital, Portland Community College-Cascade Campus, and North/Northeast Business Association, met with Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) and Portland Development Commission (PDC) staff to identify and discuss key intersections along the corridor. Stakeholders identified traffic speed, unsafe crosswalks for nearby residents, low visibility at intersections and traffic heading east from the I-405 off ramp as major issues that need to be addressed.
The Portland Development Commission funded the project assessment using urban renewal funds from the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area. An interagency agreement between PDC and PDOT will provide funds for implementation of the improvements during the 2006-07 fiscal year.
The May 11th meeting will be hosted by Humbolt, Boise and Eliot Neighborhood Associations and will address transportation safety issues in the neighborhoods that surround the Vancouver-Williams Corridor.
When: Thursday, May 11, 2006 from 6:00-8:00p Where: 4134 N. Vancouver Ave, OAME
For more information, contact Susan Kuhn, Portland Development Commission, (503) 823-3406.
ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, BY bht
Julie Early works with Oregon State Public Health, in the Superfund Health Investigation and Education (SHINE) Program.
They have been doing some work related to the former vermiculite processing plant located at 2302 N. Harding. It's a plant that used to process asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from 1967-1991. SHINE has been working on a health assessment of this site and found that people who worked at this plant and those that they lived with were probably exposed to asbestos.
They are currently working to identify former workers at this plant and inform them of their exposure. A report discussing the findings will be released later this month. They are looking for residents who may have lived in this area at the time the plant operated. They do not believe that the wider community was exposed to asbestos from the plant, but would like to gather more information.
To give or gain more information, contact JULIE EARLY at 503-872-6804.
Mississippi Development By bht
There is much development happening currently in the Mississippi Corridor, it can be hard to keep up with all of it. At this month’s BNA meeting, there will be three sets of developers discussing their projects.
Randy Rapaport recently purchased 3810 N. Mississippi, what is currently Richard’s Homewares. He will be attending the meeting to offer a few words on his vision for the redesign of that site.
The Kurisu family will be coming to unveil plans for their four story mixed-use project at Mississippi and Shaver. They have already showed the community plans for a Japanese Garden that will be constructed on their property facing Albina.
At next month’s meeting, the community may hold a vote on whether or not to support the Kurisu project.
Mississippi Lofts will once again come to the BNA seeking support for their four story mixed use project at Skidmore and Mississippi. The city recently approved their designs and the developers would like to show their updated plans and hold a vote for the BNA to support their project.
The last time the BNA had a vote on this project, 14 neighbors were in support, 24 against, and 23 abstained (due to a lack of information.)