February 2009
Brownfield Program helps reclaim contaminated properties - 2/3/09
Project completion reopens Willamette Greenway Trail - 2/4/09
Free stormwater retrofit workshop - 2/10/09
Traffic restrictions on SW Oak between SW Naito and SW 6th - 2/20/09
Brownfield Program helps reclaim contaminated properties
February 3, 2009
For more than ten years, the City of Portland Brownfield Program has helped property owners, developers, and community members put unused neighborhood lands back into productive use.
Many vacant or abandoned neighborhood properties are known as brownfields, or properties that may have been contaminated by past uses. Gas stations, dry cleaners, auto garages and other commercial facilities often leave behind pollutants that contaminate soil or water and make redevelopment difficult.
Many brownfields can be converted from possible liabilities into successful new businesses, residences, parks, and amenities. But it is difficult to sell or develop a brownfield without first addressing any environmental concerns. Buyers and lenders will want specific information about the site's condition.
The Portland Brownfield Program can help owners and potential buyers of brownfields return these underutilized properties to productive use. Through grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Brownfield Program offers free technical and financial assistance, including environmental site assessments that are often required for the sale or redevelopment of commercial properties.
More information about the Portland Brownfield Program is available at www.brownfield.org or by calling 503-823-5863.
Project completion reopens Willamette Greenway Trail
February 4, 2009
The City of Portland has completed major construction on the Stephens Creek Confluence Project and the Willamette Greenway Trail is open once again.
The city started the work in August, closed the trail between the Macadam Bay Moorage and Butterfly Park, and detoured bicycle and pedestrian traffic to the sidewalk along Macadam Avenue. When construction was completed in December 2008, pedestrian and bicycle access to the trail was restored.
The project removed a decommissioned sewer pipe, returned the Stephens Creek stream channel to its natural form, restored native vegetation, and installed large wood to improve refuge habitat for endangered salmon. In the next few months, the Environmental Services Watershed Revegetation Program will plant native woody trees and shrubs to provide shade and overhanging cover to Stephens Creek and the Willamette River.
The Portland Parks & Recreation City Nature division owns the 3.5-acre project site, which is part of a 35-acre complex of publicly-owned natural area parks known as the South Portland Riverbank. Project funding came from Environmental Services, the Port of Portland, the Nature Conservancy through Portland General Electric, the Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership through the Bonneville Power Administration, the FishAmerica Foundation, the NOAA Restoration Center, the American Sportfishing Association and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.
More project information is available at www.portlandonline.com/bes/stephenscreek.
Free stormwater retrofit workshop
February 10, 2008
The City of Portland holds free workshops to show ratepayers how to manage stormwater on their property. The workshops cover site assessment; how to choose, install and maintain stormwater facilities; any necessary permits; and financial incentives.
Stormwater Retrofit Workshop
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Multnomah Arts Center
7688 SW Capitol Highway
Get more information at www.CleanRiverRewards.com or call 503-823-1371.
Traffic restrictions on SW Oak between SW Naito and SW 6th
February 20, 2009
A sewer repair project in downtown Portland will intermittently close traffic lanes on SW Oak Street between SW Naito Parkway and SW 6th Avenue starting next Monday, February 23. The lane restrictions will be in place during construction hours, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. through Friday, February 27.
The work is part of Portland's $5 million dollar Downtown Mall Sewer Project to repair over 40 pipe segments in a 28 block area bounded by SW Oak and SW Mill streets, mostly between SW 4th and SW 6th Avenues. Get more information at www.portlandonline.com/bes/downtownsewerproject, email downtownsewerproject@bes.ci.portland.or.us or call 503-823-8735.
For information about Environmental Services programs, contact Linc Mann at 503-823-5328.