Albina Vision Trust seeks to reclaim historically Black neighborhood

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PORTLAND, Ore. – Community members are reclaiming homes stolen from Northeast Portland’s historically Black neighborhood more than 50 years ago.

El Fideicomiso de Visión Albina aims to bring back over 3,000 families displaced by the construction of I-5 and increase jobs while creating a large-scale waterfront park, community gardens, and more.Gresham police arrest man accused of shooting at driver with 3 children in car

“In the same way there was a blueprint made for the destruction of these communities, we are actively in the process of creating a blueprint for the restoration and the healing of these communities,” JT Flowers with Albina Vision Trust said.

Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici to unveil plans for the nearly half a billion dollars in federal investments granted by the U.S. Department of Transportation to revitalize the Rose Quarter and lower Albina District.

Sen. Jeff Merkley calls it “an extraordinary recognition of the historic wrong.”

Roughly $450 million will go toward the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project, which plans to build a highway cover over a portion of I-5, reconnecting the lower Albina Neighborhood. Lawsuit claims Northeast Portland nail salon gave woman herpes due to poor hygiene practices

Another $38 million will be headed to the Portland Bureau of Transportation for the redevelopment of Weidler, North, and Northeast Broadway.

“We are leading America’s largest restorative redevelopment effort – one that centers the rerouting of Black people, families and culture and the core of Portland city centers,” Winta Yohannes, executive director of Albina Vision Trust, said.

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