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CHASE GARDENS NODE CHRONOLOGY Chase Gardens closed in 1992. That same year city planners in conjunction with the Harlow Neighbors Association developed the Willakenzie Area Plan. It called for high density residential development where the gardens used to be and a Commercial Node in the southeast comer at the intersection of South Garden Way and Centennial Boulevard. The purpose of the commercial node was to "reduce reliance on the single-occupant vehicle by providing facilities and services that promote alternative modes of travel." (p.7) By 2000, there was fairly dense development of private sector apartments and housing for University of Oregon students--all of it north of Centennial Boulevard on land formerly owned by Chase Gardens. South of the Boulevard (and south of the acreage reserved for the commercial node), Quail Run was under construction. It would add over one hundred houses ranged around courtyards and built close by I-5. Moreover, financing had been secured for improvement of South Garden Way, making it a major connector between Centennial and Harlow Road. During 2000-2001, the City Planning Department met a total of seven times with Harlow Neighbors Association to put the finishing touches on a plan for the Chase Gardens commercial node. A grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development enabled Satre & Associates to draft this plan, one which the city government, Harlow Neighbors Association, and the Register-Guard applauded. The Chase Garden Nodal Development Plan (2001) was called a "refinement" of the 1992 plan. The node was "intended to provide land for goods and service needs of the residents...such as a grocery store, restaurants, coffee shops." (pp. 7, 17-18). According to our count (carried out by Marian Spath of the Harlow Neighbors Association), there are approximately 3500 people now living north of MLK, Jr. Boulevard on the site of the former Chase Gardens. They are living in the Chase Village Apartments (1,200), Parkgrove Apartments (600), Duck Village (600), McKenna Estates (140), and University Commons (700). In addition there is an assisted living complex. Another large apartment development--- 240 units, some with three-bedrooms, for low-income families--- is scheduled for construction this year. South of the Boulevard there are approximately 250 people in Quail Run, and Chevy Chase has only a handful of vacant lots. All of these people travel by car to the grocery stores on Coburg Road-or take two different buses to make the journey. Most would prefer to walk or bike to a full-service grocery store in a neighborhood commercial node. City officials have twice endorsed the Chase Gardens node plan and emphasized that it would reduce vehicle miles traveled. Should the bulk of the land be given to a medical complex which needs 600 parking spaces, it would be a travesty of the planning goal to reduce vehicle miles traveled. And, in our opinion, it would constitute a serious breach of faith between city government and the neighborhood associations it sponsors. Prepared by Louise Wade for the Chase Gardens Node Committee of the Harlow Neighbors Association. March 28, 2005.