Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ownership status of TLC Farm right now?
The current owners, who bought the land in 1977 and lived here through the 1980s, have rented the land to a changing set of residents for over a decade.
In what stage is the development process? What kind of permitting/legal
structures does the developer need?
The developer, Brownstone Homes, has indicated it is about to submit final plans to the city's Bureau of Development Services. They need a Type III land use review in order to subdivide the property into 23 lots, and to get approval and/or variances for a variety of other actions the development will require.
What makes you think the development will fail?
There are many serious challenges faced by any attempt at development of this scale on this particular land. Firstly, the existing driveway is an easement over Park land, which will become invalid if the development moves forward. Therefore, the developers have to build an enormous ramp up the steep western cliff on the property, which will require enormous infill and engineering. It will be very difficult to prevent sedimentation and runoff into the Park during that process, but because steelhead-bearing Tryon Creek is already sediment-limited, there is an absolute cap on any further outflow. Moreover, the new road the developers plan to build would enter Boones Ferry Rd, a crowded artery, just north of a dangerous blind corner that has already seen several fatalities over the last few years. And none of this is to mention the incredible costs of pumping all sewage up the cliff into the city's sewer system, nor the deleterious impact on Park wildlife and recreational values, nor increased traffic and disruption for the neighborhood.
The area's residents are sick and tired of ill-planned development in the area. The Park and the Friends of the Park are angry that the developer has broken off negotiations with them. Local law students and professors are preparing legal challenges every step of the way.
Brownstone would have to be very rich and careless of their public image to try and push this through.
Financial and logistical plan to save the Farm
The owners are asking $1.5 million. We intend to have our financing together by next summer.
While financial plans remain flexible, we estimate that we can raise at least $350,000 in private donations and loans. The Friends and the Park have talked about buying a conservation easement for about $350,000 as well. We hope to secure a relatively low-interest loan for the remaining $800,000 from an allied institution, such as Shorebank Pacific.
What land ownership structure do you propose?
Again, this remains a work in progress. The following is a snapshot of our current thinking.
We intend to transfer title to the land into a land trust. TLC Farm, the nonprofit, will manage the majority of the land directly as an environmental education and sustainability demonstration center. The residences on the land will be owned collectively, perhaps by an organization like Portland Collective Housing, in a non-equity situation; nonetheless, we plan to arrange that part of rent will be in the form of long-term loans to the nonprofit, so that residents will not be left without anything when they leave.
Coming soon!
WhatÕs the vision for The Farm?
Who lives at The Farm now?
Can I visit?
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HELP?