I'm sure this is part of a wider conspiracy to build Condo's in the park, or maybe even install parking meters? I'm going to Jim Karlock's blog to check it out.

Don't laugh about the condos. When they sell the maintenance yard, I'm sure that's what will go there.

I actually took the time to read this.

http://www.clovermoore.com/idx.htm?http://www.clovermoore.com/issues/environment/open-space/cpmpt/990719.htm

The rest of the people should.

The same man who was director when Fox studios "leased" for 50 years part of one of Sydney's signature parks, is now handling the negotiations at Portland Parks.

And don't forget:

http://www.clovermoore.com/idx.htm?http://www.clovermoore.com/issues/environment/open%2Dspace/cpmpt/mcdonalds/background.htm

I understand that the water bureau might own some of that land, so maybe, hopefully Fireman Randy will help save the day.

Where's Homer?

Thanks
JK

The water bureau does indeed have an interest in the property being discussed at Mt. Tabor.

While I certainly want to give the other side an opportunity to make their case, from what I have read of this idea so far, I am not favorably inclined to sell, lease or otherwise turn over to any entity any of our Mt. Tabor property.

It does seem a little strange that while Randy's scratching around making parkland out of the nothing under the water towers, Big Pipe's getting ready to give away prime land in one of the city's historic park areas.

Maybe the Historical Society pals that he listens to should send him an IM on this one.

If the maintenance yard is currently a liability, if the neighborhood is cool with getting a sports facility they can use, and if Parks gets some revenue they can use elsewhere...where's the foul and the harm? The maintenance yard is not currently a nieghborhood asset.

That's a lot of ifs...but I think the better question, to get to the heart of this, is less about what happens to Mt Tabor, but what is Parks doing with its maintenance facility plans? Does this make sense, decentralizing? Is this a cost savings, or a goofy part of an on-going reorganization I still don't quite get?

If it's going to cost more money to maintain Parks with the Mt tabor maintenance facility gone, then this is a bad idea on that basis alone.

Frank, come on, wake up and smell the condos. This is just like the Fire Station move. It supposedly had some rationale having to do with administration of core city services, but the real agenda was a condo tower. There's no reason to think that there's anything but real estate development motivating this latest insult to the Tabor neighborhood by Big Pipe. They'll farm out maintenance and turn the yard over to a Joe Weston type, and the deal will be sealed before the neighbors knew what was coming.

They'll farm out maintenance and turn the yard over to a Joe Weston type, and the deal will be sealed before the neighbors knew what was coming.

Jack, if that happens I'll be out there with the rest of you, with my pitchfork and torch.

Frank,

According to the news article they are looking at 10 acres, lost. On the other side of Warner Pacific there are some very old duplexes, that are past their design life, that would seem more prudent to develop into an extended campus, and not take away park land. If the land belongs to the neighborhood, if the fields are going to be used by the public, why can the public own them and Warner Pacific pay parks to use them and contribute to maintenance. I heard an old plan called for a conservatory on the site, I think there is a green house there now, where I got a wreath one year. I think the lady that sold it to me said they raised specialty plants for the Chinese and Japanese Garden there.

If the land belongs to the neighborhood, if the fields are going to be used by the public, why can't the public own them and Warner Pacific pay parks to use them and contribute to maintenance.

John, that sounds like a sound plan to me.

The argument you'll get back is that Warner Pacific couldn't successfully do fundraising under this scenario. Well, maybe they need to re-think that. If they want to play in the park, they should be paying for that privilige, and see that it works out for everyone.

I think the lady that sold it to me said they raised specialty plants for the Chinese and Japanese Garden there.

The neighbors used to tell me that lower (west) Tabor serves as a nursery for parks throughout the system. Heaven forbid we should leave it alone when Saltzman's developer buddies are paying for his police pension Band-Aid campaign and whispering sweet density in his ear.