PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – On Friday, the City of Portland and more than 26 families, descendants, and the Emanuel Displaced Persons Association 2 (EDPA2) reached a settlement related to those who were forcefully removed from their homes in the Central Albina neighborhood in the 1970s.
“This has been a 60-year battle for the Albina neighborhood. Right now, it’s finally before the city council; they had a chance to make things right, and we hope they’ll do the right thing and pass this,” a community member said.
Another resident, Jeffrey Davis, has lived in the historic Albina neighborhood for six decades, and says he remembers a once sprawling neighborhood with black-owned businesses and community centers that over time faced unlawful demolitions and displacement by the City of Portland and its partners.
“This was preplanned over 45 to 50 years, I watched them knock down all the houses, but when I was that young, I didn’t know what was going on, it wasn’t right,” Davis said.
The settlement specifically involves more than two dozen families displaced in specific areas from 1971 to 73 during additional construction to Legacy Emanuel. If agreed upon the settlement with the city would pay those directly impacted $2 million, along with returning properties to these residents and the EDPA2.
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In addition to the financial and proprietary aspects, the agreement would also kickstart a documentary on these decades-long issues along with beginning an annual Descendants Day to honor and support the neighborhood’s contributions to the Rose City.
“You had to be there to see it, you can go into Emmanuel hospital and look at those (Albina neighborhood) photos,” Davis said. “All these black community centers, kids riding their bikes on the sidewalk, and all that, it’s totally different.”
In a statement from Portland Mayor Keith Wilson on the 2022 lawsuit’s completion said: “This settlement marks another step in Portland’s commitment to make sure future development bears no resemblance to decisions made 50-plus years ago. As we reflect on past harms, it’s equally important to reaffirm our commitment to development that makes our city stronger, more inclusive and more welcoming.”
Several residents we spoke to say this decision is only a very small piece of a much greater effort they believe the city needs to make in revitalizing and building up this proud community.
“Bring back all the black activities, all the basketball tournaments, all the swimming meets, all the wrestling meets, the barbeques, the jam sessions, block parties, bringing back that ethnic thing,” Davis said.
The vote on the settlement is expected during next Thursday’s city council meeting, which begins at 2 p.m.
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