| Hello Piedmont Neighborhood Association Members and Supporters,This past Thursday, the PNA held a well-attended General Meeting of PNA Members and allies when officials from NW Housing Alternative (owner of Rosemont Court) publicly announced their agonizing decision to sell Rosemont Court (100-units of low-income elderly housing that was closed two years ago due to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease). NHA explained how they could no longer continue to support a large facility with no revenue and had exhausted their usual funding channels to raise the estimated $7.0 million to bring RC back online. To fetch a higher price to pay down their debt, they will also try to remove the covenant that ensures the property is used only for low-income elderly housing. To see a recording of that meeting on the PNA website, click here.The Portland Housing Bureau did pledge $2.3 million, but that leaves a shortfall of $4.7 million. After a resounding show of support by the meeting’s attendees to Save Rosemont Court from possible demolition and to preserve affordable elderly housing, we agreed to launch an email/letter-writing campaign to elected officials with hopes to secure the necessary funding to restore RC and bring the 100 units of low-income elderly housing back online.Will you join us in our email/letter-writing campaign? For your convenience, we have included key politicians’ email addresses below and a couple of sample letters to reference when composing your own.A big THANKS to all of you who attended the recent meeting and to those who have already sent emails and letters!Save Rosemont Court CommitteePiedmont Neighborhood Association piedmontneighborhood.com Contact ListGovernor: Tina Kotek: https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspxSenator Merkley, Jeff: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/Senator Wyden, Ron: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/email-ronFederal House rep.: Earl Blumenauer: https://blumenauerforms.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/State Senator: Lew Frederick: sen.lewfrederick@oregonlegislature.govState Rep: Travis Nelson (D) (503) 986-1444 rep.travisnelson@oregonlegislature.govMayor: Ted Wheeler: (503) 823-4082: mayorwheeler@portlandoregon.govMultnomah County Commission Chair: Jessica Vega Pederson (503) 988-3308: mult.chair@multco.usMultnomah County Commissioner: Jesse Beason: (503) 823-4000: district2@multco.usCarmen Rubio: Portland City Commissioner: (503) 823-4082: comm.rubio@portlandoregon.govDan Ryan: Portland City Commissioner: (503) 823-4082: commissionerryanoffice@portlandoregon.govMingus Mapps: Portland City Commissioner: (503) 823-4082: mappsoffice@portlandoregon.govRene Gonzalez: Portland City Commissioner: (503) 823-4082: gonzalezoffice@portlandoregon.gov Sample Letter OneTo whom it may concern,My name is Chris Blanco, I am writing today to advocate for the return of affordable senior housing at Rosemont Court in North Portland. During the height of the covid pandemic, there was an outbreak of Legionnaires disease at the apartment complex which caused the death of one of the residents. Since the outbreak, the 100 units of affordable senior housing have remained empty, and the residents have been given vouchers in various neighborhoods around Portland destroying a vibrant community in North Portland.The owner of the building is Northwest Housing Alternatives (NHA). This local not-for-profit owns many properties, and their mission statement is “to create opportunity through housing. NHA provides affordable housing options for families, seniors and people with disabilities across Oregon.” The Piedmont neighborhood association recently held a meeting with the director and CFO of NHA where NHA let the community know that they are planning to sell the property. NHA is also asking the city of Portland to remove the covenant to ensure that the property is used for low-income elderly housing. NHA publicly claimed that they are selling because they can no longer afford it and are unable to secure financing for the approximate 7 million dollar cost of repairs. NHA has secured 2.3 million from the city for the project. NHA said that if they could close the funding gap without incurring more debt, they would repair the building and fill 100 units of affordable senior housing.I live across the street from Rosemont Court, and since the building has been empty, the neighborhood just isn’t the same. We have lost a vibrant and positive part of the neighborhood. These seniors had a safe and affordable community living situation here in North Portland and are now split up across the greater Portland area. Our city has a terrible housing crisis, letting this wonderful building sit empty is unacceptable. To help confront the current housing crisis, I have to believe that there are resources available to fund this much needed project. I am writing to you to please help us find a way to fund the approximately 4.7 million in repairs to restore affordable senior housing in North Portland’s Piedmont neighborhood.Thank you very much for your time and any assistance.Concerned neighbor,Chris Blanco Sample Letter TwoIs this Farewell to Sr. Housing at Rosemont Court?Hello [name],My name is [name] and I live near Rosemont Court in the Piedmont neighborhood in your district. As I’m sure you already know, these 100 units of affordable senior housing were forcibly vacated over two years ago after a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. To bring RC back online, the current owner, NW Housing Alternatives, needs $7.0 million to replace the plumbing and other upgrades. Unfortunately, NHA has had an unusually difficult time raising those funds. The Portland Housing Bureau recently pledged $2.3 million, but the State of Oregon has promised nothing to cover the $4.7 million shortfall—despite two efforts by NHA to secure State funds. Unfortunately, NHA has exhausted their usual funding channels and can no longer continue to support a large facility with no revenue, so they have decided to sell RC. To fetch a higher price to pay down their debt, they will also try to remove the covenant that ensures the property is used only for low-income elderly housing.Were it not for the Legionnaires outbreak, RC would most likely be fully operating today, so this news of a possible sale comes as a complete shock. However, the former residents, the neighbors and the Piedmont Neighborhood Association are not going to stand idly by. We are united in our efforts to Save Rosemont Court! With a critical shortage of affordable elderly housing (a declared State-wide Housing Emergency), why have these 100 units been ignored at the state level? Apparently, the millions now available for affordable senior housing at the State level are generally dedicated to new construction and not for renovations and repairs due to a health emergency, like Legionnaires.But the numbers speak for themselves. NHA needs $7.0 million in total, so to resurrect 100 units of affordable senior housing, it will cost roughly $70,000/unit and take an estimated 9 months vs $490,000/unit and a couple of years for new construction. It’s a no brainer: the $4.7 million shortfall should be found! So, where are the movers and shakers and budget wonks who can think outside-the-box?Please help us make a difference to Save Rosemont Court! For more information and periodic updates on Saving Rosemont Court, see the Piedmont Neighborhood Association website. https://piedmontneighborhood.com/ |
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