State panel puts a halt to city's big urban renewal expansion

LUBA rules that the city did not justify $325 million plan

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Jan 30, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (12 Reader comments)

The city’s ambitious plan to expand its most successful downtown urban renewal area is suddenly on hold.

On Friday, the state Land Use Board of Appeals upheld portions of a challenge to the expansion filed by a group of developers and land-use consultants.

The board agreed with the critics that the city had not proven key justifications for the expansion — including that the area is still “blighted,” as defined by Oregon urban renewal laws.

Two weeks ago, the board ruled the city had not justified another part of the expansion. This part involved the creation of a geographically separate urban renewal area funded with money from the original one. The board ruled the council had not explained how the original area would benefit from the creation of the so-called satellite one.

The rulings require the City Council to adopt new findings supporting the expansion and satellite area. If the council does not adopt new findings, the expansion and satellite area could be dead.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit