May 26, 2009
Thanks for your email.
Earlier this year, the Portland City Council voted on a stadium deal that would
renovate PGE Park for Major League Soccer and build a new baseball stadium for
the Portland Beavers. As you may know, I voted against the proposal (which
passed 3-2).
Although I am a big soccer fan, I concluded that the proposal was the wrong deal
for Portland. It requires too much public subsidy for too little economic
benefit – at a time when we face the worst recession in my lifetime.
My core priorities during these tough times include public safety, family-wage
jobs, education, parks, and affordable housing. Stadium deals are “wants” not
“needs.”
The process of identifying a site for a baseball stadium is now underway. With
the Rose Quarter/Memorial Coliseum proposal off the table, the focus is on
Lents.
While no formal proposal has been made public, options on the table include
siting a stadium and related parking in Lents Park, and financing the stadium
with urban renewal dollars dedicated for housing.
Here are the principles which will guide my deliberations going forward:
(1) I strongly support significant City investments in family-wage jobs,
infrastructure and housing in Lents.
(2) I am skeptical of claims that a minor league stadium will jump-start
economic development in the Lents community. The experience in many other cities
is otherwise.
(3) I do not believe that any stadium deal should come at the expense of
promised investments in housing, infrastructure and small business development.
(4) In particular, I am opposed to using dedicated affordable housing funds to
pay for a stadium deal. This is the wrong time to reduce critical investments in
foreclosure prevention, down payment assistance, home repair, housing renovation
and other safety net housing programs.
(5) I am generally opposed to using public parks for private ventures, absent a
compelling public benefit.
Lents Park, a thirty-eight acre community treasure, is a vital public space for
community gatherings, youth sports, relaxation, and much more. The public
benefit must be very compelling before we remove up to 16 acres for private use.
(6) I can’t think of any justification for locating hundreds of parking spaces
in Lents Park. And I am concerned about the potential removal of dozens of
mature trees from the park.
Even if the case could be made for siting a baseball stadium in Lents Park, any
lost parkland must be replaced in the neighborhood. And the full cost of a
replacement park must be part of any proposal.
Thanks again for contacting me with your thoughts on this issue.
Sincerely,
Nick Fish
Commissioner