August 9, 2013

Have plans this Friday night? Head out to the beautiful Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater for a free performance by Northwest Dance Project!

Northwest Dance Project creates and performs innovative, contemporary new dance works from established and emerging dance makers. The company, under the Artistic Direction of Sarah Slipper, has over 150 dances choreographed by renowned international choreographers like Patrick Delcroix and Loni Landon, as well as local dancemakers Minh Tran and Franco Nieto.

The Friday Washington Park Summer Festival performance will kick off the company’s 10 year anniversary season. The evening’s performance will feature the musical stylings of DJ Anjali and Eden Hana.

The performance begins at 6 pm in Washington Park. Bring blankets, snacks, and good friends!

We’ll see you there!

August 12, 2013

It was another banner weekend for community events in Portland.

Friday night, Nick was one of 3,000 attendees at the Washington Park Summer Festival.  NW Dance Project gave a stunning performance of In Good Company. We are so fortunate that NW Dance Project – an internationally-acclaimed dance troupe—calls Portland home.

Saturday, Nick was honored to join Steve Weiss, Jim Davis, Rep. Mitch Greenlick and other health care and elder advocates at a 48th birthday celebration for Medicare. Here in Oregon, over 600,000 older adults and people with disabilities rely on Medicare services to stay healthy and active.

Saturday evening, Nick attended the Latino Network’s "Noche Bella" benefit at PSU. He was pleased to join Executive Director Carmen Rubio, Board Chair Daniel Ledezma, former Mayor Tom Potter and many others from across the city at this inspiring celebration, and to support the next generation of Latino leadership in our community.

August 13, 2013

Today, Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish announced that the Portland Water Bureau will sell the "Water House," at 1616 NE 140th Ave. in the Russell Neighborhood.

After being assigned the Portland Water Bureau by Mayor Charlie Hales on June 4, 2013, Commissioner Fish directed the bureau to sell the house.

Through a competitive bidding process, H&H Real Estate has been selected to serve as the seller’s agent. H&H has recommended an asking price of $475,000.

The Portland Water Bureau invested close to $950,000 in hard and soft costs to build the house. The bureau expects to take a loss on the sale of the property.

"The Water Bureau is under new management," said Commissioner Nick Fish. "We are committed to stabilizing rates and to high levels of accountability and transparency."

"We are going to sell this house and use the proceeds to stabilize rates," added Fish. "My focus is on delivering the best water in the country to over 900,000 Oregonians."

Background

The Water House was a demonstration project showcasing water conservation practices through an innovative local green building partnership. It was built on vacant surplus property – the site of two decommissioned groundwater wells. The project was a public-private partnership with over 40 local partners and sponsors.

About 2,500 people have toured the house since January 2011. The house was part of the Build It Green! Home Tour twice and was also on the Ultimate Open House Tour. It has hosted workshops and classes on greywater use, low-use irrigation, and other water efficiency practices.

The house is Earth Advantage Platinum, Energy Star certified, and is the first WaterSense certified home in Oregon. Water-friendly landscaping features include a rain garden, eco-lawn, and plants from the Portland Nursery. The floor of the home is made of wood re-claimed from a school gym.

Water House Fact Sheet

City Plands to sell Water House, admits it will lose thousands in tax payer money

On KPTV.com

City's 'Water House' $1M down the drain?

Ken Boddie on KOIN.com

Portland to sell controversial 'Water House'

Anna Canzano on KATU.com

Commissioner: 'Water House' was a mistake

on KGW.com

Portland to take $475K loss on 'Water House'

Jeff Thompson on KGW.com

Nick Fish shorts Randy Leonard's infamous Water House

Wendy Culverwell in the Portland Business Journal

Nick Fish says Water House a mistake. But didn't he vote for it?

Brad Schmidt in The Oregonian

Portland's infamous 'Water House' for sale at $475,000

Brad Schmidt in The Oregonian

Portland to sell controversial Water House

Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune

August 14, 2013

This afternoon, Nick and Commissioner Saltzman will lead Council in a celebration of our 11 x 13 initiative.

In 2008, the Portland Housing Bureau launched the 11x13 campaign when we identified 11 buildings that were at risk of losing their federal subsidies by the end of 2013.

With our partners, we proudly report that 11 x 13 has been a success.  We preserved the affordability of all 11 buildings -- home to more than 700 low-income older adults and people with disabilities.

Listen to Dolores Sheppard describe what her home at Chaucer Court means to her (video at right), and then visit the Portland Housing Bureau YouTube channel to listen to the other stories of residents at all 11 buildings.

Learn more about the 11 x 13 intiative, the buildings we preserved, and the people who call them home.

Wendy Culverwell in The Portland Business Journal

Jim Redden in the Portland Tribune

U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development