A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Several months ago at a Milwaukie Neighborhood Association meeting, the city liaison asked all present what drew them to the city initially. Almost without fail the answer was “the small town feel,” or “the friendly, unhurried pace,” or words to that effect.
Remember our old line “They want Manhattan, but we want Mayberry?” Well, stand back, Opie, that little house you shared with Aunt Bea is about to be crunched by a bulldozer. Metro is back to free us from our nonchalant ways and lead us into the realm of forced togetherness.
I hate to use the phrase “in Metro’s lust for density” because it really, really irritates a lot of bureaucrats and politicians; that being said, in Metro’s lust for density and their unwavering goal to pack us in like sardines by 2040, or 2030, or whenever, they fail to realize that all of Portland’s satellite towns are not the same.
One size does not fit all. Milwaukie is basically a built-out city, and cannot overnight be converted into an Orenco Station without creating serious livability problems. In every case existing infrastructure must be taken into consideration and all development geared to existing downtown and comprehensive plans.
Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) are exactly what Milwaukie doesn’t need, because they sacrifice common-sense necessities like parking in order to tailor the city to their Orwellian, smart-growth dreams.
To add to this happy mix, TriMet is pushing light rail into town as hard as they can. Gee, you’d think they’d won an election somewhere in the last ten years. They haven’t, they’re just very clever at juggling tax-payer’s money and assets and convincing the public that they've been empowered to do so. The latest media blitz is a sight to behold: I almost got on board one of those things the other day without thinking.
The problem is that Milwaukie’s downtown is only seven blocks long and two blocks wide, and light rail is not a good fit. Rail advocates claim that its footprint is very narrow and will have little negative effect on the city. They’re ignoring the fact that the rail leaves a wake, and not just a ripple effect but huge waves of crime and deteriorating neighborhoods, certainly not a basis upon which to build our city’s future.
As citizens we have only one course of action in the face of this negative encroachment: we must be vocal in our communications with our elected officials and Metro. We cannot allow Milwaukie to be a congested sacrifice to the gods of social engineering.
Ed Zumwalt raises very good points about the effect of regional policies and transportation "needs" (translate: what elected officials think we want when funding is dangled before our eyes like candy).
I happen to be very pro-light rail and TOD. However, as an urban and environmental planner and citizen activist, I recognize the need for each community to be unique and stay that way despite our regional growth pressures. I think TOD (Transit oriented design)concepts/principles CAN apply to Milwaukie in various areas of the city, not just "downtown" as Ed geographically described. I suspect the REAL downtown is the Albertson's Milwaukie Marketplace. I just count the cars--they pretty well tell me where all the citizens are in that sprawling parking lot (where I don't see a lot of citizens frollicking, other than trying to get from their car door to the store's door).
However, with infill projects happening in Ed's "downtown" he is witnessing TOD (just without the light rail). The recent housing project next to the Library is a good example of pedestrian TOD that still provides a reasonable parking arrangement. It measures up to the mystical Orenco Station, to which Ed refers. By the way, Orenco, to my knowledge doesn't have a library, bowling alley, pizza hangout, city hall, schools and parks and a highly rated (regionally significantly creek: Kellogg Creek and Johnson Creek--and the springs).
The latest developer concepts for the Metro/city block to the south is also promising and the property is definitely too valuable and visually prominent to feature a highly visible parking lot. However, the project will provide the necessary parking in a structured manner. It should help frame in the waterfront park (again, think about community civic spaces being framed with high quality pedestrian scaled architecture and amenities--public gathering plazas, passages, reflective corners, etc.
There are still a number of properties that could redevelop quickly in the near future and much of the individual owner decision on land use concept, density, architecture, livability and community acceptance will depend upon the community input and the owner's anticipation of financial feasibility and the adequacy and nature of community facilities. We are seeing that individual projects are coming into the community as substantial investments, usually increasing the value of properties in the immediate subarea. Most of these investors/property owners KNOW and RESPECT the strong comunity spirit, opinions and expectations.
There will be many new buildings and improvements in the "close-in area" of the city (close in meaning everything between the new Safeway Center, the hospital, The Lake Road interchange with the Milwaukie Expressway to Kellogg Creek and the Willamette River and north to the new bike/ped overcross (over McLoughlin Blvd.). Many older homes and non-residential structures will be remodeled and updated. The city's industrial sanctuary north of downtown will continue to evolve into higher-value uses and more substantial building improvements as capital flows into the area. Many funky things in the community (who would determine what fits that definition) will be considered for demolition in favor of more upbeat, more interesting and pleasing architecture and land use.
Often, we cannot predict how those changes will occur, but they will. It doesn't have to be topsy-turvy, unless there is money to be made, influence beyond the control of the residents and leaders of the community. I don't think that will happen unless all the community activist leave town.
There are many good things about Orenco Station and things I wouldn't like either. I also feel that citizens like Ed Zumwalt should also help us visualize his view of the future, so that there can be real dialogue beyond angst,frustion and opposition, as change presents itself. The future will bring change to Maywood and we can be sure that it won't just go away like "Green Tomatoes"--neither would we want it to.
Do more charattes and "visioning". If the Board of County Commissioners can talk about visioning and commit to fluffing it up into more concrete ideas and strategies, so can our Milwaukie community. I don't live within city proper but there about 5,000 residents in my unincorporated neighborhood who use Milwaukie's address. Milwaukie is one of our best kept secrets.
(email verified)
Thu, Apr 12, 2007 at 08:37 AM
Ed has been singing this old alarmist tune for decades and the people are not buying it anymore. Ed gave his personal approval to the expansion of the Milwaukie Marketplace strip mall which demolished 10 older homes!! Is this the kind of development that Ed supports, demolished homes and bigger strip malls? Now he has the gall to decry downtown redevelopment as the "loss of community character." Well Ed, you sold us out when you supported the strip mall expansion and we are not buying your hate-filled crap anymore! I am one Milwaukie resident who wants fewer strip malls and more public transit.
(email verified)
Thu, Apr 12, 2007 at 03:03 PM
I brought my young family to Milwaukie nearly 15 years ago because of its unique small-town feel close to Portland jobs. It has been the ideal place to raise our family and I hate to see it change. Not all people want to live in an urban or even suburban environment. I grew up in a rural area, and I share with my wife a strong desire – almost need – be able to look out my back window and see mostly trees, not a fence framed by a bunch of multi-level homes. I have that in Milwaukie, but high density threatens it. Where else can I find such a style of living? Surely not in the new housing project next to the Library. Nor in any of the newer neighborhoods in the region that require tiny lot sizes.
What planners and visionaries see as potential for Milwaukie is exactly what I see as it's threat. For some reason these people don't understand, or are incapable of seeing the importance of, Milwaukie's present value and uniqueness. I am here because of how it has been, and I don't want to see it change. There are numerous places for people with limited mobility to live where the necessary conveniences are easily accessible. However, there are precious few places for me to live as I desire, and I'm sure I am not alone in this. Why must I and people like me give up this quality of life in the name of “progress”? To me, that's not progress at all, but rather, the destruction of diversity.
(email verified)
Sat, Apr 14, 2007 at 02:26 AM
If anyone is capable of stopping change, please let me know. My wrinkles and grey hair would appreciate the insight.
Milwaukie shares a border with the biggest city in the state. We are hardly rural. Not even suburban, really.
Quit the rhetoric. The train of change is coming. Either hop on board (and participate constructively) or get off the tracks.
(email verified)
Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Yes, lots of us are oh so tired of Ed's crapola. In fact, shame on the Review for giving him a forum week after week.
Ed is part of a small but vocal minority, who keep harping back to past votes on light rail, the recall a decade ago, etc. And many of those who come to drone on and on at Council meetings (e.g., Les Poole) don't even live in or pay taxes in Milwaukie.
Milwaukie's demographics have changed significantly in the last decade, thanks to a variety of factors. Anbd no one can accuse the City staff of engaging in backroom deals -- we residents are pretty much overwhelmed with opportunities for public input. The forces who want to dredge up decade-old news are just grasping at straws.
Just remember, it was Ed & crew that Andy Parker in that other newspaper referred to as "Chicken Little" last fall -- see: "Is consensus slowly coming to Milwaukie?" The Oregonian, Wednesday, September 20, 2006.
The sky is not falling. In fact, Milwaukie does largely have consensus about the direction the City should be going, which is why the noisy few are clamoring so for attention now.
(email verified)
Mon, Apr 23, 2007 at 05:31 AM
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Re: Density, growth to change Milwaukie's character?
Why does ED hate the elderly and disabled persons of Milwaukie? Unlike Ed, I belive the mobility and quality of life that light rail provides for the disabled and elderly who can't drive is a good thing. My advice to fellow Milwaukie-ans . . . don't let your grandma cross the street when he's driving his Hummer around town! Man, this Ed Zumwalt guy sounds like a real jerk.
"James Earl"
(email verified)
Thu, Apr 12, 2007 at 06:30 AM