Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area, timed to correspond with our regular meetings.
Got a story to share?
Wilkes East residents are encouraged to submit articles for the newsletter. Articles should be limited to 300 words and may be subject to editing. Send articles by email to: info@wilkeseastna.org, or by postal mail to: PO Box 536 • Fairview, OR 97024.
Transportation provides year-around, nine-times-a-year sweeping of all City streets. If weather conditions prevent sweeping a street on its scheduled day, the City will sweep it at the end of the cycle, time permitting. If not, the City will sweep it during the next cycle.
Map, Schedule & More
Visit the City's webpage for full details.
View boundaries and sweep days when the street sweeper will be in your neighborhood.
Keep the Street Clear for Sweeping
Keeping your garbage cans, recycle carts, cars, boats, campers and basketball hoops off the street when your section is due to be swept is critical in allowing the street sweepers to do a thorough job.
The City of Gresham planners would like to hear your concerns and ideas about temporary uses, such as food carts, carnivals, fruit stands and fireworks vendors.
Take the Survey Here!
An online open house runs through July 29 that gives you access to a project intro video, an online survey, and a place to direct comments to City staff members.
Now is the time to have your say before this round of input is closed.
When: Tue Jun 5, 2012 6-7:30PM Where: Gresham Public Library
385 NW Miller Av
Gresham, OR Get Map!
Free Solar Workshop
Solar Gresham is hosting free solar workshops at the Gresham Public Library in historic downtown. Led by the nonprofit Solar Oregon, the workshops will cover the basic technology, benefits and cost of solar. Imagine Energy will be available to answer questions about installation and products. Umpqua Bank will also be on hand to share information on financing opportunities.
RSVP below. The workshops provide a great opportunity to learn more about solar, whether you’re interested in having it installed at your home or just wanting to learn more about this form of renewable energy.
Solar Gresham is a new program offered through July 31. It offers homeowners solar at up to 80% or more off the cost.
Regional funding improves access to West Gresham nature park and supports community garden
On May 17th the Metro Council awarded $238,000 in capital funding to the Nadaka Nature Park and Garden Project, building momentum to this community-driven garden and nature park project in West Gresham. The competitive Metro grant award comes from capital bond funds approved by voters as part of the 2006 Regional Natural Areas Bond Measure and will support new park features like a nature based-play area, rain garden, community garden and more. The new funding adds to over $150,000 in existing financial support from East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Meyer Memorial Trust and the City of Gresham.
When: Tue Apr 3, 2012 6:00PM Where: Gresham City Hall
Council Chambers
1333 NE Eastman Pky
Gresham, OR Get Map!
$1.5 million Children's Fountain Loan Application
A couple of weeks ago, the City of Gresham posted an obscure 24-page document titled "Five Year FY 2011-2016 Consolidated Plan Amendment / Amendment to the One Year Action Plan 2011-2012" on the City's "Children's Fountain" webpage (http://greshamoregon.gov/city/) by following the Read More link. The key part of this lengthy HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) application document is on the back page, where it says that the City "intends to utilize HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantee assistance to create a Section 108 Loan Pool" and that the City "intends to apply for a Section 108 Guaranteed Loan in 2011-2012 to develop a Children's Fountain in Gresham's downtown......for $1.5 million to aid in the elimiation of slum and blight in downtown Gresham."
It turns out that the City intends to pay back the loan ($110,000/yr. for 20 yrs.) from it's annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds (currently $900,000) from HUD. These CDBG funds typically pay for things like affordable housing and public improvements in qualified neighborhoods.
At a recent Community Development & Housing Subcommittee meeting committee members questioned:
why the City was building a fountain at this time,
whether the fountain would really bring more shoppers to downtown,
how downtown qualified for a Section 108 loan,
why the fountain costs $1.5 million,
what would happen if HUD again cut the City's CDBG funds & the City couldn't repay the loan with them,
what the annual maintenance costs for the fountain (not part of grant) would be.
You'll find the City's 2-page Children's Fountain project flyer here. You can find a 5-page Case Studies of other such fountains(Jamison Square-Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton and Maryland) compiled by City staff here. We encourage neighbors to take a few moments to review these documents. Written public comment due no later than 4:30pm Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
(Click 'Read More' link below for more details and project concerns.)
When: Tue Apr 10, 2012 10AM Where: 185th & SE Stark St
Gresham, OR Get Map!
Completion of the new $19.6 million East County Courts project signals the beginning of Rockwood Town Center's redevelopment.
Join the Celebration
You are cordially invited to attend the grand opening celebration for the long-awaited East County Courthouse in the heart of Gresham's Rockwood neighborhood.
Join us Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 10:00am 'rain-or-shine' at the new East County Courts building, 185th & SE Stark St, as elected officals from Multnomah County and City of Gresham kick-off the event.
Light refreshments will follow the speaking portion of the program. Event includes self guided tours of the new facility.
Thank You!
Wilkes East Neighborhood would like express our gratitude to the following for their generous contributions & continued support:
• Jazzy Bagels, Main St & Powell
• Parkrose Hardware, 106th & Sandy
• Growers Outlet, 162nd & Glisan
• SOLV, Bringing Oregon together
• Albertsons, 181st & Glisan
• And, all the many volunteers!
