PUBLISHER'S BLOG~Cornelius Swart

This week the Mercury reported push back from neighborhood groups on a proposal to build a 72-unit apartment complex on N. Williams Ave. According to the Merc  the Albert [see May posting, and link to Neighborhood Notes] would recieve tax credits for being in a transit-oriented develpment.  Neighbors voiced concerns over tax credits and parking, according to the Mercury's report and online follow up.  This is not the first large building proposed for the corridor. Developer Ben Kaiser proposed the Backbridge Lofts and Backbridge Station which were two sizeable developments for the N. Williams intersection at N. Fremont.  Those projects were put on hold last year when the housing market started to fail. 

One might assume the emergence of the transit-oriented tax credit might spur development in a neighborhood corridor that is still characterized by vast stretches of vacant lots.  However, we've been hearing a bit of chatter about this issue. And this development, while far smaller than Trammell Crow's Tupelo Alley on N. Mississippi may be a sign that the neighbors along N. Williams/Vancouver are not ready to accept the kind of large buildings that were originally envisioned for the area by the community back in 1993 when the landmark Albina Community Plan was created.  The Albina Community Plan brought together a vast diversity of neighborhood activists and stakeholders and was the first large scale effort to zone and create  transit, commerical and residential development schemes for a district in Portland outside of the City Center.  However, that was over a decade ago, and as we all know, 'the times they are a'changin'.'