Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association

January 1999

Feb 26, 1999

Dear Neighbors:
I have been to my first public land use hearing. It was a huge disappointment. Most of you know of the two and a half year struggle neighbors in Foster-Powell have made to rescue a beautiful tax-foreclosed house from certain destruction. We have failed.
Candace Murray and I went to the public hearing concerning the vacant house at 5012 SE 76th Avenue to give testimony in hopes of saving the house. Some of the issues we addressed were that the building is possibly salvageable; there will be a negative traffic and parking impact; the proposed play area for the children is between two high walls; the location is too deep in the neighborhood for multiple-unit housing.
Another neighbor testified that she had bought her house because of the single-family aspect of the neighborhood. It is her first home and her home's peace, quiet, light, and general good feeling will be destroyed by having a huge block built next door.
Robin Quirk submitted additional written testimony outlining years of efforts to learn information and express public interest in bidding on the house. It was not important to the commissioner to grant us an opportunity to make the home available for public auction.
Nick Sauvie (Rose CDC) and Jim Barrett (former Foster-Powell President, now on the Board of Rose CDC), among others, spoke in favor of tearing down the house and building a five-unit row house on the 7500 square foot lot (that's a lot and a half).
All of the commissioners voted in favor of destroying the house. Their comments were as follows:
Commissioner Naito suggested there should be design review and encouraged Rose CDC to work with the neighborhood on design review. She suggested neighbors work with the school on parking issues. She said that she would be working on a policy to determine whether more rental property or homeownership is needed in a neighborhood, based on current conditions.
Commissioner Cruz said that affordable housing is currently a crisis. She said it was important to use public resources to ensure that the poor in our community have access to affordable housing on a long-term basis.
Commissioner Kelly said affordable housing is a real need. She liked the child care feature of the home. She regretted that there were misunderstandings about the process and the traffic issues.
Commissioner Linn supported the project. She said there were people who were homeless who need to move into places. The availability is way below the need. She suggested a good neighbor agreement or discussion with the school to address parking issues and traffic. She said the commissioners would work to be sure affordable housing was throughout the City rather than just on the east side.
Commissioner Stein said there weren't as many tax foreclosed properties available as there used to be. She thought that perhaps it was because people are paying their taxes to keep their expensive properties. She said that maybe the ones that became foreclosed were that way because they were difficult to develop or they would have been purchased privately (how, if they won't let the public try?).
It was clear to me that Commissioner Stein didn't read Ms. Quirk's letter and didn't hear a word about neighbors' two-year struggle to get enough information to purchase the property privately. It was also very evident that the wishes of the neighbors to maintain this beautiful home counted for nothing. I am greatly disappointed in the hearing process. I hope you will let these elected officials know if you also feel they let you down.
Would you like to become more involved? Come to meetings and get acquainted with your neighbors. Elections for new officers are in May, and we are reviewing the Bylaws.