Date: January 26, 2010
Location: 8835 SE Woodstock (Seventh Day Adventist Church)
Time: 6-7. That’s how long Fo-Po-ites should stick around, according to our neighbor John, who regularly attends these meetings.
411: Here’s an email message from John, who represents Foster-Powell to several important committees around town, including the URA gatherings.
Many people have asked me about the improvements to Foster Road, so as we prepare for the Transportation Task Force Open House tomorrow I thought I’d share what I think are the relevant points so far.
As you know, the Foster Streetscape was created by neighborhoods and community groups in the Foster Road area and was enacted by the City Council in 2003. It creates a framework for things like pedestrian safety, traffic slowing, bus and transit improvements, street trees, lighting, bicycle infrastructure, “gateway and identity features,” sidewalks and public art.
We in the neighborhood have supported bringing Foster Road into the urban renewal area because we believe that the streetscape investments planned in 2003 will make Foster more inviting to small business, thereby growing the tax base and fulfilling the best promises of urban renewal.
Full implementation of the Foster Streetscape will cost just under $5 million, based on recent cost estimates.
Tonight’s meeting could help determine the funding for the Foster Streetscape. I am going to try to be there… if I don’t make it, and you do, I invite you to write a quick story about what happened to post here at FosterPowellPDX.com. I am hoping to make this a community-driven news source. This is the “hyperlocal” model that’s being tossed around news pundits these days. Instead of the news being given to the people, the people observe, write, and read the news. Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now. Hope to see you at the meeting tonight!
To learn more, see our original story, Support the Foster Streetscape: Open House Jan. 26.
