Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association

May, 1999

May 21, 1999

Dear Neighbors,

It was election day for Foster-Powell at the May meeting of the Neighborhood Association. We have a few new faces on our roster of officers: Cindy Peek is elected Chair (her spouse, Jack did not run as Co-Chair this year), Bruce Clark (owner of the SE Civic Center where our meetings are currently held) is the new Vice-President, Candace Murray is Secretary, Ken Pliska remains as Land Use, and JoAnn VonTungeln is our new delegate to Southeast Uplift. Thank you for your long service, Charlie Burt.

Rose CDC Design Charette

Rose CDC has offered Foster-Powell neighbors a chance to have input on the design of their proposed five-unit row house, with a daycare, at 77th & Raymond. At the last Foster-Powell neighborhood association meeting, neighbors voted overwhelmingly to continue to work to try to save the existing old farmhouse and tree from demolition. Neighbors had hoped to offer a proposal where the house could be rejuvenated as a part of the new structure, with additional housing units on the same lot, thereby saving the house and tree. There is very strong emotion in the neighborhood about the house and tree, and the neighbors are determined to keep trying.

Rose CDC sponsored a "Design Charette" on Monday, May 24, at Marysville School,
to gather some ideas for the row house that will replace the old farmhouse on the lot. The design first offered by Rose placed a large blocky building with a three-foot setback along Raymond. This is on a street where all of the other buildings have an average 15-20 foot setback.

This meeting will occur after the press deadline, so watch this space next month to see what ideas came about.

Siting Issues
Cindy Peek has been attending meetings with City and County Commissioners, Mayor Katz, social service providers and community leaders to work out some proposals for siting. Some of the proposals are for a central information clearinghouse where all information is gathered, and reviving the licensing of social service agencies. These are both good ideas, but they don't cover all of the concerns from both the neighborhoods or the people receiving services. There are a great number of issues to be resolved. It is not looking at this time like we will be getting legislation on social service siting out of Salem this year, but time will tell. There are several bills in the works to help with placement of dangerous facilities and saturation issues. May the best bill win! We will keep you posted.

Abandoned Cars
Have you noticed a really big increase in abandoned cars in the neighborhood lately? Have you noticed that even after a call is made to the Abandoned Auto hotline that they just sit and sit and sit and sit for weeks after the call? I called Charlie Hales' office for information about the problem and learned that there is just one officer for the entire Southeast area, that only one towing company will work on the problem, and that their lot fills up fast. The ten-day turnaround that we were led to expect back in November just isn't happening. Hundreds of cars are abandoned each month in the Southeast. So ?…. The only suggestion I can give is to call on the abandoned cars just as soon as you first notice them. Maybe this would be a good time to call or write your City Commissioner and beg for more budget for abandoned cars?

Meetings are always on the FIRST Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Southeast Civic Center (the former Masonic Lodge) at the 6401 S.E. Foster Road. The neighborhood boundaries are Foster Road, Powell Blvd., and 82nd Avenue. If you live within these boundaries, you are a member of the neighborhood association. Please come to the next meeting. Please call Cindy Peek at 775-3006 if you have accessibility concerns.