River District’s urban renewal plan faces challenge

Possible land-use showdown looms for city’s ‘satellite’ decision

By Steve Law

The Portland Tribune, Jul 9, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (9 Reader comments)

Former Portland Development Commission insiders said they would file a legal challenge by Friday to contest Portland City Council’s expansion of the River District urban renewal area and creation of a “satellite” district to fund a new school in the David Douglas community.

“There’ll be an appeal filed this week,” said Bob Ames, a former PDC commissioner and bank president, who works as a real estate investor/developer.

The new group, calling itself the Friends of Urban Renewal, will file a notice of intent to sue in the next day or two with the state Land Use Board of Appeals, said Jeff Tashman, a prominent urban renewal consultant who has worked for PDC. Other members include PDC’s former executive director, development director and legal counsel, among others. Steve Pfeiffer, a veteran land-use attorney, will represent the group before LUBA.

City commissioners voted unanimously June 25 to expand the River District into Old Town/Chinatown and authorize an additional $344 million in urban renewal spending for the project, which includes the prosperous Pearl District. A new “satellite” will be added to the district several miles away, so the city can use $19 million in urban renewal funds to help David Douglas School District build a new school.

Supporters say the plan will fund unfinished projects in the Pearl District, long-needed programs for the homeless in Old Town/Chinatown, and offset tax losses to Multnomah County due to urban renewal. Backers say aiding David Douglas will share the fruits of downtown redevelopment with one of the city’s poorer communities.

Steamrolling a plan

Friends of Urban Renewal doesn’t have consensus yet on all of its demands, Tashman said. The group will spell out its legal claims, known as “assignments of error,” in a later filing.

However, members are unified in opposing the David Douglas proposal, saying it’s a clear violation of state law, Tashman said. And they want the City Council to revisit the expansion of the River District, saying the approved plans are vague.

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