Kelly Butte is a community of neighbors who have been living in SE Portland for decades. Many of the neighbors are elderly, low-income, have chronic health issues and disabilities, and live in their “forever” homes, complete with fireplaces, landscaped gardens, back porches and patios. 

 

These neighbors pay their taxes, maintain their homes, and take care of each other.  The residents of Kelly Butte own their homes but rent their land. The neighborhood is considered a Manufactured Dwelling Park. Manufactured Homes used to be called "Mobile Homes" but these homes look just like any other neighborhood home, and really aren't meant to move after their initial placement.  Moving a modern manufactured home is an expensive ordeal that takes months.

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In October, 2020, in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic affecting many of the residents, the landlord—a developer named Adam Hoesly—issued a closure notice for the park so he can use the land to build townhouses that will sell for prices way out of reach for the residents of the park and most Portlanders.

 

This means the residents must move or abandon their homes. It also means that their homes, which were their biggest asset, are now worthless.

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The neighbors of Kelly Butte aren’t able to move their homes because there are no available spots in Portland or nearby that will take homes their size or age, and the cost of moving the homes can easily be over $60,000.  Mr. Hoesly has chosen not to offer more than the state required minimum payment of $8,000.  So they must walk away from their homes. And because they are low-income, the residents have struggled even to find rental housing they could qualify for or afford.

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The neighbors of Kelly Butte Place will be displaced from their homes and community and face an uncertain economic future unless Hoesly changes his plans or the City takes action.

 

If the city can't stop the development by enforcing their own zoning code, then they must use all tools at their disposal to buy the park. The city must preserve this community and this crucial source of affordable housing.