TIRED OF BIG BOX STORES DESTROYING PORTLAND NEIGHBORHOODS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES? Let's take a stand together.
The Save Madison South Committee has just formed as an opposition response
to the proposed 240,000 sq ft big-box store on the land located at NE 82nd
and Siskiyou (old driving range and landfill that has a current zoning of
60,000 sq ft - the neighborhood does not oppose development of that size).
The proposal is for a REGIONAL auto-centric shopping center that will pull
traffic from all across northeast Portland and Vancouver, WA to this already
congested location. Word is that the permit application will probably be
going into the Portland Planning Bureau in the next 30-45 days.
This proposal will push 900 parking spaces and a retail environment five
blocks into a residential neighborhood. Nearby affected public schools
include Madison HS (directly across the street), Jason Lee Elementary (on NE
92nd) and Gregory Heights (on NE Siskiyou). The proposed site was a former
gravel pit, then a landfill that has a host of environmental issues
including methane gas, storm water logistics and possible toxic chemicals.
The development will also require construction crews to pile-drive 80-100
feet down to establish the foundation for the store. This concerns neighbors
in the immediate vicinity due to probable seismic shaking of their homes.
We are asking you to help fight this effort, as it will impact northeast
Portland neighborhoods, their business districts and area livability.
The residents are proud of the fact that they've been turning things around
by reducing crime and prostitution that have previously plagued this part of
the city.
We are seeking assistance from the CNRG community in the area of legal
representation, fundraising, environmental experts and land-use experts to
combat this effort. The developer, Smart Centres of Vancouver, Canada,
proudly states that they have a strong relationship with Wal-Mart on their
website (www.smartcentres.com), but as of yet, have not identified their
tenant. Regardless of what the tenant is, anything of this size will have a
negative impact on traffic, congestion, environmental issues and safety to
all of northeast Portland neighborhood and business communities.
If you can offer any form of assistance, we would greatly welcome it. You
can be sure that you would be making a difference to Portland's northeast
neighborhoods. This kind of auto-centric regional development will truly
have a harmful affect on the livability of this area of northeast Portland.
To help out, please contact us ASAP:  savemadisonsouth@yahoo.com or call
503-539-3954. Let's take a stand for Portland's neighborhoods. The time is
NOW!
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