NE 7th Ave at NE Russell

I've not done an update since February on the ongoing fight in the next door neighborhood of Eliot.  The long and the short of it is they lost their fight against a developer's plans, and the city's approval, to construct a 68 unit apartment building in a neighborhood of Foursquares, Craftsman Bungalows, and newer builds that all fit in with the scale of the area.  You can click on the tag NE7th if you want to read the older blips.  

The home pictured above (decked out for Halloween) has the construction site right across the street from them (see extra).  Their yard sign reads: It will be a wonderful day when neighborhood concerns trump greed.

On their fence was also a letter:

Dear Neighbors,

The Demand Redesign Steering Committee needs to share some really disappointing news.  Despite all our efforts to scale down Dan Neal's project in our neighborhood, despite 1,343 people signing our petition, his plans have been approved by the city and construction will start tomorrow Monday 28th.

The 6 story building will stand in our neighborhood as a reminder that we live in a city where our officials do not share the vision of its residents in preserving our neighborhoods.  They do not want to develop in a smart harmonious scale that adds to our neighborhoods; it will stand as a reminder of Mr. Neal's greed and lack of concern for people's safety and livability.

No traffic calming measures will be put in place, no cross walks.  Instead what we will have is a 68 apartment units with a 'community' room, a fitness center, 42 underground car parking spots, 75 spots for bicycles and a pet wash, with a price tag of $2.30 per square foot that doesn't address our city's growing housing problem.

We would like to thank you all for your support but we need one more thing from you.  Please join us as we send Mr. Neal a strong message that he and his monstrous development are not welcome in our community.

For this reason we plan to 'welcome' Dan Neal during his first week of construction with a protest conveying our displeasure.  Signs are encouraged and we hope the local TV station will be onsite.

This is our neighborhood; we were ignored, lied to, and cynically played.  Please join us!

Tuesday September 29th at 6 p.m., NE 7th and Russell

Sincerely,

Demand Redesign Steering Committee 

Obviously I was away when all this happened so I don't know what local news, if any, was generated by this.  I feel bad for these guys and they are clearly very upset.  Sadly, I have to say that I'm not surprised that the city approved the build.  It's a shame there couldn't have been a compromise.  I will keep watching this space and document the changes, NE 7th between Broadway and Knott is not going to be the same, that's for sure.

Overcast and a little rainy today.  62ºF