From the 11/21/13 Lake Oswego Review: (emphasis mine)
"My concern really is regarding many of those who wrote supporting the development, especially those who stressed the “vibrancy” the project will provide us. Was it only coincidence that word was repeated in so many letters? The people who used them are the same people who were pushing for the high-density development of the Foothills and for the streetcar.
If the current development plan goes through, is it a first step toward a return to those previous two issues? Would the creation of a continuing traffic jam be an argument for reintroducing the push for a Portland to LO streetcar? And would the streetcar then allow the high-density development of Foothills? Those are just questions. I’ll leave it up to readers to answer them for themselves."
Gary Gipson, Lake Oswego, is a board member of COLA-LO.
Gary Gipson, Lake Oswego, is a board member of COLA-LO.
Other Voices: (Excerpts)
We are unique. Where else in Oregon do you find a lovely small-scale village on a lake yet close to a cosmopolitan city? Sought-after towns from Carmel to Cannon Beach, Nantucket to Charleston, have preserved their historical identity by adopting smart redevelopment codes and prohibiting outside developers to circumvent them.
People who have grown up in Lake Oswego cherish our small-town atmosphere. Many new residents moved to Lake Oswego, set up businesses and bought homes here because we had codes to keep Lake Oswego picturesque. Note: Current codes allow 60' building heights - these need to be changed!
Philip Pirrotta is a resident of Lake Oswego.
This is an important historical turning point. Whoever becomes the catalyst for this new development will go down in history. They will be remembered for a very long time.
So how do we want to be remembered? As the ones who allowed a clumsy, overstuffed, over-the-top plan that will probably lead to overcrowding and certainly will forever change the character of our place into a commercial blankness?
Or, hopefully, as the supporters of a creative, considered solution to an ongoing challenge, which will gracefully address the needs of both people and place.
Chloe Scott, Lake Oswego, is a member of Lake Oswego Adult Community Center and member of Save Our Village.
The addition of high-quality residential choices along with revitalized retail space constitutes real needed beneficial economic development and jobs. City findings show that all three buildings in the development as proposed are under height limits, more on-site parking is provided than city rules mandate and property tax boosts and building permit fees will offer real financial boosts to the LO schools and the city. But that only occurs if built with the significant private investment required. Note: In a public hearing before the city council when they approved the development agreement, Chuck O'Leary presented testimony saying the development did not have enough parking to satisfy both residential and commercial uses, even though it is to code.
Chuck O’Leary, CEO, Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce
Doug Cushing, President, Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce
My husband, myself and our friends are so disappointed to see the plans for Wizer’s. It is hard to believe that our city council is willing to jeopardize the special characteristics of downtown Lake Oswego. Out-of-town family and friends always remark how lucky we are to have such a charming downtown. Three large buildings on one block just don’t look like they belong. Note: this city council did not approve the 60' height limit, they inherited it, but the 5th story exception is up to them.
Lynn Haar is a resident of Lake Oswego.
Any proposed project (developer) should be acutely aware of this if [the development] is in the best interest of our town. Is there no other way to open up access or integrate the pedestrian-oriented experience into and through this massive block? We have a major opportunity to make this block both profitable and an expansion of the “destination experience” that makes this town shine. A solid block of apartments with poor design will literally be a wall in the face of Lake Oswego’s living room.
I hope to attend the design and review meeting in December to voice my opinion in opposition to this project.
Dr. Jason Bussanich, Westlake Chiropractic, LO chamber member
Arthur and Charlene Emlen, Lake Oswego residents for 47 years
I, for one, do not want my tax dollars subsidizing this project. Many of us have been looking forward to the redevelopment of the Wizer block. But this is not what we had in mind.
Barbara Eden, Lake Oswego
Those who are lucky enough to live or work in the new development will greatly benefit our downtown retail and restaurant community. They will add more vitality and excitement to our core. They will rarely need to drive because everything will be in walking distance.
Those who are lucky enough to live or work in the new development will greatly benefit our downtown retail and restaurant community. They will add more vitality and excitement to our core. They will rarely need to drive because everything will be in walking distance.
Change is hard for some, but this project has been coming for 30 years. It is time to make it happen.
Lynne Wintermute, Lake Oswego
As a resident of Lake Oswego, I would like to express my support for the Block 137 development proposed by the Evergreen Group (LLC). The design is attractive, but even more important is the potential economic impact, which would be considerable. In addition to the significantly increased property taxes, the city would benefit from a one-time construction excise tax that would provide a huge boost to the local school district. More jobs would be created, and the retail and dining destinations would also generate increased economic activity and attract spending to the area. Note: increased property taxes will first be used to pay off about $6 million + interest in bond debt and then go to the East End Development District only, not the General Fund. The school district benefits from a one-time payment of about $250k.
Nick Tahran, Lake Grove
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