HAND
By David Kaplan
At the HAND Annual Meeting, three new members were elected to the Board of Directors. Griffin Gonzalez, Patrick Vinograd, and Liz Potter were elected to the Board. We want to thank Amy Lewin, Alex Bassos, and Carolyn Brock for their many years of service as their term expire. During the Annual Meeting, HAND passed a resolution changing our name. Our group is now known officially as “HOSFORD ABERNETHY NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.
HAND has been partnering with both Abernethy Elementary and Hosford Middle Schools to improve school grounds and support projects to teach healthy lifestyle practices. HAND is among the outreach partners that will develop a plan to convert the Abernethy gazebo into a garden classroom; Freeing up space in the building for the growing enrollment. This project will also support the successful GARDEN OF WONDERS project that teaches students about healthy diet choices, and provides “hands-on” experiences in the growing and preparation of foods.
HAND is also partnering with Hosford Middle School. With help from Nike and the Portland Timbers, the school grounds will see improved athletic resources, bike racks, stormwater management, and a new outside mural. Proceeds from our successful Neighborhood Clean-up will be donated to the Hosford project. We want to gain thank Spielman Coffee Roasters for their support of the clean-up efforts by providing morning refreshments!
At recent HAND meetings, TriMet has been sharing information about construction schedules and planned disruptions associated with the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail line. The right of way has now been cleared, and the construction pace through the HAND neighborhood will be furious! Major street closures are scheduled in the coming months as rail crossings are installed. Details of the construction schedule, and its impact can be found at the TriMet site: http://trimet.org/pm/construction/index.htm#east.
HAND is participating in public policy conversations concerning historic design review fees. In cooperation with other neighborhood groups, City Council has agreed to lower fees for design review on smaller projects. The new schedule will be reviewed again in six months to evaluate its impact on the process and costs. HAND is also working on OLCC proposals that would extend outdoor seating hours adjacent to residential properties. HAND is on record in opposition to these changes, concerned that immediate neighbors would be impacted by late-night noise.
City-wide planning efforts are also on HAND’s agenda. We are involved in the development of the Portland Plan which will be part of the Comprehensive Plan. These documents will guide zoning, development, and transportation decisions for decades. Your involvement can help shape these critical decisions. At our May Annual Meeting, we heard from Matt Wickstrom from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability who described the outline of the planning process, and the guiding concepts that will lead to the final mapping and zoning decisions. State law requires that the plan be updated to recognize current needs for economic growth, housing, transportation, and services.
Our next Board meeting will be held on June 18th at 7:00 pm. We meet at the Paulist Center; St. Phillip Neri Church near 16th and Division.