As a board member of the Goose Hollow Foothills League, someone concerned about changes to PGE Park, and while watching the discussions in Lents as they analyze a possible baseball stadium, I thought Lents folks might appreciate hearing from Goose Hollow folks.

Though I don't believe a second stadium is necessary (the current stadium juggles multiple sports well; the stadium has been called a "world-class venue" by FIFA when PGE Park hosted Women's World Cup soccer; and Steve Janik, the city's legal counsel, has made it clear that there is no Major League Soccer requirement for the Beavers to move but that this is simply what owner Merritt Paulson wants), it seems like Sam Adams, Randy Leonard, and Paulson will get another stadium built, one way or another. 

So, IF the Lents neighborhood agrees to a stadium, I was thinking that if I were on the Lents board, I would fight for the following things. Lents is in the driver's seat and is in a position to make these demands:

--Remove as few trees as possible. The current plans are incredibly cavalier about pulling down a ton of trees. 

--Insist on money for 1) economic development (since the Portland Development Commission says this project will almost completely deplete its economic development budget in Lents), for 2) replacing green spaces, and 3) improving nearby soccer fields. 

--Insist on NO parking in Lents Park. As Leonard has pointed out, there are sufficient spots available when factoring in the MAX and nearby lots that could be rented out on game days. PGE Park has no parking nearby. People use public transit because they have to. If you build parking spaces, they will drive. If you don't, they will take public transit and walk. 

--Pin down specifics in a Good Neighbor Agreement. PGE Park has been a good neighbor for Goose Hollow. They send out daily crews to pick up trash, clean graffiti, etc. They pay for 24-hour security. They keep a close eye on decibel levels at events. They host an annual neighborhood party (dogs, burgers, beer). Their VP of Operations is an active board member in our neighborhood association. The field is used by most local schools. The stadium is used for other community events (like hosting a Day of the Dead celebration Nov 1). These sorts of things can be pinned down in this agreement. 

--Improve pedestrian and bike access to Lents Town Center and 92nd Avenue. There are no sidewalks on Ellis and many other nearby streets, and Foster must be overhauled between 82nd and 92nd. To attract pedestrians and bikes. 

This area needs more street trees, storefront improvement grants, traffic calming strategies, and bike lanes at the very least. 

This runaway train of so called "process" has not been conducted in the Portland way that many of us hold dear. But collective neighborhood action can still hold commissioner feet to the fire and insist on greater support for your neighborhood's needs. 

Best wishes to Lents. 

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/06/what_goose_hollow_would_advise.html