Jack,

I feel bad for the Linnton folks. In a way they're caught between Homer and you. I can't help but wonder if the players in the background on the Linnton side had been more "benign" or lower profile or maybe some non-profit entity, that you would have viewed the whole issue differently. It's not that I disagree with the council's decision on the plan as presented, but there must be some middle ground. The land in question will never be developed for industrial use for a number of reasons - both regulatory and economic. The notion that the mayor and the council know what's best for those who actually live there is the same one that forced your favorite Disneyland rise on Lair Hill.

Disneyland ride

due to the traumatic partial amputation of three fingers on my left hand, I can no longer type very well.

I won't talk about my proofreading skills, though.

Then let's have the argument rickyragg. And look at all the alternatives; that is what planning is supposed to do. If you read the O on Linnton, you find some "neighbors' went running to Homer to "save the day" for them. I was over there yesterday getting lost on the way to Sauvie Island. I encountered industry in the area. Let's make this about more than pr about neighbors wanting the waterfront. Sometimes the neighbor stuff rings false to me. Let's everybody talk about this honestly.

Sure, there's industry there but the land involved, as I undestand it, is the vacant Linnton Plywood property which has been that way for several years. I don't live in Linnton (although I drive through it almost every day) and I don't know the people involved with the development plan. It simply seems to me that for the mayor to claim to be worried about the safety "issues" for the proposed residents, while contemplating a biodiesel plant which represents a hazard to those already there is disingenuous at best. The people behind the "plan" LIVE in Linnton. There's no value in an abandoned plywood plant that I can discern - have you seen it? I guess I just don't get it - Homer Williams didn't initiate this thing; he probably just looked like the only hope to those who did when they were faced with the "moving target" of Portland's city government. I don't blame them for trying and neither should their brief association with Williams poison peoples' minds against ANY residential development in Linnton.

"I guess I just don't get it..."

Now there is the understatement of the year.

Agreed Rickyragg. But we really don't know what happened, Couldn't it be that Mayor Potter is using the safety concern as an excuse to pull out of negotiations with Homer for which the citizens were just a front? Thie is a weird town, not just in the hip/cool sense of the term, but in the sleezy sense as well. Let's let the industrialists make their arguments; I don't think anyone is drawing hard and fast lines. What has been observed here often is that we are too dependent on the condo economy and a couple of developers. "Citizens" have been used to promote the neo-urban agenda against a neighborhood: SW Hills that used to be run by Bill Goode and Pamela Settlegood? My understanding is that they were holding the line on traffic from OHSU and other impacts in the neighborhood and a bunch of "neighbors" stormed a meeting and ran them out. You sure didn't get the full story on that one if you read the Big O.

Wow. Wow. How do we get so far away from a simple story, right here in our own city? And, if we can't get that right, god help us in our understanding of what's going on further afield.

Cynthia -- the SWIRL story is so much not/so much more -- than you understand. Simpler, in a very human way, too. It's off topic, but if you'd like some contacts to help you understand it better, I'd be happy to point you to them.

Now, to Linnton. I'm not here to advocate pro or con on the Council's decision. But I do have to speak up on this notion that Linnton's actions were some sort of "homer" thing. I have been attending Linnton town meetings for over 5 years now. You will rarely find a neighborhood association with the degree of community support that Linnton enjoys. Linnton's neighborhood plan was created long before anyone on that NA ever heard of Homer Williams. And, it will go on, in one form or another, long after he is no longer part of the conversation.

I think Fred Leeson's article in today's O was very well written and an accurate review of the groups' intentions, as stated at the last town meeting, which I attended, as did Fred. I would suggest those of you who didn't, do, at their next meeting.

They hold a potluck before the meeting. The food is always good. Whatever you may think about their goals and strategies, I believe you will enjoy a visit down highway 30. I always do.

Anne, I've met some of the principals in the SWIRL situation (bright, discerning, don't drink kool-aid) and I think understand a lot more about how people are being manipulated in this town than many others do. That is a common ploy, an adhominen attack on someone(being stupid, not understanding) who has an unpopular opinion. I am not a pack animal, Anne. I will make my own contacts.

That said, I don't know everything about the issues in either that neighborhood or Linnton. I think there is much we may never know.

And I think you are dead wrong Anne, that is not off topic at all. Don't play those games with me; I am NOT a good target for them.

p.s. The topic being reactionary "neighbors".

Can anyone tell us how a new condo farm will improve the lives of the current Linton residents?

Thanks
JK

you must not get out much, Jimbo

JK,

No, Jim.

No one can.

I don't think that's really the question.

rickyragg I don't think that's really the question.
JK: You're right. But that should be the question.

Thanks
jk

Can anyone tell us how a new condo farm will improve the lives of the current Linton residents?

Better access to the river, Jim, and a better sense of community than a plywood mill provided. Whether it was a good idea or not, that was the intent. The condos were more a means to an end.

The usual camels have their noses under the tents of all of the "town center" plans. Just because people never heard of them doesn't mean they weren't there.

And Jim, the condo farm could improve residential property values; at least that is what I have heard argued.

"Can anyone tell us how a new condo farm will improve the lives of the current Linton residents?"

Absent some kind of city subsidy...

Can anyone tell us how a new condo farm in Linnton will detract from the lives of the current residents of any other neighborhood?

Cynthia -- I'm sorry you took my comments so negatively. I didn't mean to
imply you were stupid, just, uninformed -- something the best of us can be
more often than we'd like. I took you to be uninformed, because there is, in
fact, not one single thing true about the following statement you wrote
above: "a bunch of "neighbors" stormed a meeting and ran them out". That
statement makes it clear you've only heard one side of the story. Also, it's
possible to read your post as insinuating that the new board was motivated
in its charge up SWIRL hill by a desire to work against the forces of good
fighting speeding on the hill... But, perhaps I'm missreading you? I hope
you do take the time to talk to some of the neighbors -- there really is
more than one side to this story (not "neighbors" btw -- do them the
courtesy of not italicizing them with your pre-judgement of illegitimacy. )

You may find they are more interested in moving forward in productive and
collaberative ways than they are in rehashing an ugly incident that is now,
thankfully, in the past.

Personally I'm grateful the judge threw out the lawsuits against the new
board members. This was an affermation that NA board membership is neither
inherited nor personally "owned" by any individual, no matter how marvelous.
You're voted in, you can be voted out. It's a tough world. I'm sorry the
targeted individuals had to shell out dough to lawyers to protect themselves
for having exercised this simple right. I think suing a teenager was particularly egregious.

Frank Dufay Better access to the river, Jim,
JK: Build a trail, park or boat launch.

Frank Dufay and a better sense of community than a plywood mill provided.
JK: What the hell is a “sense of community”.

Frank Dufay Whether it was a good idea or not, that was the intent.
JK: Are you sure the intent wasn’t just to make Homer richer?

Frank Dufay The condos were more a means to an end.
JK: Were they going to guarantee a boat ramp and park?

Posted by Frank Dufay

MY FATHER BOUGHT A SHARE IN 1961 HE USED ALL THE MONEY HE HAD FROM THE SALE OF OUR FARM. MOVED OUT WEST AT 50 YEARS OLD WITH SIX CHILDREN. THIS WAS GOING TO BE HIS NEW JOB AND BEABLE TO SELL HIS SHARE FOR HIS RETIRERMENT.WELL HE WORKED UNTIL HE WAS 88 YEARS OLD AND THE PLANT CLOSED. HE PASSED AWAY WHEN HE WAS 90. HE FELT SO BAD BECAUSE HE HAD NO RETIREMENT TO HELP HIS WIFF OF 60 YEARS. THERE ARE SO MANY SHARE HOLDERS THAT NEVER GOT A PENNY. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS LAND AND SELL IT , BEFORE ALL THE SHARE HOLDERS ARE DEAD ....OR MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THERE WAITING FOR....