Tales of two developers
I see from this month's Hollywood Star News (sorry, no online version) that the guy who wants to put up a monstrosity of a condo bunker on NE 15th at Hancock has graciously agreed to chop one story off the top of his original six-story edifice. The neighbors still aren't satisfied, though, so the nastiness will continue. (The building is now being called "Irvington Squire." Squalor is more like it.)
Speaking of nastiness, though, nothing can top what's going on between another fine member of the development community, one Mr. Randy Palazzo, and the folks who get to live near his wonderful, "dense" east side creations. One neighbor quoted Palazzo in the Star News as follows: "Randy Leonard said I could do whatever I wanted on my property." At last report, Palazzo's contemplating getting a restraining order against the people who are saying all those untrue, bad things about him.
| Posted at 10:52 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (20)
"Randy Leonard said I could do whatever I wanted on my property."
wow, where was that quote during the M49 campaign?
Posted by Jon | April 10, 2008 12:03 PM
"Randy Leonard said I could do whatever I wanted on my property."
Well, one does have to make allowances. That Palazzo is quite a guy.
Posted by cc | April 10, 2008 12:36 PM
Wow, I hadn't heard of this Palazzo guy. He sounds like a mobster. Time to check the ownership of lots in my neighborhood.
As for the Irvington condos, they're probably letting them build it with no parking. That's a City of Portland favorite.
Posted by BB | April 10, 2008 12:59 PM
Let him build it. The way the condo market is going he'll go broke and we'll be rid of him once and for all.
Posted by watcher | April 10, 2008 1:55 PM
"Randy Leonard said I could do whatever I wanted on my property."
Actually cc when I worked for the Bureau we were told by Randy's office to make sure the developer always got what they wanted. The phrase was we were expected to be inventive in coming up with solutions that got the developer where they wanted to go.
Greg C
Posted by Greg C | April 10, 2008 2:21 PM
I OWN A HOUSE HE BUILT AND IT IS THE BEST HOUSE EVER. HE OWNS 100S OF LOTS SO SHUT UP. YOU NEED TO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.
Saw the WW comments and I couldn't resist. :-)
Posted by "Jeff" | April 10, 2008 2:36 PM
The only way left for Portland city proper to grow is up and with what infill is left. For those who don't want more density, like me, you have to make plans to evacuate - maybe back to the exurbia from which you sprang. There's no sense fighting cityhall, either, because the electorate here in PDX are mainly socialistic in political leanings and believe in "smart growth." Flee the People!
Posted by Bob Clark | April 10, 2008 2:40 PM
Flee the People!
Courage, people (sorry, Dan). Stay and fight. Use guerilla tactics. Fight dirty Keep fighting. They have no stomach for a committed adversary and their majority is eroding.
As for me, I was born here and they'll have to pry my city from....
Stay the course! ;-)
Posted by cc | April 10, 2008 2:46 PM
"Actually cc when I worked for the Bureau we were told by Randy's office to make sure the developer always got what they wanted. The phrase was we were expected to be inventive in coming up with solutions that got the developer where they wanted to go."
Greg C
Greg Carlson's description of Commissioner Leonard's direction to the Bureau of Development services is not accurate. At the Bureau of Development Services, Randy has consistently challenged us to serve all of our customers well. From neighborhoods throughout the city, to the person building a deck in their back yard, to people building skyscrapers in the downtown core, I think the men and women who work here have done a remarkable job in pursuit of that critical mission.
It is unfortunate that Greg would choose to denigrate the good efforts of his former colleagues in this forum, but our efforts will continue to be focused on being the best big city development services department in the country.
Paul Scarlett
Posted by Paul Scarlett | April 10, 2008 3:21 PM
From neighborhoods throughout the city, to the person building a deck in their back yard, to people building skyscrapers in the
downtown core, I think the men and women who work here have done a remarkable job in pursuit of that critical mission.
What about the people who have to live next door to what you approve? Why are they never even mentioned as "customers"?
Posted by Jack Bog | April 10, 2008 3:25 PM
It is unfortunate that Greg would choose to denigrate the good efforts of his former colleagues in this forum...
I apologize in advance, but...
Where the **** else should he go? Make a polite suggestion to Leonard? Submit a letter to your house organ the Zero?
I think we're fortunate to HAVE a forum like this; not controlled by the politburo or its apparatchiks. Greg's comment was clearly directed at Leonard - not at his former colleagues. Nice try. And while you're patting yourself on the back, keep your eye on the prize, Randy's ***.
Who's got the better motive to tell the truth here?
Posted by cc | April 10, 2008 3:56 PM
How about if there is a crowd outside his door blocking the street, with video cameras, when Randy wants to leave for work ... is that any loss of liberty?
What is Randy worried about if he has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide?
Posted by meg | April 10, 2008 4:30 PM
Jack, as the bureau charged with implementing and enforcing the building and zoning codes, it is with great care that we try to balance the requirements of those codes with city livability issues and adopted policies. That said, we also engage the community through public notification processes and take into consideration their stated concerns relative to proposed developments.
As you are aware, the challenge is balancing density and neighborhood livability within a fixed urban growth boundary. We work with all customers to address their concerns as much as we can in that context.
Paul Scarlett
Posted by Paul Scarlett | April 10, 2008 4:43 PM
JackB: What about the people who have to live next door to what you approve? Why are they never even mentioned as "customers"?
What he said.
Posted by John Rettig | April 10, 2008 4:43 PM
Paul, are the neighbors your "customers" or not? You seem to treat them as if they were obstacles to overcome, rather than "customers" to serve.
Posted by Jack Bog | April 10, 2008 5:05 PM
Paul,
Is that what the city is doing?
"balancing density and neighborhood livability"?
I must have missed the SoWa balancing sessions.
Why is it every time the city gets criticized for crap they come back with "balancing" rhetoric.
Sam Adams uses it all the time.
Is it supposed to be some sort of all purpose excuse? IMO it comes across as a middle finger.
As far as the UGB goes, the "balanced" infill we are witnessing isn't even close to being preferrable to reasonable expansion without a fixed UGB.
Posted by Howard | April 10, 2008 5:18 PM
If Greg C is really Greg Carlson, he has some nerve.
He was caught up in the housing scandal at the Bureau of Development Services a few years back that involved BDS employees using their positions to buy houses. He left the bureau as a result of that investigation, bitter and angry.
Sure, this may be an outlet to hear different view points but I would take what is written hear with a grain of salt.
Posted by PDXter | April 10, 2008 8:28 PM
Sure, this may be an outlet to hear different view points but I would take what is written hear with a grain of salt.
You go write ahead.
Posted by cc | April 10, 2008 9:56 PM
How 'bout "here".
Posted by PDXter | April 10, 2008 10:57 PM
Jack said: "What about the people who have to live next door to what you approve? Why are they never even mentioned as "customers"?"
Because they don't go to Development Services, since they're not building anything?
Posted by jud | April 11, 2008 7:07 AM