Landlord decides against proposed Rockwood methadone clinic after public outcry

Gresham Mayor says landlord "did the right thing" "I think he heard the community.”

Mayor Shane T. Bemis announced February 10, 2010 that Jack Medak the owner of the building at l9295 E Burnside and potential landlord for a proposed methadone clinic in the Rockwood area of Gresham has decided not to lease his space for that use.

The decision comes after a contentious two-hour meeting held Thursday, Feb. 4, in the building in question at 19295 E Burnside St.

"This is a big win for the people who have been working so hard to raise the tide in Rockwood," said Bemis. "I am tremendously proud of the community for clearly articulating the potential redevelopment obstacles and law enforcement challenges that could come from an additional methadone clinic in the area." Bemis said “I am glad that Mr. Medak did not lease to them,” adding, “He did the right thing. I think he heard the community.”

(See video below)

Mayor Bemis had opposed the methadone clinic, saying it "would be a step in the wrong direction" for Rockwood.

Medak said a representative of a Head Start facility on nearby Yamhill Street, who attended the Feb. 4 meeting and said the day-care center plans to become a licensed school, especially swayed him.

In January Bemis wrote a letter to Medak asking him to consider the potential drawbacks when making his leasing decision and consider the abundance of similar services in the area, and the impact that such facilities can have on redevelopment potential, law enforcement resources, and community livability when considering the lease.

Bemis and Medak met shortly after the initial letter, and discussed the stress that similar facilities can have on law enforcement resources and redevelopment goals. Medak reported Monday that his current tenants had sufficient concerns to merit denying the lease.

"While I believe in the importance of rehabilitation services for those who have fallen into the cycle of substance abuse and addiction, this particular location is in an area that is already well-served by similar rehabilitation facilities," wrote Bemis in the original letter to Medak. "I believe that an over-saturation in this particular neighborhood would have negative impacts on an area of our community that already faces significant redevelopment and business development challenges."