Mercy Corps, which is soon moving into new headquarters in Old Town, had an interesting take on the “Made in Oregon” sign debate and its connection to a largely unrelated parking lease in a tentative deal between the city and the University of Oregon.
When Mercy Corps moves into its new headquarters, the university will be the humanitarian group’s new neighbor. Both the university and Mercy Corps would like to be able to use the parking lot between their two buildings.
On May 13, 2009, Mercy Corps’ chief financial officer, Stephen Mitchell wrote [PDF] a blistering letter to Portland’s elected leaders:
“Recently, we were extremely disappointed to learn that City Council members and the University of Oregon have initiated — and nearly concluded — negotiations that would result in an exclusive lease to the University of Oregon of this parking space, apparently the result of the University of Oregon’s negotiation with the city over the ‘Made in Oregon’ sign. Mercy Corps was completely excluded from this process; we were not informed of any of the details. Is this the way the City of Portland works?”
Ouch. The public record shows Mayor Sam Adams’ office trying to make sure Mercy Corps’ interests were represented in the negotiations.
On May 11, an attorney for the university spoke with Mitchell to tell Mercy Corps the lease agreement hadn’t been finalized and that the university would preserve Mercy Corps’ use of the parking lot.
Through a spokeswoman, Mitchell says Mercy Corps still hasn’t gotten an official response to his letter, however.
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Tags: Made in Oregon, mercy corps, Old Town, University of Oregon
Randy Leonard is truely a trouble maker.
On the 6th day, a loud omnipotent voice boomed out…”and the world shall stand aside for Randy Leonard”.
Ms Slovic, in your previous piece you reported:
“What would the City of Portland give the University of Oregon for relinquishing its neon marketing tool? What would the city do to make the university whole?
The answer, it turns out, is a parking lot. Or, specifically, a city-owned lot that could have generated at least $54,000 a year for Portland’s Bureau of Transportation, which just shed 57 full-time jobs and $5.4 million under Adams’ recently approved 2009-10 budget.”
Have you been able to determine how the low end estimate of $54K/annum was arrived at? Was it simply based on parking fees on the city-owned lot?
Is there a high end estimate of lost revenue?
Do you know if there was any estimate of the revenues possible from an alternative use of the lot; that is, a use other than as a city-owned parking lot or a university-entitled lot?
Sorry to burden you regarding the details of real costs of relatively secretive deals, but I imagine that more than I should like to know them, to the extent they can be known.
BTW, has the ‘09-’10 budget actually been formally and terminally “approved?”
Mercy Corps. Let’s see. We’ve seen story after story in the international news lately of nations trying to EJECT Mercy Corps from their nations for interference with local laws and customs. Sort of like when Mercy Corps built their new HQ here in Portland destroying Portland landmarks in the process giving the middle finger to all citizens and politicians who criticized the so-called non-profit. Can’t Mercy Corps get it through their heads, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME in PORTLAND.
To Gardiner Menefree:
Here’s a bit more info.
The city’s estimates for the parking are based on what other city-owned metered spaces collect, on average, in a year. That’s about $2,000.
The parking area could have more than 27 spaces, depending on the configuration. Twenty-seven was a minimum number, I believe.
I don’t have more than that. On the budget front, the 09-10 budget has been “approved” but not “adopted.” That last part should come soon.
Best,
Beth Slovic
Ed…You’re too harsh and uninformed. “Nations” aren’t kicking Mercy Corps out, Sudan is because they’re government is headed by a person the ICC deems worthy of arrest. Also, to inform you better, Mercy Corps isn’t destroying a Portland landmark. The building that they’re moving into was deteriorating and was in need of significant restoration or would have had to been demolished so Mercy Corps SAVED the building. Mercy Corps, you’re welcome in my Portland anytime, we love you.
[...] the parking. Responding to a blistering letter from Mercy Corps in May that expressed the humanitarian group’s concern over not having parking next to their new Old [...]
[...] Mercy Corps, whose new headquarters are on the other side of the parking lot, balked at the parking arrangement, which was part of the university’s safety strategy for students. [...]