So... I just read about this resolution being supported by ~1/3 of the city's neighborhood organizations. City hearing on it will be next week on December 17th.
source
there is no text version, sadly.
The group "United Neighborhoods for Reform," says they want to prevent residential houses from being demolished and replaced by single unit larger houses, which are less affordable because of upsizing the unit square footages.
So, not the lot-splitting issue that was reaised a few years ago, but a measure to target groups like
Renaissance Homes, which have been extremely active throughout SE and NE Portland. Note: they have no listings under $400k.
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My initial thoughts:
At first I thought it would make it extremely difficult to tear down an existing house, but I'm not really sure what its impact would be. I'm not a big fan of the current practice of commercial home builders having entered the Portland market and are replacing houses with Portland super-sized bungalows (doesn't add density, although the homes are new, meet current codes and more energy efficient - to a degree).
However, I do not think its a good idea to make demolitions contingent upon the city and neighborhood association's approval. In fact, it sounds like a nightmare. I also don't want PDX turning into San Francisco.
Personally, I'd like to see some of the older, crappier houses in Portland rebuilt, perhaps as duplex/triplex/quadplex or townhomes, to add density without going full Pearl District. Rowhomes and the like would help fill in the density gap between shoebox apartments and single family homes.
Thoughts?
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