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One of the loudest voices for Preserve the Pearl LLC, an opponent of Security Properties‘ Pearl Block 136 project, is no longer a spokesman for the organization. Burton Francis did not want to discuss specifics, but said that the Preserve the Pearl 鈥渄irectors wanted to take it in a direction I didn’t want to go in. I declined and stepped down from any position I had.鈥�

Even though Francis, an Edge Lofts resident, is no longer affiliated with Preserve the Pearl, he was dismayed by the Land Use Board of Appeals‘ decision to uphold the city’s approval of the Pearl Block 136 project. Two buildings 鈥� a five-story office building and a 15-story residential tower 鈥� are planned on property formerly occupied by the Pacific Northwest College of Art. The developer is Seattle-based Security Properties, and the designer is Seattle-based Mithun.

鈥淚t was an unfortunate opinion in the sense that the plain language of the zoning code says there should be step-downs toward the Willamette River, in order to preserve our connectedness to the river,鈥� Francis said. 鈥淭o gloss over it and say, 鈥楾he provisions of that particular zoning code are not singular in their enforceability; they’re just to be interpreted generally with the respect to that overall zoning code provision,’ weakens the code and weakens the design guidelines that everybody thought were the basic rules of the game.鈥�

Security Properties did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The only remaining possible challenge of the project would be before the Oregon Supreme Court. The appeal could be brought by Preserve the Pearl, or any other interested parties. Preserve the Pearl did not respond to a request for comment.

鈥淎s a lawyer, I have much more faith in the courts and the court system enforcing issues of procedural due process than I do with administrative bodies,鈥� Francis said.

Francis believes that Pearl Block 136 is an example why action needs to be taken that changes the development process in the city.

鈥淭he public needs to be more involved,鈥� he said. 鈥淢aybe there needs to be a referendum, or some sort of ballot initiative or some sort of direct action process that occurs where Portlanders are asked, 鈥榃hat direction do you want your city to go in? Do you want Portland to retain its character? Do you want to 鈥榢eep Portland weird?’ I would just wish that the voice of Portlanders can be heard through a direct democracy vehicle. Let the people decide.鈥�