Dear St. Johns Community Members,

It is my pleasure to send this update regarding the downtown St. Johns Brownfield project.

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services [1] (BES) has performed environmental site assessment and cleanup at 8735 N Lombard St In downtown St. Johns. BES is also taking ownership of the property from the Portland Development Commission [2] (PDC) in order to facilitate public involvement, issue a public Request For Proposals (RFP) and sell the site to a selected developer. To date, two public meetings have been conducted, information collected and a steering committee is being formed.

This site is adjacent to the St. Johns Racquet Center owned and operated by the City of Portland's bureau of Parks & Recreation [3] (PP&R).

Portland Parks & Recreation is dedicated to the provision of quality open space and recreation opportunity for the people in St. Johns. The facility provides a valuable resource to the community. However, it requires facility improvements and together with operations the costs exceed current resources. To facilitate these improvements and the highest quality recreation opportunity in St. Johns, PP&R requested proposals for concessionaire operation of this facility in November 2006. No responses to the request were received. Continuing its efforts to provide St. Johns with adequate opportunity, PP& R has decided to include the St. Johns Racquet Center in the process and eventual redevelopment currently managed by BES for the adjacent brownfield property if certain guiding principles can be met.

The list of principles below outline the conditions for involvement by PP&R in this process:

1. The public should be involved in decision making, where appropriate and feasible, including open, public meetings that involve a diverse spectrum of individuals and ideas.
2. PP&R will explore the selling of the SJRC property, if there are compelling proposals which are strongly supported by the Steering Committee and the St. Johns community.
3. PP&R believes that recreational use for the SJRC property should be retained, however PP&R would be open to considering recreational uses other than racquet sports as well as non-recreational uses that meet other important needs, as identified by the local community.
4. P&R is very interested in working with BES on determining the best use for the City-owned site upon which the brownfield and SJRC sit.
5. PP&R will play a supportive role in BES's development of a resident/business Steering Committee and RFQ process.
6. The RFQ should stress addressing the needs of the tennis patrons, other recreational interests of the St. Johns community, and PP&R.
7. PP&R would be pleased to participate with BES and the Steering Committee on a recommendation to both bureau directors (and Commissioner's Offices, if appropriate), on the most intriguing and potentially successful RFQ concept.
8. PP&R will collaborate in the realization of the ultimate concept

Commissioner Sam Adams                            Commissioner Dan Saltzman

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