PBA backs expanded River District renewal area - Phoenix Business Journal:

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Sandra McDonough, the alliance’s president and CEO, told the Portlandf City Council on June 17 that the city need s to do everything it can to providemore jobs. The councio is reconsidering expanding the River Districf by nearly42 acres, as well as increase the amount of bondas the city can assume to fund projects within the district. The council and the Portland Development Commissioh had first sought the expansion nearly two years ago but were thwarte bya citizens’ group complaint.
The Friends of Urban Renewal group had charged that the River Districtexpansio proposal, which would have also redirected $20 million in district-generated funds to a new East Portlandc elementary school, didn’t fit technicapl urban renewal definitions. The councik will vote on the measurdenext week. McDonough said urban renewal providess funding for investmentsin infrastructure, social services and public-privatew partnerships. “We need to create she said. “We have an opportunity to do just that by adoptinv theserevised findings, which address the issues that have been raisex about the River District expansion.
We can then move forwarde with the important projectw that depend onthese funds.” City Commissioner Nick Fish has said that the constructio n of a new homeless services center could depencd on urban renewal fundsz if construction is to begin this year. McDonough said the alliance backs using urba renewal funds to build the center.