Decisions/2025-329
Ordinance2025-329

Should Portland declare property located on SE 21st Ave and SE Powell Blvd as surplus property and authorize the City Administrator to dispose of the property at fair…

The parcel was acquired in 1978 in conjunction with the reconstruction of SE Powell Boulevard by the State of Oregon Department of Transportation and was intended to be used as a parking lot to compensate for the removal of parking along Powell Boulevard for the benefit of local businesses.The parcel has been awkward in its use as parking due to the lack of a flow-through entry/exit system. Autos have difficulty maneuvering as they attempt to exit due to the single drive lane and angled parking design. As a consequence of this and the fact that Powell Boulevard is a busy 5-lane state highway (SR 26) with the majority of retailers such as auto repair and mini-marts containing dedicated parking, the lot was rarely used. In recent years the city has struggled to maintain the site due to unauthorized camping, and in 2024 erected a fence to discourage litter and illegal activities.

Official impact statement
See the official legal title

Declare property located on SE 21st Ave and SE Powell Blvd as surplus property and authorize the City Administrator to dispose of the property at fair market value

Next appearanceFinal action is posted; watch for implementation updates.
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01 · Understand it

What this proposal would actually do.

Plain-language orientation first. Every substantive statement below links to its official basis.

What would change

The parcel was acquired in 1978 in conjunction with the reconstruction of SE Powell Boulevard by the State of Oregon Department of Transportation and was intended to be used as a parking lot to compensate for the removal of parking along Powell Boulevard for the benefit of local businesses.The parcel has been awkward in its use as parking due to the lack of a flow-through entry/exit system. Autos have difficulty maneuvering as they attempt to exit due to the single drive lane and angled parking design. As a consequence of this and the fact that Powell Boulevard is a busy 5-lane state highway (SR 26) with the majority of retailers such as auto repair and mini-marts containing dedicated parking, the lot was rarely used. In recent years the city has struggled to maintain the site due to unauthorized camping, and in 2024 erected a fence to discourage litter and illegal activities.

Official proposal and impact statement
What would stay the same

The reviewed sources do not clearly identify every existing policy, service, contract, or obligation that would remain unchanged.

Official matter record
Who may be affected

The property has not been of benefit to the community-at-large for several years, whereas the community will benefit from placing the property back on the tax rolls.

Official community impact statement
What happens next

Passed

Latest official agenda appearance
02 · Evaluate it

What the record establishes and what it does not.

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The vote above establishes who supported or opposed that exact motion. A source-validated account of the competing reasons will appear only after human review of the meeting transcript and documents.

Financial implications

Proceeds from the sale of this property were not specifically budgeted in FY 2025-26. The proceeds will be held in a special account in Facilities with other sale proceeds for funding real property initiatives benefitting the City.

Official financial impact statement
Open questions
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  • What implementation evidence will show whether the intended result occurred?
Can residents still participate?

Official testimony on this decision has closed. Residents can still contact their district Councilors about implementation and follow-up.

Official Council agenda
03 · Verify it

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Official text, source files, exact motions, roll calls, provenance, and the technical completeness check remain available without crowding the explanation above.

Official documents1 sources
Final legal actionOrdinance 192099

The operative official record after Council action.

Open at Portland.gov
Read the full official text

The City of Portland ordains.Section 1. The Council finds:The City owns a 2,900 square foot vacant lot located at SE 21st and SE Powell, also described as R105838 (“City Property”). The City Property is assigned to the Bureau of Fleet and Facilities (BFF) in its asset portfolio.BFF has determined that it has no current or future use of the City Property, particularly given that its anomalous in BFF’s asset portfolio as all other sites owned and operated by BFF have either a public safety function or are part of its downtown office space portfolio and therefore has declared it as excess to BFF’s needs.In accordance with the City' s Disposition of City Real Property policy, ADM-13.02, BFF offered the City Property to other City Bureaus (“Bureaus”). After a 21-day waiting period, no other Bureaus expressed interest in adding the City Property to their portfolios. However, two Bureaus identified real property fixtures to be conveyed and disclosed with a sale of the City Property: the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT)’s soundwall and guardrail; and the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES)’ stormwater pipe and sump. All portions of ADM-13.02 Disposition of City Real Property have been followed.BFF has received a Commercial Broker' s Opinion of Value and will sell the property on the open market.No changes or additions to the current budget will be made. No changes to personnel or maintenance schedules will be needed as a result of this transaction.NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:The City Property is declared as surplus and not needed for public use.The City Property will be disposed by sale on the open market.The City, through its City Administrator in consultation with the Mayor, is authority to execute on behalf of the City, any and all documents required for disposition and conveyance of title to the City Property. All documents shall be subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.

Meetings, motions, amendments, and votes4 meetings · 2 votes
Read all 1 exact motions
Sep 8, 2025 · Main · Passed

Motion to send the Ordinance, Document Number 2025-329, to the full Council with the recommendation that it be passed: Moved by Pirtle-Guiney and seconded by Novick (Aye (3): Pirtle-Guiney, Novick, Zimmerman; Absent (2) Avalos, Green)

Final Council action · Sep 24, 202512 yes · 0 no

Final action on 2025-329: Declare property located on SE 21st Ave and SE Powell Blvd as surplus property and authorize the City Administrator to dispose of the property at fair market value

Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Sep 8, 20253 yes

Motion to send the Ordinance, Document Number 2025-329, to the full Council with the recommendation that it be passed: Moved by Pirtle-Guiney and seconded by Novick (Aye (3): Pirtle-Guiney, Novick, Zimmerman; Absent (2) Avalos, Green)

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Technical information-completeness check · Ready With Caveats

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Decision definition

The official title and operative text identify the requested action.

Complete
Official legal text

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Complete
Financial impact

The official impact statement includes financial information.

Complete
Funding source

The impact statement identifies funding information without an explicit unresolved-source qualifier.

Complete
Supporting documents

No linked attachments were found on the official page.

Unknown
Referenced exhibit integrity

No explicit exhibit reference was detected in the official text.

Not Applicable
Counterparty acceptance

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Not Applicable
Implementation

A direction, reporting requirement, or deadline appears in the official text.

Complete
Document stability

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Source record
First discovered
Aug 13, 2026, 1:11 PM PDT
Last checked
Sep 13, 2026, 2:30 AM PDT
Evidence hash
795fd1c6595a0c7f
Guide status
Deterministic baseline
Append-only timeline
  1. SOURCE UPDATED

    Passed

  2. DOCUMENT PUBLISHED

    Observed in the official source.

  3. Council Action

    Passed

  4. Council Action

    Passed to second reading

  5. Council Action

    Rescheduled

  6. Council Action

    Referred to City Council