Portland ready to OK move for Right 2 Dream Too camp

PORTLAND — An entrenched downtown homeless camp may finally have new digs if the Portland City Council has its way.

Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Amanda Fritz want to vote this week on a controversial plan to move the Right 2 Dream Too camp from Old Town Chinatown to the Central Eastside.

Business leaders in the Central Eastside have protested the long-anticipated move. In 2013, similar opposition — and the threat of a legal challenge — foiled a city plan to move the camp to the Pearl District. Right 2 Dream Too has been camping since 2011 at the corner of Northwest 4th Avenue and Burnside Street.

At 2 p.m. Thursday, the City Council is set to approve the relocation plan and confirm its legality under zoning laws. The City Council also will vote to make the proposed homeless site larger by vacating an adjacent cul-de-sac.

Mayoral spokeswoman Sara Hottman on Friday said Hales plans to meet with business leaders over the weekend. The Central Eastside Industrial Council already contends that the camp isn’t permitted, but it’s not clear if they’ll appeal the city’s pending decision.

If ultimately approved, the homeless camp would move by Oct. 1 to a city-owned parking lot at Southeast Third Avenue and Harrison Street. The nearly half-acre site would include new showers, toilets and laundry facilities.

Up to 100 campers in tents would be permitted. Campers would receive free passes to use the Portland Streetcar. Campers would pay nothing to use the new site, and the city’s agreement would run 10 years.