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News article from The (Portland) Oregonian - August 17, 2007

No one mentioned it at the hearing Wednesday, but Holy Rosary Church
near the Lloyd Center Mall was the largest opponent -- by far -- of a
local improvement district to help pay for an eastside streetcar
extension.

Property owners in the district will pony up $15 million toward the $147
million project if the Portland City Council approves the district next
month, which appears likely.

The city received formal objections, or "remonstrances," from property
owners representing about $300,000 in assessments, or 2 percent of the
$15 million bill.

Many were industrial property owners who failed to see how the streetcar
would benefit them. The largest of these was grain elevator operator
Cargill, Inc., with an estimated assessment of $47,800.

But the church, which owns 12 pieces of commercially zoned property in
the district, faces a $125,621 bill for building the streetcar line.

In objecting to the district, the church said the assessment was
inequitable because it imposed an assessment on non-business property
owners for the benefit of business owners.

City officials responded that the assessment is based on the benefit the
property derives from the streetcar, now and in the future -- not on
benefits to any business currently operating on the property.

Most property owners testified that they expected the streetcar to
significantly boost their property values.

The contribution by the property owners is considered one of the least
controversial aspects of the plan to finance the streetcar line, which
also includes $27 million in urban renewal money. The council is
scheduled to vote on the LID formation and the urban renewal proposal
Sept. 6.

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