County not worried about Sessions’ threat, Portland plans for Centennial Mills redevelopment and Umpqua Forest sale paused.
Attorney General doubles down on threat to Sanctuary Cities
Jeff Sessions said Monday he intends to ensure sanctuary cities do not receive Department of Justice federal funding, OPB reports. Numerous municipalities in Oregon, including Portland and Multnomah County, have designated cities as safe harbors. County Chair Deborah Kafoury says she thinks the statements were just part of an effort to distract the public from actual issues. She doesn’t expect the county to lose any of its $2.5 million funding. Portland receives $3 million. Mayor Ted Wheeler says the statement was “inaccurate and harmful.”
Portland Mayor makes big promises about city future
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler presented his first State of the City address Friday at a Portland City Club luncheon. Among the promises was a pledge to increase economic development at sites including the Rose Quarter and Centennial Mills.
It looks like one of those promises is already progressing. The City Council gave approval to the Portland Development Commission to pursue development at the Centennial Mills property, the Portland Business Journal reports. The plan will redevelop the entire property, which includes constructing 426 residential units, 17,000 square feet of commercial space and 20,000 square feet of creative office space.
‘More manufacturers needed’ to jumpstart mass timber industry
Editor Linda Baker caught the tail end of yesterday’s Mass Timber Summit, a Business Oregon-sponsored event timed to coincide but not to be confused with the much larger Mass Timber Conference that starts today in the Oregon Convention Center.
Timber sale in Umpqua National Forest paused
A judge ruled the forest has to conduct a more comprehensive study of the economic impacts of logging before it can sell 1,400 acres for commercial harvest, the Statesman Journal reports. The decision is the result of a lawsuit by two environmental groups, Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild. The groups delayed the same sale in 2014 with the request for an environmental study.
Meyer Memorial to award $17 million in grants
The group will award grants ranging from $10,000 to $250,000 in four portfolios, the Portland Business Journal reports. Portfolios include building community, equitable education, healthy environment and housing opportunities. The open funding invitation is the second of its kind from Meyer Memorial, which resigned its grant program last year. Applications are due April 19th for consideration.
Portland home prices climb higher still
Home prices increased 0.1 percent in January, which sets a new record and pushes the increase from last year to 9.7%, the Oregonian reports. The year increase puts Portland at No. 2 for home prices out of 20 cities listed on the price index. Seattle is No. 1 at 11.3%.
