Dear Everett House Community,
The Everett House Community has operated within the residential area of the Kerns neighborhood since 1977 initially under a home occupational permit, then in 1981, as the need for a neighborhood community-based healing center increased a conditional use permit was granted of which we renewed in 1982 and have maintained since that time. With the changing character of Portland, increasing density in the area, which has increased the need for community-based healing centers and the myriad transportation alternatives available in our neighborhood, we feel strongly that the time is right to ask the City to remove the parking lot requirements from our Conditional Use Permit.
Due to recent developments our leased off-site parking lot which we shared with a medical facility was purchased by a developer who is in the process of converting it into over 100 apartments. Our clients and staff only rarely used the parking lot as suitable parking was always found closer to our facility. Nevertheless, we maintained the parking lot lease up until last year when the developer refused to renew it. Since it is a required part of our CUP (Conditional Use Permit) the city has cited and fined us and now threatens to close our facility. Therefore, we have filed for a Type III review and waiver of the parking lot requirements as we feel that it is no longer necessary.
The City has set the date of Nov. 26th at 1:30 pm at 1900 SW 4th Avenue room 3000 (the city building) for this public hearing. If the hearings officer sees the value of our community-based healing center as a sanctuary for our members and neighbors, then we can continue to operate and serve you our loyal community. If, however, he/she does not see our value then pending any options we have for an appeal to city council, the city would force us to close our doors and our 3 lovely 1906 houses that we have restored converted and maintained into our community-based healing center could no longer function as your healing center. Naturally we would do our best to win at the hearing on Nov. 26th and or if we do not prevail then we would appeal any negative ruling.
But here is where we could use your help. In order to continue to operate our community healing center we need the help of the majority of our members to sign this petition as a demonstration of how important this center is to our community.
