REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ALBINA FUEL CO. SITE

 

COMMUNITY COMMENTS RECORDED AT MEETING

 

September 26, 2005

 

Holladay Park Plaza

 

 

Presenting for Developers: Peter Finley Fry, Planner

Brian Paul Sweeney, AIA

 

 

Attending:  Approximately 50 persons from the neighborhoods of Sullivan’s Gulch, Kerns, Irvington, Grant Park, Laurelhurst and Hollywood.

 

Chairs of the day:  Harrison Pettit and Peyton Snead

 

Recorded by: Debbie Bischoff, Bureau of Planning

 

 

 

Loop Road connecting NE32nd with 28th.   Developer has not pursued this suggestion with Fred Meyer.  Weston is supportive of such an idea, but does not see redevelopment of his property in the near term.  Future development of this road is not precluded.

 

Sullivan’s Gulch Trail.  The Trail, running from the Eastbank Esplanade to I-205 is on the Metro Map.  Both Sullivan’s Gulch and Irvington have an interest in seeing it become a reality.  The developer supports the concept of the trail.

 

Traffic signal at NE 32nd and Broadway.  Conditions set at the time of the rezoning of the property precluded a left turn on to Broadway from 32nd.  Both the developer and the neighborhood commissioned study recommend a traffic signal at this intersection.  Otherwise, traffic exiting the development going west will need to travel down the residential street of Weidler to get to lights at either 30th or 28th.

 

Housing Market.  Housing is planned to be market rate apartments.  40 studios, 40 one-bedroom and the remainder two-bedroom.

 

Affordability of Housing.  With the increase of housing costs in the area---an interest in having units affordable.


Visual character of Broadway.  Present character of Broadway is one that is broken up with several individual buildings.  The proposed massing which shows a 600’ continuous stretch needs to be broken up / articulated.  Three blocks along Broadway architecturally distinct. Suggestion of four buildings with 3 curb cuts.  Make the storefronts interesting to the eye---what happens above is less important.

 

Retail uses.  Proposed is higher end neighborhood retail.  Suggestions for bookstore.  Important to link the housing with the retail and for the retail to be affordable.

 

Community Plaza at NE Broadway and 33rd. Idea of developer.  Helpful to those attempting to cross Broadway.  Several comments about the difficulty of crossing Broadway and the distance between lights.

 

Slip Road concept from the Planning Study.  The planning study suggested a slip road to handle parking and separating it from the flow of traffic.  The developer felt this would not work and that they could not afford the space.  There is an alternative suggestion of doing a modified turn out.—as for #10 bus at 32nd with light and pedestrian crossing.

 

Protect residences along NE Weidler.  Close off Weidler at 32nd.

Weidler residents feel sacrificed to the development.  While other streets have been closed with cul de sacs, theirs is still open and will receive the brunt of the traffic exiting the development to the west.

 

Addressing traffic noise within development.  Developer reports that the noise from Broadway is more significant than that from I-84.  The development will be nested.

 

Solar energy / green building important.  The site should take advantage of the southern facing walls.  To the extent possible the developer wants to incorporate green building features.

 

Design.  Development will step down the hillside and could help access to the Trail.  Architecture should reflect the neighborhood character.

 

Pedestrian orientation important.