From: Penny Greenwood

Sent: Sun Jun 28 21:07:50 2020

To: Monroe, Staci

Cc: BDS Web mailbox; Al Greenwood

Subject: Alamo Manhattan Blocks LU 20-102914 DZM AD GW; PC#19-225732

Importance: Normal

We are writing in regards to the current review status for the above named development, Alamo Manhattan Blocks

As residents of the Meriwether West in the South Waterfront Neighborhood we have the following concerns:

• *
• Traffic congestion; due to about 40% (estimate) increase in residential units. Local streets and access to Macadam will be grid locked at rush hours. Already the corners of S. Gaines and S. Bond as well as the intersection of S Gaines and S Moody are hot spots and areas of frequent and dangerous pedestrian/car interfaces.
• * Parking: The building plans Indicate there are only 61,5% Parking spaces to accommodate the 1200 resident units. In addition this does not include spaces for the numerous commercial tenants they plan to have. We realize that most buildings constructed in the last 10 plus years do not include parking spaces for all their residents. This originally was the metric used as it was assumed that most residents of high rises in the inner city would use public transportation. This assumption is no longer valid. There are numerous reports that car ownership in this demographic has not decreased by much. This is definitely the case in the Meriwether. Residents and commercial tenants are constantly looking for parking spaces and due to demand the price of individual spots has risen dramatically in the ensuing years since the Meriwether opened in 2007. This lack of building provided parking spots puts huge pressure on street parking and affects local businesses by reducing customer parking options.
• * Building Locations: The City design specifications are for tall buildings on the west blocks. However the current application has the tall buildings on the East side of the property next to the river. Earlier design reviews with the committee initially recommended that Alamo move the tall buildings to the west, Evidently this is no longer the case. Please explain why this exception was allowed. The exception has a very negative impact on our Condo value as well as a number of our neighbors in our stack and the adjoining condos which face South as well as those south facing condos in the Atwater.. When we purchased our Condo 5 years ago our major concern was the possibility of a high rise on the land now known as the Alamo Manhattan Blocks. We saw plans and were informed by two different realtors that only 7 story buildings were going to be built there. The price of our Condo was based on this assumption that our view would not be impeded.
• * Design Assumptions: We understand that Alamo is requesting numerous exceptions, in their design. How does the South Waterfront community or city overall benefit by approving numerous exceptions? If there are no tangible benefits to these exceptions why grant them to out of state investors over the considerations of the local community?

In summary we wish to emphasize that over our 7 years of residency in the South Waterfront we’ve noted that a majority of the commitment in support of South Waterfront improvements and maintenance, such as the South Waterfront Community Association and the volunteer garden crew, have been the owners of the individual residences. Allowing a rental development such as the Alamo Manhattan Blocks to have such a detrimental effect on those that have purchased their condos as well as the local renters of the neighborhood does not build trust or good will for our city’s leaders and associated bureaus such as yours.

Respectfully submitted by

Al and Penny Greenwood

3570 S River Parkway

#1113

Portland, OR 97239

Greenwood.penny@gmail.com - 509-637-0878

Greenwood.al@gmail.com - 509-637-3042

Penny Greenwood