SK Northwest builds new trail on Willamette, but gap remains
The newest section of trail along the east side of the Willamette River has been built as part of the new SK Northwest retail store and warehouse.(Photos © J. Maus)
SK Northwest
Special Coverage of SK Northwest
SK Northwest, a retailer of jet-skis and personal watercraft, wants to develop a parcel of land on the Willamette riverfront just south of OMSI. They are fighting to be exempt from putting a trail easement through their property.
Browse the stories below for more coverage of this issue…
What’s next for the Springwater Trail? Filling in the gaps
The Springwater Corridor Trail is a major commute thoroughfare and recreational facility. (Photo © J. Maus) The Springwater Corridor Trail is the closest thing Portland has to a bicycle superhighway. When the trail is complete, you will be able to walk, run, skate, or ride your bike from the Steel Bridge all the way out … Read more
The SK Northwest saga is over: Property owner gives up on trail fight
“We look forward to working with SK Northwest and the City as the development moves forward.”— BTA’s metro-area advocate Emily Gardner After a protracted legal battle that first came to light back in April of 2006, a Willamette riverfront property owner whose parcel lies in a key gap between two popular trails has relented and … Read more
BTA: Appeals court says SK Northwest must build trail
A trail to nowhere, for now.(Photo © J. Maus) The BTA reports great news in the ongoing saga of SK Northwest and their battle against building a key piece of trail across their property on the Willamette Riverfront just south of OMSI. The BTA’s Michelle Poyourow writes on their blog that the Oregon Court of … Read more
SK Northwest files for (yet another) appeal
[Updated: 11/3, 10:05pm] As reported by Emily Gardner of the BTA on Friday, SK Northwest has filed an appeal with the Oregon Court of Appeals. It seems SK Northwest, who wants to develop a riverfront parcel for their personal watercraft business, can’t accept a recent Land Use Board of Appeals opinion that the city’s demand … Read more
SK Northwest will appeal yet again
After it seemed like the final nail had been put in the coffin on SK Northwest’s development proposal, they have announced yet another appeal. A quick look back at my coverage shows that this would be their fifth appeal since June 2006.
BTA claims victory in SK Northwest battle
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) reports a victory over SK Northwest after SK’s development application appeal was denied Friday by the City of Portland Hearings Office. At issue was whether or not SK Northwest has to include a bike/ped trail along their proposed riverfront development. According to the BTA, SK’s most recent appeal was shot … Read more
SK Northwest persists, appeal hearing tomorrow
SK Northwest — one of Oregon’s largest dealers of personal watercraft and ATV’s — refuses to give up on their plans to develop property on the Willamette (without granting riverfront trail access) just south of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).
One year later, SK Northwest denied again
“A trail corridor must be provided to address transportation impacts.”-Bureau of Development Services. The Portland Bureau of Development Services has issued another denial for SK Northwest. It’s been one year since I first broke the story of the company’s plans to develop a facility along the Willamette River, just south of OMSI.
SK Northwest tries again for Springwater development
Proposed development area.Click to enlarge graphic SK Northwest, a Portland-based retailer of jet-skis and personal watercraft, has submitted another proposal to develop a key parcel of Willamette riverfront land. The proposal was submitted to the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) on March 1st and once again, it does not include plans for a trail. You … Read more
City denies Springwater development appeal
[Scan of appeal decision mailed out Saturday]Editor’s note: Lines drawn by my daughter 😉 The City of Portland Hearings Office* has denied the land use appeal of Shawn Karambelas. Karambelas is the business owner who wanted to develop a parcel of land just south of OMSI without including plans for public trail access on the … Read more
Update on SK Northwest hearing
[Looking south at currentend of Esplanade path.] Yesterday was the public hearing on the SK Northwest development case. Unfortunately I wasn’t there but here’s a report from what I’ve heard and read so far. According to Evan Manvel of the BTA there were about 45 people there which is “significantly more than these hearings usually … Read more