Here is where Pleasant View Way in North Albany ends now. This would be one entrance into the residential development of 195 units.
The Portland owner of about 15 acres in North Albany has taken another preliminary step in a project to build 195 townhomes and duplexes on the land.
Winprop I LLC, the firm of James H. Winkler, held a virtual community meeting in January to present plans for the development in an undeveloped area between the North Albany Shopping Center and the North Pointe subdivision. The site is south of the railroad track and north of a Samaritan Health medical building.
Now, the developer has filed for city approval of consolidating the five tax lots of his property (see the map below), and for development in the floodplain. The Albany Planning Division posted notice of the application on July 12, inviting comments by July 26.
The acreage is zoned for medium-density residential development. In 2017, the city turned down Winkler’s request to rezone the property to allow for a mix of residential and commercial uses. His idea was to provide residents with some services they wouldn’t have to drive to. But the shopping center is right next door.
The current review of the lot line consolidation and flood plain development sounds routine. The site is surrounded by development already.
But before it can go ahead with the development, Winprop will have to file a site plan for the city’s approval. Chances are that like in 2017, this will entail big public meetings before the planning commission, and the council if there’s a denial and appeal.
But the zoning allows, actually calls for this kind of density. People will object to more traffic and congestion, and worry about school capacity, but the hearings in 2017 showed that officially, the utility and transportation systems can handle the increase. So chances are that eventually the project will get the green light.
Just when that will be depends on when the applicant submits his plans, and the city has no word on the timing of that. (hh)
The developer presented this preliminary plan for the project in January.
The cross-hatched area in this zoning map is where the development would be built.
Except the traffic studies in 2017 didn’t account for all the Hayden developments further up in NA. Hopefully these plans will inlude repeat studies, as the traffic is going to be quite literally impossible.
I was prepared to submit a long missive pointing out the fact that there are complex, systemic barriers holding Black Americans back from homeownership in Albany that precludes them from retaining and passing on generational wealth.
In fact, this is happening nation wide.
But Albany? It is 88% white and 0.05% Black.
The problem in Albany isn’t segregated neighborhoods. The problem in Albany is the entire city is effectively segregated.
So the more basic question is: What is it about Albany that keeps it segregated?
Perhaps the City Council needs to address that question before approving yet another residential development that will be lily white.
(And given Hasso’s confusion over sarcasm vs. genuine comments, this comment reflects genuine concern.)
You cant use generational in your argument. It is different.
Well, a serious question from Gordon. Here are the Census numbers:
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander:0.2%
Black: 0.5%
American/Alaskan Native: 1.1%
Asian: 1.6%
2 or more Races: 5%
Hispanic/Latino: 12.6%
White Alone (not Hispanic/Latino): 81%
Here is the actual history.
September 21, 1849 The Oregon Territorial Legislature enacts an exclusion law that prohibits “…negro or mulatto to enter into, or reside within the limits of this Territory.” However, Negroes or Mulattoes and their children, already living in the Territory were not subject to this law.
September 2, 1851 – Oregon’s 1849 exclusion law is enforced against Jacob Vanderpool, the only instance of an African American being expelled under one of Oregon’s exclusion laws.
November 9, 1857 Oregon voters approve the Oregon constitution, which bans both slavery and new black residents in Oregon. It makes it illegal for blacks to own real estate, make contracts, vote, or use the legal system.
1862 Oregon Legislature passes law banning interracial marriage and institutes a $5.00 annual tax on Blacks, Chinese, Hawaiians (Kanakas), and Mulattos. Those unable to pay had to perform road maintenance.
In 1921 the Ku Klux Klan organized across the state.
1926 The Exclusion act was rescinded.
In 1927, they amended the Constitution to allow blacks and chinese to actually vote.
It was 1951 before they allowed inter-racial marriage.
1984 Margaret Carter becomes the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon Legislature.
1989 African exchange student, Mulugeta Seraw, is killed in Portland by racist “skinheads.”
1992 First African-American, James A. Hill, Jr., is elected to statewide office as State Treasurer.
2002 Measure requiring the removal of racist language from the State Constitution passes.
2007 Oregon Equality Act passes.
THAT’S WHY THERE ARE SO FEW BLACKS IN ALBANY, AND THE ENTIRE STATE.
A couple of additional information points:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_African-American_population
In 1940, Oregon was 0.2% Black. In 2019, it was 2.2% Black.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/portland-or-population
n 2021:
“The African American population of Portland was just 2,000 in 1940, comprised mostly of railroad employees, many of whom were drawn to the area during the wartime ship construction boom. Many black people who came to the city settled in certain neighborhoods, including Vanport and Abina. Today, the African American population of Portland (6.3%) is more than three times the Oregon average, with more than two-thirds of all African American residents of Oregon living in the city.”
My typo: 0.05% should be 0.5%. One half of one percent. Sorry.
Hi! My wife and I just moved in from Arizona. It is nice to meet you all.
These developers are smart. They make at least 4 to 1 on their investment. Good for them. Wish I had the jewels
ahhh man, look at all those trees they get to cut down from within Tree City U.S.A.
USA USA they chant. USA!
oh hey welcome to this A-town “brett d snyder”
Refresh my memory, the N. Albany evacuation plan is what again?
And, the water for these 195 new townhouses and duplexes comes from where?