Latest news with #ToddZarnitz
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pearl District residents opposed to homeless shelter
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A new 40-bed homeless shelter planned for the Pearl District brought about 200 people to a public meeting to voice their concerns about crime and drug use. Despite getting a tour of the proposed shelter site around Northwest Northrup, area residents packed the to make their thoughts known even though, they said, city leaders aren't interested in their input. Mayor Keith Wilson was invited to this meeting but 'respectfully declined,' his office told KOIN 6 News. But Wilson's team also said they've been in almost daily communication with some of the neighbors for this proposed shelter, providing information and trying to set up meetings. Neighbors distressed over planned homeless shelter in Portland's Pearl District The shelter will expand from 40 beds to 200 beds by the end of the year. It's part of the broader city initiative to help nearly 600 unsheltered Portlanders off the streets in the Northwest and Pearl District. 'I think what the neighborhood wants and what I would want is people to get back to living healthy, productive lives. And the great question is how to do that, especially when people are deep into, chemical dependency,' Northwest District Association President Todd Zarnitz said. 'And, you know, there's no easy answers, of course. But what we want is to not make the problem worse and make it worse in our backyard, basically.' Kevin Kahn has lived in Portland for nearly five decades. He was one of the hundreds of angry neighbors who packed the Lucky Labrador Monday night. 'Most of that time, I would say, the city has changed incredibly for the better,' Kahn told KOIN 6 News. But he's concerned about the city right now. 'If you don't catch the spiral early, it's a long way back. And I'm really concerned that Portland is in the spiral,' he said. 'And you know, Band-Aids don't fix spirals.' City officials said they're working with the Salvation Army, which is slated to be the site's operator. Portland Solutions is aiming for a late summer opening date, but no specific date is set at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Neighbors distressed over planned homeless shelter in Portland's Pearl District
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Neighbors in Portland's Pearl District will gather Wednesday for a public meeting about a new homeless shelter planned for the area. City leaders confirmed Tuesday they will lease a building on NW Northrup Street, between 14th and 15th avenues, to open a shelter this summer with 40 beds — expanding to 200 by year's end. The city calls the shelter a key step toward getting people off the streets, but some neighbors say they were blindsided and fear it could bring more problems. Michelangelo Navea said the city 'should have asked us first, as a community. Instead of saying, 'Here we're gonna do it,' the city didn't say anything.' Todd Zarnitz, president of the Northwest District Association, said residents feel cut out of the process. 'People take their community seriously here,' Zarnitz said. 'And they've completely been cut out of the process.' He called the city's plan short-sighted and warned it could cause issues in the neighborhood. 'Really what we have is a cancerous drug culture eating the town inside and out,' Zarnitz said. Rob Layne, senior communication strategist for the City of Portland, said, 'These emergency overnight shelters are life-saving interventions, part of the solution to reduce street camping and help move our city's unsheltered population toward stability. We are working closely with local associations and neighbors to address concerns and answer questions as we develop the shelter.' According to the city, it will pay roughly $18,000 a month to rent the building for the shelter. The plan is part of Mayor Keith Wilson's Some neighbors say it's money well spent. Rachel Billington said, 'I think it's good if they're getting people off the street and into somewhere safer.' Whether the plan brings solutions or headaches, neighbors say the conversation is just getting started. 'Being homeless is not a crime,' Navea said. 'But if you put that shelter here, you're gonna see a lot of drug use.' The Salvation Army is reportedly in talks to run the shelter but did not respond to KOIN 6's request for comment. The Northwest District Association is holding a virtual meeting on Wednesday and an in-person meeting on Monday to discuss concerns. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
