What an embarrassment for my home town. [video=youtube;sfIrdQsriyA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfIrdQsriyA&sns=em[/video]
This is over the piece of land (private property iirc) that a developer wants to build a mid-rise housing complex. I think it's a nice little project:
It's too much density for that site. I get they need the FAR to make the numbers work, but that site should only be three stories, not five.
There is so much wasted land in LO. Look at the former Ram site. It's been vacant for what, 5 years now? #richwhiteworldproblems
Wait, the local community doesn't want a project that everyone knows is best for it?!? Clearly the compromise is to have the 1st level be a Trader Joe's.
That's too bad. Best place I have ever lived. Light traffic, everything is well kept and clean. And what appeared to me to be a very, very minimal crime rate. In fact over the years I lived in the city I had no issues.
Ah, Sly, I know you're trying to be cute, but you're trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. The issue in NE has to do with the type of store that is moving in, who gets to work in that store and what the economic mix of tenants will be. Those are social issues. The one in LO has to do with density. It's a zoning issue. I have zero problem with the redevelopment of the site (for those familiar with Lake Oswego, the front of the building was JC Penney's until the 80s and the back was a Wizer's grocery store). Whether it becomes office, retail, hotel or residential doesn't matter to me. The issue brought up here is one of density. It would be a zoning adjustment to achieve that kind of FAR, and would put it out of scale with other developments in the area. The width of the adjacent roads (with the exception of A Avenue) as well as the topography create serious light issues for surrounding residents. I do get the economic argument, however. The project doesn't pencil out for residential use above the second floor at a lower density. The lot configuration makes it difficult for a pure 1st floor retail. Really, the site cries to be bifurcated with a one lane road running parallel to A Avenue in the center of the property. That way you get the retail around the buildings, the light relief for the surrounding residents and you can put separate uses on each building above the retail. This is the City Council trying to create a "living" downtown LO, rather than allowing market forces to work under current zoning regs. Block 137 currently allows four stories, not five. It doesn't seem like a big difference, but on that low of a scale it is. That kind of government planning is a huge mistake. Leave the zoning where it is a workable solution will appear. Wow, I really seem like I'm passionate on this one. I'm really not. I do understand a bit about Gene Wizer's piece of land (which is also where you were supposed to go in event of nuclear attack), so just offering my $0.02. However, if my position puts me in line with this singing idiot, I will have to change my viewpoint. If he were really a Lake Oswegoan, he'd know the heart and soul of LO doesn't exist downtown. Stepping away from the LO Michael Bolton and going back to NEP, the Trader Joe's site fits within zoning. Yes, $500K may be under market, and yes, the PDC does have questionable practices, but where were the competing proposals? If someone is willing to pay more with a different plan, then they should step up. If it makes sense to break up the site and increase the density with other purposes, I think the PDC should go for it. What may tie these two together is government planning interference. The PDC and the LO City Council really do think they know what's best. They're willing to waive regulations and accept fewer dollars in land price and tax revenue to get what they want. That kind of garbage needs to stop.
bureaucracy, regulatuons and stifling of the free market is un american, let this job creator build a 10 story dollar store if he wants to
I am cute. I appreciate you explaining all of that. But still, if the local community of LO doesn't want a 5 story project I'm fine with that. Just like if the local community of NEP doesn't want a Trader Joe's I'm fine with that too.
