Summary of Decision Making and Public Involvement

1.  Washington Monroe High School closed for use as a public school in 1981. Recent uses in the buildings have been for district programs and services, including special education, Child Service Center and community uses.

2.  In Spring 2003 Portland Public Schools indicated to the community that the property was likely to be sold as surplus property and invited the community to participate in a process to recommend future uses.

3.  During the Spring of 2003, the community met with Portland Public School representatives and Portland Parks and Recreation. The advisory committee recommended the property be used for housing, open space and a community center with aquatics facility.

4.  In June 2003 Portland Public Schools declared the site surplus and Portland Parks and Recreation indicated intent to purchase.

5.  A second citizen advisory committee convened to make recommendations on site configuration options. The committee met five times between October and December 2003. Meetings were organized with the help of Southeast Uplift and were chaired by Susan Lindsay, chair of Buckman Neighborhood Association. The committee included representatives from Hosford-Abernathy, Kerns, Sunnyside, Central Eastside Industrial Council as well as local business owner, nearby resident and the PPS Real Estate Trust.

6.  A feasibility study was funded by Portland Public Schools, Portland Parks and Recreation and Housing and Community Development. The study was developed by Carlton Hart, Architects and SERA, with facilitation by Sumner Sharpe. The study developed up to eight options in land use footprints for public comment and review. Two public meetings were held. Four options were selected as most acceptable and one of the four was indicated as preferred unanimously by the committee. The characteristics represented in the preferred option include the community center at the corner of SE Stark and 12 Avenue and the sports field sited to allow views through the site and provide recreation opportunities for nearby residents.

7.  As part of the feasibility study, a parking needs study was conducted by Kittelson & Associates. This study indicated a range of parking needed and that proposal is to construct underground parking to meet this need.

8.  The estimated four and one half acres for purchase was derived from the feasibility study land use configurations and the community discussion on those options. The final report will now inform Portland Schools Real Estate Trust’s request for proposals for the selection of the developer.