Blogtown, PDX

Monday, March 10, 2008

News LIVEBLOGGING the St. Johns Neighborhood Association Meeting: Will Evil Corporate Chain be Allowed to Build in Poor Helpless Portland Neighborhood?

Posted by The Unpaid Intern on Mon, Mar 10 at 7:45 PM

A hoard of St. Johns residents (plus, it seems, the neighborhood’s entire population of crying babies) showed up at the local community center to hear about the development plans of Steve Collinson, of the Summit Development Corporation. Steve wants to put a Walgreens in the center of this sleepy, hippy-ish residential neighborhood. Good luck, Steve!

photo%283%29.jpg Big turn out in St. Johns

UPDATE: Steve is totally missing. Steve had been scheduled to explain the plans and take questions from area residents, but Steve is nowhere to be found. Nice, Steve. Classy move.

UPDATE: The St. Johns board has voted against the Walgreens development plan and that seems to be the general feeling of everyone else in the room. The crowd is clearly against Steve, who is still a no-show. It seems arch-liberal Portland residents have strong opinions when it comes to soulless corporate chains moving into their neighborhoods and threatening small business. Who woulda thunk??

UPDATE: Steve is a total no-show. Maybe he sensed the angry mob and decided to do his Q and A via email. Steve, you could have at least made a courtesy call.

photo%284%29.jpg Standing room only

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Comments

St. Johns Sentinel:

Despite the given hiccups, Collinson feels the building is about three-quarters of the way to approval, although expressed that they were still listening to community concerns. “We don’t want to make you feel like we’re trying to force anything,” he said.

So much for that line.

Posted by b!X | March 10, 2008 8:18 PM

Three quarters of the way to approval? What does that mean?

Posted by Skinny City Girl | March 10, 2008 8:27 PM

Go Lorelei and Ryan!! woohoo!

Posted by Skinny City Girl | March 10, 2008 8:29 PM

The Walgreen's project is not three-quarters of the way to approval. The project has not been submitted to the Bureau of Development Services for approval. BDS staff have not reviewed the project. The project does not meet the intent or requirements of the St. Johns/Lombard Plan. If the project does not comply with the full intent of the St. Johns/Lombard Plan the Bureau Development Services needs to deny the project.

Posted by Crank5000 | March 10, 2008 9:08 PM

Has anyone confirmed with Walgreens that they are actually on board?

Posted by Curious | March 10, 2008 9:13 PM

Steve's middle name wouldn't happen to be Hussein, would it?

Posted by lyle | March 10, 2008 9:18 PM

Wow! St. Johns Neighborhood Association really had their act together tonight. Too bad Steve Collinson missed out on it.

Posted by chickenlady | March 10, 2008 10:24 PM

Wow! St. Johns Neighborhood Association really had their act together tonight. Too bad Steve Collinson missed out on it.

Posted by chickenlady | March 10, 2008 10:24 PM

Walgreens is opening a new store each and every day. Huge market expansion..going for market share. I just hope they figure grass is greener on the other side of the fence, and put the SJ Walgreens in..say.. Battle Ground?

Posted by local yokel | March 10, 2008 10:29 PM

Hey Unpaid; are we really hippies, up here?
Anyway:

So, there's a Walgreen's perhaps five blocks from here. Why do we need another, exactly?
Oh, right: because we need another Walgreen's. I keep forgetting.

Posted by richbachelor | March 11, 2008 12:10 AM

That looks like a perfect spot for a New Seasons. As much as I love Proper Eats, they don't have EVERYTHING. And I really hate the new Safeway--and Safeway in general, I guess. Since St. Johns is where you move where you either turn 30, get married, or have a kid, I think we could totally use a natty grocery store.

Posted by martin | March 11, 2008 6:25 AM

A lot of people have wanted a Trader Joe's on that site, but TJ's is just as auto-oriented as Walgreens and would create even more traffic headaches for that intersection.

The St. Johns Neighborhood Association has an online comment form for anyone who wasn't at last night's meeting.

Posted by Spine | March 11, 2008 8:57 AM

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