New Development, New Day for Lents
Warren Jimenez
Today, begins a new day for the Lents community. By a 4-1 vote, PDC approved Assurety Northwest to begin developing a towncenter in Lents. Assurety Northwest, a full service insurance agency dedicated to providing quality products, competitive rates and outstanding customer service, will bring 45 family wage jobs to Portland. They plan on constructing 30,000 square feet of new, commercial development, occupying 12,000 square feet of this development.
Since March, Sam and I have been working to recruit Assurety Northwest to Portland. Assurety heard that Portland was an unfriendly place to do business. Sam immediately talked about how the City, as well as PDC, can help with their future business needs.
Specifically, Sam talked about the Lents community as a viable option for relocation. With the light rail to begin construction next year, it could be a smart business decision to invest in the community. As we continued to meet with Assurety, we discovered that one of the owners of Assurety Northwest grew up in the Lents community. With support from Sam, Mayor Potter, Commissioner Leonard and the Lents community, Assurety Northwest decided to invest into the community that they knew when they were young.
Now begins the design review process with hopes to begin construction by the middle of next year.
Congratulations Lents, welcome Assurety Northwest!
To read more about this project, check out the Oregonian article.
Posted by Warren Jimenez on October 12, 2005
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Filed Under East Portland, Front Page, Jobs & Economy, News
Comments by site visitors
Are these 45 new jobs or relocations from their HQ in Gresham? If 45 new jobs, congratulations are due. Thank you.
Posted by: Steve | Oct 12, 2005 6:46:34 PM
Steve,
You all over my site this week with something to say on all topics... thanks for the interest.
Yes, a company is moving into the City of Portland from an outlying city! Sadly, it is more often the other way around.
Of the 45 jobs coming to Lents, most are filled but the company is growing.
This gives Lents at least 45 well-paid customers they do not now have and a company that is willing to invest in redevelop of a key site Lent's business district.
I hope that our incentives in partnership with Assurety's own investment will lead to other private sector investments. I will keep working at it.
Sam
Posted by: Sam Adams | Oct 12, 2005 9:59:53 PM
Mr Adams - Sorry for being tough on you, I am thankful you are trying to make things better rather than the usual CoP ways of causing economic growth. If you are looking for citizen input written/oral, always glad to contribute.
Posted by: Steve | Oct 13, 2005 7:58:20 AM
Congradulations to Assurety Northwest, Portland Development Commission, Mayor Potter, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Leonard, and all of the Lents Community and Urban Renewal Committee Members who diligently worked to make this a HUGE WIN for the City of Portland and the Lents Town Center. GO GO GO LENTS! Randy Dagel
Posted by: Randy Dagel | Oct 13, 2005 11:39:13 AM
Don't buy property in Portland.
If the planning department likes your property or thinks it would better for wildlife they will TAKE YOUR PROPERTY without paying you a dime.
If you don'e believe me call me at 503-939-8188.
Sam Adams is one of the leaders in this THEFT.
Posted by: Mike Lehne | Oct 19, 2005 1:16:47 PM
FYI: Mr. Lehne asked the Portland City Council to approve his Ballot Measure 37 claim. The Portland City Council has approved other Ballot Measure 37 claims, but we chose not to approve Mr. Lehne's claim based on its merits.
Posted by: Sam Adams | Oct 22, 2005 12:34:50 PM
Well now, Mr. Lehne, we do have some nerve, don't we?
I caught your little act on cable access when Comm. Adams caught your forged documents that you wrote that falsely stated you still owned property that you had clearly sold. You were caught red handed.
You also had the nerve to submit an appraisal of your property that was done by a certified appraiser. Fortunately Comm Saltzman discovered the appraiser of your property was none other than YOU.
How dare you attempt to steal taxpayer dollars and then have the nerve to attack Comm Adams simply because he uncovered your devious plan.
You are lucky the DA does not prosecute you for fraud.
Posted by: Channel 30 Watcher | Oct 25, 2005 8:30:30 PM
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This project grew out of my efforts to visit 100 businesses in a 100 days. I want to that the good people at Assurety NW, Ted Gilbert, the people in Lents who worked with at each step along the way on this business recruitement, John Southgate at PDC and Warren Jimenez on my staff who dogged this prospect almost every day for 5 months. Thanks also to Mayor Potter and Commissioner Leonard both of whom were enthusiastic in their support.
Lents is coming back!
Posted by: Sam Adams | Oct 12, 2005 3:04:40 PM