By Sarah Taylor
The Linnton neighborhood is a string of historic riverfront villages; carved out of the forests and mountains. From indigenous trails and villages to immigrant farmers, shop keepers and tradesmen, the tiny hamlets lived within the seasonal tides of the rivers, creeks and lakes.
One of the very first settler communities in Oregon, immigrants from around the world sought a better life and for some that meant one of the settlements near Linnton, Springville and St John’s. Portland was, it seemed a fair distance and a far different lifestyle away.
Linnton’s rugged independence was first threatened by the vote to make it part of Linnton in 1915. Despite irregularities in the voting procedures, Linnton then became fair game for anything Portland did not want in their traditional boundaries. Gas and oil tanks were placed on soil, dredged from the bottom of the river.
Lumber mills and a favorite grocer were replaced with highways to speed oil tank trucks and trains to market. The highway was expanded in the 60’s and then to top it off, the city made it an “Industrial Sanctuary” and the promised riverfront main street was denied.
Houses built in the 1850’s by our immigrant ancestors were torn down. Access to the river was blocked. There was no place to throw in a fishing line or launch a canoe.
We know the dangers of the Critical Energy Hub remaining on the once abundant shores. City representatives have suggested that the people of Linnton move and recently suggested that the whole of Linnton could be designated a “CEI HUB Geography.”
In response to this, I am suggesting that we propose Linnton be designated a Historic Neighborhood in the City’s Comprehensive Plan. This proposal would be discussed at the next Linnton Neighborhood Association meeting with a need to come together with a plan.
Caption: Renderings from Linnton riverfront visioning exercise that took place at neighborhood meetings in 2011.
One possible plan might include the land between 107th and 112th from highway 30 to the river. The land from Highway 30 to Front Avenue would be commercial with residential and the land from Front Avenue to the river would become open space/ parks/ Greenway with some possibilities for commercial use.
Any proposal would need discussion and approval by the LNA.
As in any zoning change, the existing land use codes go into effect if the business is changed or sold. This proposal would represent long-term planning that would represent historic preservation, repair of the riverbank and increased safety. In the best of all dreams, it would begin to lay a path for a highway bridge for pedestrians and wildlife.
This is a Big Dream and an honoring of a promise never kept. I thought of this when Darise Weller, an LNA Board member mentioned the old river front plan the community made. This along with the planning bureau’s suggestion that Linnton be made a CEI Hub Geography, made me want to take action.
I believe it is possible and that this is a good time to make this request. We will need assistance with mapping our proposal, if it is agreed upon.
To get involved, contact Sarah Taylor at sarahsojourner@mac.com.
Resources:
• Linnton Hillside Study – Final Plan, City of Portland, April 26, 2006 – https://tinyurl.com/y3wzxx7v
• Linnton Neighborhood Plan, prepared by LNA, June 5, 2000 – http://portlanddocs.com/NeighborhoodPlans/00605LNAPLAN.pdf