North Tabor Nov 2016

by Gabe Frayne

North Tabor resident Lisa Hersh encountered an unpleasant surprise one day two weeks ago when she went out her back door and discovered that contractors had removed the rear portion of the fence that separates her property on NE Flanders from the home just to the east, a 1923 bungalow with an ample front porch and a “for sale” sign at the curb. Later that day, she picked up her mail and found a postcard giving notice of demolition for the bungalow, which had been a rental until recently.

Hersh called Kevin Partain, the permit agent for the new owner, Everett Custom Homes, and told him, “It’s not your fence.” She explained that the company had “jeopardized the safety of my [dog] without telling me.” (Partain told The Southeast Examiner that he has “no idea” why Everett tore down the fence.) In the meantime, the company erected a temporary wire fence, but Hersh’s worries were not over. According to Partain, two homes will go up once the bungalow is demolished.

The following day a neighbor of Hersh’s looked up the property on PortlandMaps and discovered that Everett had applied to move the property line 15 feet to the west, presumably based on original lot lines dating back a century. This is actually an internal line that corresponds to the original plats of this 5k sq. ft. lot. The purpose of moving it is to make the two new lots the same size. Hersh claims that this would bring the new property line literally right under her window. She spent the next several days talking to the Bureau of Development Services, where she learned that a majority of complaints concerning property line adjustments involve single women and speculative developers.

Hersh intends to ask the North Tabor Neighborhood Association to apply for an appeal, which would delay any demolition 60 days. Until then she will have to pay the roughly 750 dollars for a survey out of her own pocket. “How is a resident like me supposed to challenge a big, sharky corporation like that?,” she asked. Everett Custom Homes did not return a phone call requesting comment.

Neighbors on the NE 56th and 57th blocks between Glisan and Burnside met late last month to organize a neighborhood watch group. Any interested residents can contact Keren McCord at kerenmccord@msn.com. Neighbors are reminded that North Tabor is now served by the police bureau’s East Precinct at 737 SE 104th Ave.

The North Tabor Neighborhood Association has a number of new faces following the annual general meeting on October 18. Departing are chairman Keith Mosman, Treasurer Max Goldenkrantz, Land Use and Transportation Chair Terry Dublinski-Milton, Michael Anderson and Beth Sanders. New members, unanimously approved, are Lars Kasch, Gabe Frayne, Cathy Riddell, and Sarah Mongue, in addition to Sam Fuqua, Josh Carey and Chuck Tubens, who joined over the summer.

 

North Tabor Nov 2016

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