Portland streetcar extension moves forward, but local businesses fear displacement

The extension of the Portland Streetcar line is becoming one step closer to reality, but at least one business owner fears he and others could be forced out.

“There’s progress and we like to see cool new things happening and the neighborhoods, you know, expanding,” Owner of Nob Hill Christmas, Cyrus Zamani said. “But the whole reason why we have the industrial neighborhood in Northwest Portland here was so that large trucks could come in here.”

According to the city, more than 8,000 people rely on the Portland Streetcar every weekday.

“Especially people like me that have knee problems, so it’s easier than you have to walk to that or wait for the bus and then get off and then get on there,” streetcar rider Shawn Stephans said.

Like many others, he wants the streetcar extended from the Nob Hill area to the Northwest Industrial District near Montgomery Park.

“It makes it easier for us from the hospital to come over here and then walk up,” Stephans added.

The plan was first brought up in 2009 to extend the streetcar to Montgomery Park through the former Esco Steel site.

In November, the Portland City Council held two hearings where many, including city leaders, expressed support for the $120 million project, which would be funded with federal and local dollars.

It also includes developing new sections of streets and allows for as many as 2,000 new apartment units, according to Portland Streetcar.

“I’m torn on it,” Zamani told KATU. He expressed his support and concern for the streetcar extension. Zamani has owned his business for two years along Northwest 26th just south of where the streetcar would run.

“We restore Christmas decorations and every year we do an annual Christmas tree sale for the fundraiser to support that,” Zamani said, but to stay in business, he said they rely on big and small trucks.

He fears rezoning the area for a streetcar and housing complex could force him and others out.

“We actually have people down here that are welding, we have people [who] are manufacturing, you know, things. We’re building things down here. And so, we’re going to lose a lot of that, but I’m sure also we’re going to move," Zamani added.

https://katu.com/news/local/portland-streetcar-extension-moves-forward-but-local-businesses-fear-displacement-montgomery-park-nob-hill-northwest-industrial-district-multnomah-county-oregon

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Author: KATU News
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News post in at: November 25, 2024, 3:01 am.

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