Dennis Randazzo, a commercial real estate broker in Portland, wrote to WW to add one more idea to the mix about where to put Triple-A baseball now that the Lents neighborhood is off the table.
The idea is a surprising one: Put it next to Madison High School [PDF] off NE 82nd Avenue in the Roseway neighborhood.
Randazzo writes in an email:
Attached is a “suggestion” I made to Commissioner Leonard’s office (also forwarded to Merritt Paulson). It’s a “reasonably” scaled overlay of a AAA baseball park in Tucson Arizona. As you can see, if fits ideally on the site and allows for a couple of other uses complimentary to the facility.
Of course, Randazzo would stand to make a commission if Portland bought his idea; he’s been trying to market the 25-acre site for about six years. He came close to selling it recently when a developer wanted to turn the parcel into a big-box store. But neighbors opposed the plan and squashed it, which gives you one indication about the plan’s chances. A guy can dream, I guess.
- When The Portland Beavers Last Tried to Move to Lents An Oct. 2
- Breaking: Paulson Withdraws Lents Stadium Proposal Merritt P
- New Group Forms to Oppose Lents Baseball Deal A new gr
- Parks Board Rejects Lents Stadium Deal The board
- Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association Voices “Strong Opposition” to Stadium The Foste
Tags: Lents, Neighborhood News, portland beavers, Roseway
I live 10 blocks from the Roseway site and, unless there are clear indicators that this would cut down on crime and congestion in this area of town, I would be categorically opposed to a baseball stadium in my neighborhood, particularly if it meant ripping out green space such as Glen Haven park, where working class families take their kids to play on summer evenings.
If, on the other hand, there is a clear indicator that this would cut down on the pimp cars and drug lords cruising the neighborhood, and prostitutes and strung out kids staggering along NE 82nd, I would support it.
Randazzo misses the salient point that a lot of folks miss (like those suggesting the PPS headquarters site): Paulson only wants publicly-owned land for his publicly-owned ballpark. If he has to actually pay for any of it, there’s no deal.
I’d rather have a ballpark in that spot than Walmart or the field of nothing we have now. I could definitely see a well designed ballpark with related amenities totally revitalizing that rather barren and sad strip of 82nd. It would likely result in a ton of upgrades to our MAX station as well as all the blocks between the 84 and Siskiyou.
I live in the hood, about five blocks away from the proposed spot and I would definitely be willing to hear what they could come up with for that space.
As pointed out above, though, the publicly-owned versus privately-owned issue probably makes this a non-starter.
The ballpark at Lents would’ve help so many students. Right now it would also help the employment. Those who oppose aren’t really thinking about the positives and the big picture. Why are they afraid of traffic? because there’s rarely traffic I’ve almost gotten ran over at STOP LIGHT/CROSS WALK every week during the school year. People do it cause they get away with it.
This suggestion makes more sense than any other idea that’s been floating around lately.
It certainly would add some revitalization to this part of 82nd (and NE in general)… it’s relatively close-in, near Max, available underutilized land, plus it’s not taking away anybody’s neighborhood park.
Maybe Paulson could kick-in a few more bucks, or they could do the silly satellite-urban renewal thing with money from the riverfront areas.
@Skygypsy
“I live 10 blocks from the Roseway site and, unless there are clear indicators that this would cut down on crime and congestion in this area of town…”
Uhh, I live about 7 blocks from this area and I rarely see any serious crime, pimp cars or drug lords around the area. And I could care less about hookers. They sure are friendly.
Do you camp out on 82nd and catalog this stuff? Maybe time for a new hobby.
Would be nice though if something was done with that space.