The historic Hollywood Theater looks like it will get a new neighbor. Developers are planning to build a five-story, 51-unit apartment complex with ground floor retail in the gross vacant lot just west of the theater. The dense mixed-use building will have no on-site parking, expecting residents to use the nearby MAX and bus lines. But some neighbors and historic preservationists are worried about the building's impact on the theateróits five stories could block the view of the iconic building and marquee down NE Sandy Boulevard. SARAH MIRK
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Looks like Portlanders will be getting themselves a giant new public park. Portland City Council on Wednesday, May 4, voted to join Metro in buying 146 acres of forested, unused cemetery land south of downtown. The purchase of the so-called "River View Property," led by Nick Fish and Dan Saltzman, was hailed as a victory for preserving natural for safeguarding streams that harbor salmon and help keep the Willamette River cool. There was just some minor concern before the enthusiastic vote. Of the $11.25 million purchase price, $6 million will come from the cityís environmental services bureauóa bureau funded by sewer maintenance and stormwater fees paid by city residents. That cash, specifically, will come from the bureau's sewer operating fund and its "Gray to Green" stormwater and river improvement initiative. But officials said purchasing and preserving the land was a cost-effective way to protect the Willamette. The rest of the funding will come from Metro ($2 million), the city's share of a 2006 Metro-backed bond measure ($2.5 million), and from a hoped-for state parks grant ($750,000). DENIS C. THERIAULT
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A three-year ìstrategic planî promoting ìwellnessî among city employees has gotten off to a slow start over its first 12 months. Despite hopes of reducing employeesí body-mass index by 5 percent, and blood pressure by 10 percent, employees are only slightly less overweightóBMI is down just a half-percentóand actually more hypertensive than before. And while sugar and cholesterol levels arenít bad, they arenít great, either. One problem? Despite adding popular offerings like Zumba classes, the wellness directorís job is only a half-time gig, making it hard to hector employees across the cityís far-flung offices. That may not change for the near future. When Mayor Sam Adams revealed his budget decisions Tuesday, May 3, he declined to make the position full-time. DCT
