Worried about the loss of older homes in Sabin? Come to the Demolition Forum and learn more about this trend...

What: discussion of affordable housing advocacy possibilities w/Oregon Opportunity Network
When: Thursday, June 5, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: NECN Office at King School - 4815 NE 7th Ave.
 
Oregon ON is a statewide coalition of community development and affordable housing organizations, which
is currently developing a campaign to advocate for "new, significant and sustainable resources for affordable
housing and anti-poverty services in Multnomah County." Executive Director John Miller will join us to talk about this new campaign, and how we can get involved.

We will also get updates on the work areas that were identified at our last meeting:

Coalition-building:
This sub-committee has prepared a draft letter that we can present to our various neighborhood associations and other community-based organizations, asking them to endorse our objective of increasing the stock of affordable housing. We will review and revise this letter, and discuss a plan for presenting it to our organizations.
 
Identify specific advocacy opportunities/campaigns: There are two immediate opportunities for advocacy that have come up in recent weeks: 1) A proposal by Commissioner Saltzman to dedicate funds from a lodging tax on short-term rentals (e.g. Air BnB) to affordable housing; and 2) The allocation of $20 million for affordable housing in the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area. We will discuss how we want to be involved in these two issues.

"This week Hales convened a meeting with leaders of the African-American community, neighborhood and business representatives. He announced he would work to bring Trader Joe’s back to the table. He also called on the city to allocate an additional $20 million dollars in affordable housing money that would go for housing in the Interstate Urban Renewal Area, which includes the NE MLK Jr. and Alberta lot.

Listen to the interview with Maxine Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of Portland Community Reinvestment Initiative, here.

"Neighbors on Northeast 35th Place looked outside one morning last fall to see a man eyeing the views as he went up, up, up -- higher than the brick ranch house at number 3419. He was a builder preparing to raze the existing home, valued by county tax assessors at $839,000, and replace it with two new homes, each expected to cost as much as $1 million. Neighbors, who peppered nearby streets with “Stop the Demo” signs, hate the idea. But there’s nothing they can do."

Read more here.

Listen to the interview here.

"Something insidious is happening and Portland’s traditional neighborhoods are seeing the cumulative effects of the growing epidemic of the demolition of single-family homes. There is something at work here…perhaps it’s the combination of house “flippers,” people who like closer-in locations but want a house that’s brand new…BUT how can the costs of acquisition, demolition, and new construction be anything but enormous? Perhaps that’s beside the point. What we do know is that in early-December, 2013 the city had already issued at least 230 demolition permits for the year-to-date. Residents in SE and NE Portland have sounded the alarm bells, knowing all too well that among the impacts are the continuing loss of the qualities that make up a neighborhood’s character and its physical identity."

Read the rest of the article by Cathy Galbraith at Portland Preservation blog.

The Portland African American Leadership Forum and the North/Northeast Business Association are gathering community members, including residents and those who have been displaced, of all backgrounds and perspectives, to develop a community-based development plan for the site.

NEW DATE AND LOCATION
 
Date: March 4
Time:  6pm-9pm 
Location: NNEBA Building -  311 N Ivy Street, Portland

The Portland African American Leadership Forum and the North/Northeast Business Association are hosting a community meeting to discuss the issue of gentrification and how it has impacted various community members’ position on the topic of what to do with the empty lot at MLK & Alberta.

This meeting was originally scheduled for February 18, but had to be postponed due to the teacher's strike, which made the meeting facility unavailable.

NEW DATE AND LOCATION
Date: February 25 
Time: 6pm-9pm 
Location: NNEBA Building - 311 N Ivy Street, Portland

OPB News reporters and Think Out Loud producers will be in Northeast Portland to hear from the community about stories that OPB should cover in the area. Meet with Think Out Loud Senior Producer Allison Frost, OPB News Blogger Lizzy Duffy, OPB Reporter Amelia Templeton, and OPB’s Public Insight Journalist Amanda
Peacher, as they ask:

• Is your neighborhood experiencing gentrification?
• What positive stories should we know about in your community?
• What other stories would you like to see OPB cover?

Upon arriving, individuals need to sign up for a time slot with a reporter or producer. Each person will then get a few minutes of one-on-one time with an OPB News staffer to share experiences, tell them what stories they’re missing, and help shape OPB News’ coverage.

For more information about this event, visit our Facebook Event Page.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 26 2:30 - 5 p.m.

WHERE: McMenamins Kennedy School Library - 5736 NE 33rd Avenue, Portland, OR

Questions? Contact Amanda Peacher at [email protected] or 503-445-1882.

As of January 2014, the median home value in Sabin is $407,000, up 10.6% from a year ago.

The list price per square foot is on an upward trend, as well.

Data courtesy of Zillow Home Values.