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Sent: Mon Jun 29 07:06:12 2020
To: Kenneth Fransen
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Subject: Re: Alamo Manhattan Blocks Update 6/22/20
Importance: Normal
Well said, Kenneth. We completely agree.
Chris and Kristine Loucks
3570 SW River Parkway, Unit 1813
Portland, OR 97239
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 28, 2020, at 9:45 PM, Kenneth Fransen <kjfransen@gmail.com> wrote:
To the Portland Design Commission and Planning Staff:
When I suggested at a hearing last year that this Dallas Texas developer’s proposed high rise towers be built in a more reasonable way that didn’t seem to intentionally obliterate the views of existing South Waterfront condo owners, I was dismissed as a NIMBY and caustically challenged to “buy the property yourself.”
When I asked that this developer simply move their high rises away from the river, and their mid-rises toward the river to accord with Portland city policy and preserve virtually all views, the response from one Commissioner was “while I acknowledge that this proposal does not accord with that policy, it meets code so I don’t have a problem with that.”
And when a Commissioner pointed out that views of existing owners were largely preserved when the existing high rise condos were built, another pointed out that “yes, but the existing condos were all developed by the same developer and they wanted to be sure everyone retained a view. We don’t have that here” so basically, screw the existing owners.
If the Design Commission is going to ignore City policy, and ignore the legitimate interest of existing owners and residents to preserve at least some of their views, then what do we need a Design Commission for?
Central City 2035 provides:
“[T]he desire of the South Waterfront Plan was to create a high-density district with an exceptional urban form: tall, thin, buildings that allowed for visual permeability…”
And: “As a result, Zoning Code provisions and design guidelines have been created for [South Waterfront] that…Protect views to and through the district.”
Really???
You would never know it when the two high rises that the Alamo people want to build are long (not thin) and staggered to insure the all of the existing condos are not simply restricted in their views, but they are utterly and entirely deprived of their views.
There are no NIMBYs here! We all bought knowing that these parcels would some day be developed. We simply believed that the Portland city planning process would assure reasonable design and placement and size of the towers. Would we lose some of our views? Absolutely. Should we lose all of our views? Absolutely not!
So I simply ask the Design Commission to DO YOUR JOB, which is not simply to grease the skids for the Alamo people, but to protect the citizens, residents, and owners of this neighborhood from UNREASONABLE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF VIEWS.
The solution is simple, and the Commission danced around it at the meeting I attended but then, inexplicably, dropped it. It is now time for the developer and the Commission to stand up and just do it:
Move the high rises to the west away from the river, and the mid-rises to the east. A simple swap that solves everything. NO ONE LOSES. NOT EVEN THE DEVELOPER. They can still build the same number of units, and get this - they’ll have just as many or more units with gorgeous river views, a few less in the lower floors of the high rise, but an equal or greater number in the mid-rises that will acquire those views.
A win-win for everyone. And all we need for this to happen is a Design Commission that does its job.
Don’t just remember the Alamo. Remember us too!
Respectfully,
Kenneth J Fransen
Attorney (Retired)
Ken Fransen
3601 S River Pkwy Ste 1910
Portland OR 97239