_ _ getting. “What really bugs me is the way Cadillac goes about doing its business with the city,” he said. “Not only are they asking for a break on the price of land, but they are only offering the city $50,000 option money for the property while they hold it off the market for 18 months. And to top it off, if the project .doesn’t go through, they want their money back. That's an insult. “ If Cadillac wants to come in here and disrupt business, tenant life, and our environment to determine whether they want to get into our pockets or not, let them put up half a million dollars. If they buy the property, the half million is credited towards the purchase, but if they don’t buy, they forfeit to the city. But this deal they are getting is too much.” Yes. this deal is too much. Not only is Cadillac coming into Portland at rock-bottom prices, and with a development whose size and scope will completely dwarf the Pioneer Courthouse and surrounding businesses in the community, but they are also operating, with the tacit approval of the PDC. as chief judge and executioner of the businesses in the area. In deciding which businesses are “ appropriate” to the development’s achieving its retail makeup, the Cadillac people swing a very sharp axe. “We were never informed that the project was coming." said Bill Durkheim. owner and manager of Mr. D’s restaurant, a popular lunch and breakfast place. “The first I heard about it. and I think this goes for most of the merchants in the area, was from the PDC in a hand-delivered letter, which 1 received about 15 minutes before I read about it in the Journal.” This was confirmed by Bill Kloster at the Looking Glass, who said, “The only thing we heard was that a public hearing was happening to discuss the proposal. We didn't even know the area was being considered for development. let alone that a company had already been selected and a plan was ready.” Like most of the merchants in the area, these two have received no word from Cadillac Fairview asking them if they would be interested in moving into the development. One business that Cadillac Fairview did talk with was the Yamhill Market. Said owner Sandy Runstein: “Oh yeah, the Cadillac people were around. They told me that they didn’t know if the project would have a market; they said they would have to see if it fit into their retail scheme and requirements, though they didn’t say what those were." (Under the guidelines of the Downtown Plan as adopted several years ago, there shall be “a farmer's market-type of facility in Downtown, either in the existing area along Yamhill, or in the ground floor of a new structure.” ) Runstein went on to add that, “They told me that it doesn't matter that my business is already here and Since 1905— established. I have no exclusive right to move into the new development. Cadillac said that even if they do have a market, they might select someone else to operate it besides me.” The Cadillac Fairview Company seems determined to pick and choose the people they want in their development and move the pieces around until they arrive at the proper “mix,” regardless of the history of this unique shopping community and the many merchants who have stuck by the Downtown through some lean years. This writer learned that the Cadillac Company is interested in locating a “ smoke shop-magazine store” in the complex, but instead of talking and working with a merchant in the area who already offers this type of business, the 5th Avenue Smoke Shop, the company contacted Rich’s Cigar Store to see if they would be interested in relocating. "We did have a feeler from Cadillac," the owner of Rich’s told me. “ It came through a mutual friend, but it wasn’t really a direct offer; anyway, I don't know if we would be interested in moving." When I contacted the busy manager of the 5th Avenue shop, he said that, "we haven’t heard a word. Just the letter [from the PDC|, that’s it.” When I questioned if he would be interested in moving into the new development, he shot me a quick and puzzled look as he viewed the 15-or-so customers in his store and asked, “Why move?” From the fruit and vegetable markets to the availability of specialty foods, shoe repairs, loans, dentists, beauty shops, neckties, books and magazines, and the best drinking deal in town at the Harvester bar (Dollar Doubles all day!), this area provides a real “mix” of activities. A natural mix. Bill Klosterman: “There are articles of merchandise available in these four blocks, little pleasures of life, not to mention nice people who have built their lives here, and if this goes through, those things won’t ever be available again in Portland.” When asked if he would be interested in relocating in the complex. Klosterman replied, “No, we won't move there. It isn’t for our kind of customer. They want the fancy shops and the national chain stores; they want predictability.” And that was the reaction of most of the merchants I talked with. Sadly, many of the merchants in the area will not be locating anywhere if this project goes through. “No, I doubt that I’ll start over someplace else,” said one merchant in the Yamhill area. “ I’ve been here for almost thirty years and I’m too old to begin over. I guess I’ll just retire, though I don't really want to.” Opposition and concern about this development has come from several fronts and organizations who fear for the historical, residential and community aspects of Downtown. At a meeting held in April, many representatives of the Burnside Council, the Downtown Community Association, the Historical Landmarks Commission, and interested architects, planners and other citizens, expressed THE WHITE EAGLE GAFE 8 SALOON their complaints and, in some cases, outrage over the proposal. "The Downtown Community Association does not feel that it can support this development,” said Martin Gix, a representative for the group. “We feel that it would destroy the character and identity of a very special part of Downtown. We feel that the special character of the retail on 5th and Yamhill has a kind of very special landmark quality in itself.” Mari Burke, also of the DCA, voiced similar concern when she said, “There are goals and guidelines that it doesn’t fulfill. It is obvious that this project is not rehabilitation and conservation. It’s land clearance and renewal.” Historical Commission concern focused around three buildings: the Goodenough Building and the Gilbert Building, which are potential historical landmarks, and the effect the project would have on the Pioneer Courthouse, which is already a recognized National Landmark. Concern for the Courthouse focused primarily on the fact that it would become “lost and minimized” by such a large development right across the street. The Gilbert and Goodenough buildings are scheduled for demolition if the plan goes through. The Gilbert houses the Taylor Hotel, a 40-unit, low-income hotel for pensioners and old-timers who mostly work doing odd jobs and handy work in the stores and restaurants of the area. The demolition suggestion raised several complaints from the Portland Tenants Union and the Burnside Community Council, who argue that the Downtown Plan was designed to protect housing, particularly low-income housing, in the area. “The city made a commitment to the principle of one-for-one replacement housing in the area,” said Tina Frost of the Burnside Council. “Since these guidelines were passed, just about one-third of the housing units in one area have been lost through demolition, conversion or closure. There has been zero replacement of low-cost, single-room occupancy housing in the downtown area.” While the PDC admits that they might seek to “amend” the Downtown Plan to bring this proposal within the law, they argue that it wasn’t the intent of the Downtown Plan to prevent new development. “We’re only talking about a few blocks out of a large area. I don’t think it violates the plan.” said Oliver Norville, PDC attorney. But critics say what this project actually does is break up the patterns of the city, and focuses all of the attention of itself. Said architecture student David Bales: “The project developers aren’t really concerned with the fact that this development is for Portland, as opposed to one for Toronto, Quebec, or any point in the world.” ZoZuOlU 836 NORTH RUSSELL ( 7Mile North o f the Coliseum - 1 Blk. o f f Interstate Ave. ) TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY MONDAY Coffee Lolita & Kamora $1.50 Buck night well drinks only Tequila Night any tequila drink $1.50 Ladies Night Cover $1.50 Ladies .50 & SATURDAY Live Blues 1st drink for ladies free 12
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