A Golden Opportunity for Change
In the past, there have been missed opportunities for Homes For Good (Lane County’s housing agency) to engage a public process for public land, or to decline extending the Purchase & Sale Agreement with Evergreen Housing Development Group (EHDG), who propose the Lombard Apartments — an expensive, market-rate apartment complex proposed to be built in the Willamette River Greenway.
In the future, we encourage Homes For Good (HFG) to establish clear policies regarding land sales, transparency, and community collaboration.
In the present moment, we have a golden opportunity to urge HFG and EHDG to remedy the problematic proposal via an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This process is far less expensive and faster than litigation, while allowing for greater participation. Utilizing mediation and negotiation processes, the ADR goal is to find a mutually agreeable solution. In this case, it would yield vacating the sale contract and allowing the land to be opened for public process to yield the greatest good in the public interest.
Here's how you can help:
Send an email to EDHG in your own words, or copy and paste the text below, or use the button to send in just one click! Please send the auto-emails below today and help build the community we all wish to see!
Hello!
I am writing today to encourage you to direct the Evergreen legal team to enter into an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) with Homes for Good, the Lane County (Oregon) housing agency regarding the River Road property. Your organization is currently proposing the Lombard Apartment complex on this site. Our community believes this land would best serve local needs by returning to the original plan for affordable housing and additional open space in the Willamette River Greenway. As you are aware, the current proposal has faced unprecedented opposition. We believe there is a path forward that would benefit both organizations as well as the community. Therefore, we would like to see a voiding of the Purchase & Sale Agreement with mutually agreeable terms to both parties. Specifically, we request that your legal team utilize the ADR processes of mediation and negotiation. These processes allow for greater participation, where both parties can discuss and explore pertinent issues, interests, understandings, feelings, and ideas for resolution that result in a mutually agreeable solution. In addition, both organizations would benefit from improved community relations and reputation as other proposed projects move forward.
Thank you!
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