City considers foreclosure of 6 ‘nuisance’ properties in Portland

John Ross Ferrara
·2 min read
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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — At Wednesday’s meeting, the Portland City Council considered the foreclosure of six “nuisance” properties located throughout the city with delinquent lien payments, code enforcement issues and a history of criminal activity.

Mayor Ted Wheeler said during the meeting that all six properties are causing “significant problems” in their neighborhoods. Each of the six properties are set for foreclosure pending the city council’s approval, Portland Foreclosure Prevention Manager Kevin Foster told commissioners. However, Wheeler said that the council would not make a final decision on the foreclosures at Wednesday’s meeting.

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“The liens were placed against the properties by the Bureau of Development Services for code enforcement violations, various nuisances, nuisance abatement and/or chronic offender violations,” Wheeler said. “These properties have been identified as causing significant problems for neighbors and they’re the subject of multiple and frequent police calls in numerous enforcement activities.”

blighted properties Portland
More ‘nuisance’ properties located at 3316 SE 131st Ave. (left) 5923 N. Detroit Ave. (middle) and 3735 SE Martins St. (right). (City of Portland)

One notable property awaiting foreclosure is the site of a warehouse fire that released asbestos into the Willamette River in 2017. While the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has since abated the property, it was initially determined that the building’s roofing paper contained 90% asbestos.

Another property facing foreclosure is a now vacant lot located at 6214 Kerby Ave. The property’s foundation is all that remains from a butane hash oil explosion that completely destroyed a home and killed its previous owner in 2017.

“The explosion decimated the property,” Foster said. “Left on the lot is the house foundation that is collapsing. The foundation is open and unprotected. Squatters are living in a tent on the property.”

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As of January 19, the six properties account for 16 liens and $746,632.66 worth of debt. Foster said that the city makes multiple efforts to collect delinquent liens before foreclosing on a home and that the foreclosure process is a “last resort.”

“Our goal is to minimize the effects and problems these properties create in the community,” Foster said. “The ultimate goal is to motivate the property owner to bring the property into productive use.”

List of Properties facing foreclosure:

  • 3316 SE 131st Ave.

  • 12914 NE Halsey St.

  • 1300 N. River Street

  • 5923 N. Detroit Ave.

  • 6214 N Kerby Ave.

  • 3735 SE Martins St.

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