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A team of students from the Portland State University graduate school of urban planning presented its recommendations for the redevelopment of 82nd Avenue in late May at an open house held inside the Banfield Pet Hospital’s Glenhaven Center.
The students proposed three possible paths for the future: A commercial corridor, a professional corridor or a mixed-use high-density corridor. The commercial corridor would be the most like what the street is today, but with more neighborhood-serving commercial services and street trees and with safety concerns addressed. In the professional corridor there would be two- to four-story office buildings with some ground-floor retail and a planted median interrupted at strategic points for a center left-turn lane. The high-density option would have three- to five-story buildings with housing above retail shops and with streetcars and on-street parking. Students said that the Portland Plan process is an opportunity for area residents to bring forth their own ideas. They also urged residents to mix and match elements of the three approaches to suit their preferences.
So long, Ross Monn
Last month was a bittersweet occasion for Wilkes Community Group Chair Ross Monn. For personal reasons, he is compelled to leave his home and move to Spokane, a city that — as of May 30 — he had never even visited. Before he left, though, he got to see how much he meant to many people.
About 50 folks showed up for his sendoff at the East Portland Neighborhood Office on May 30. Those present ranged from friends to the likes of Mayor-elect Sam Adams, U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley and Metro Councilor Rod Park. The affair was in many ways a personal gift from one of Monn’s closest friends, Russell Neighborhood Association Chair Bonny McKnight, who wheedled and arm-twisted very busy people to attend.
A former interior designer, florist and merchant, Monn took over as Wilkes Community Group chair in 1998. (Wilkes neighborhood runs from Northeast 148th Avenue to the eastern city limit and from the Columbia River to Northeast Halsey Street.) He was instrumental in the creation of Wilkes Park Natural Area and fought for better infill development and traffic improvements. He also instituted a holiday window decoration contest. In the larger world, he was active in the East Portland District Chairs group and played a part in getting Commissioner Randy Leonard to donate part of a Water Bureau facility for use as the East Portland Neighborhood Office, as well as helping plan the new office and surrounding Hydro-Park. He also represented east Portland on the Port of Portland’s Airport Advisory Group, planning Portland International Airport’s future. Finally, he spearheaded the decoration of the Portland Neighborhood float in the 2004 Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade; his efforts in this regard won him a Spirit of Portland Award.
McKnight, who served as mistress of ceremonies, called Monn “an associate, a very dependable member of any efforts I’ve been involved in and a personal friend.” The ceremony, she said, was to celebrate “the way one individual can affect so many people.” Referring to the float, she noted that Scott Vala of the Mount Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association had built the miniature streetscape, “but Ross put things on it that made it look like a place people would like to live.” Overall, she said, “He responded to community needs by using his personal creativity. He is a true example of good citizenship.”
Several public officials testified to being on the receiving end of Monn’s lobbying. “I remember the first time I met Ross,” Adams said. “He was advocating for better oversight of development in Wilkes. He had such precision and effectiveness, he wasn’t a person you could ignore, and with such charm he wasn’t a person you wanted to ignore. He asked respectful but hard-hitting questions. I hope you’ll stay in touch, come back often and get involved in Spokane.”
In a letter, Leonard called Monn “the best example of a good citizen. He doesn’t just care, he rolls up his sleeves and works hard.”
Merkley, Park and State Rep.-elect (District 45) Jefferson Smith all spoke of Monn’s lobbying efforts, and Smith also mentioned his help in fundraising for causes such as SnowCap. Park called Monn “a great advocate for his neighborhood, the city, the region.” Referring to a recent Wilkes meeting, he said, “I know you were upset about the coyotes. I hope that’s not the reason you’re leaving. I’ll miss your phone calls saying, ‘Why aren’t you doing this?’” Earlier Park had said, “The other half of me wants to be sure he’s really gone.”
Portland Parks and Recreation Bureau planner David Yamashita said, “I’ve been with the city 20 years, and I have a list of maybe a dozen people I remember as model advocates. Ross will always be on my all-star team. He knew the system, knew how to work within the system. He knew when to be a barking dog, but he has a heart of gold.” More to the point, he said, he was instrumental in obtaining funding for Wilkes Park. “He makes you want to go the extra mile,” Yamashita said. “I’m happy and pleased to (have shared) the experience of working with you.”
Lisa Glancy of the Port of Portland, one of the staff to its Airport Futures process, said, “I’ve known Ross less time than most of you, but I know him to be a passionate advocate who adds values, keeps the neighborhoods informed and keeps us honest. He’s truly a model citizen advisory committee member, and his skills are only the tip of the iceberg.”
East Portland Neighborhood Office Executive Director Richard Bixby and his Central Northeast Neighbors counterpart Alison Stoll thanked Monn, describing him as “one of the few people who can get politicians to talk for two minutes and then cut them off.”
Former Wilkes Chair Alice Blatt said, “There comes a time when the brain reaches the point of diminishing returns, and I had reached that point. Fortunately, Ross showed up. We don’t have people standing in line to chair neighborhood associations. They have to have it in them.” Blatt led the effort to acquire the land for Wilkes Park, but “Ross’s leadership made it a functional park.”
Other Mid-county neighborhood association chairs such as Arlene Kimura of Hazelwood, Valerie Curry of Argay and Carol Williams of Parkrose Heights praised Monn.
Fighting back tears, Monn thanked the participants for coming and “saying such kind things.”
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