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Portland committee pauses foreclosure actions, continues items 4–18 to Aug. 4 after owner outreach
Summary
Staff presented a list of 14 properties with roughly $1.5 million in combined delinquent liens; after public testimony and council questions about engagement and probate, the committee continued items 4–18 (except item 8, withdrawn because liens were satisfied) to the August 4 meeting to allow additional owner engagement and staff follow‑up.
The Housing and Permitting Committee on July 21 heard a staff presentation on proposed foreclosure initiations for multiple delinquent city liens and decided to continue the docket to the committee’s August 4 meeting to allow additional outreach and possible resolutions.
Slida Holt (Revenue Division) and Kevin Foster (foreclosure prevention manager) reviewed the revised list. Foster told the committee the original list contained 20 properties and staff had removed six through outreach: three property owners paid liens, one closed their case and qualified for a lien‑reduction payment plan, one reached an agreement, and one filed bankruptcy. Foster said administrative rule changes (Admin Rule 14.10) now allow the city to bid on properties that receive no bids at sale and to use appraisals where lien balances exceed an estimated market value.
Staff summarized property‑level conditions: unpaid code enforcement and nuisance liens, open access or unlawful occupants, frequent police calls, fire or structural damage, and long histories of repeated complaints on some sites. Foster said staff would continue to attempt payment plans, waivers and other tools before a council ordinance authorizes foreclosure sales. He noted that properties approved for foreclosure would still have a 90‑day owner redemption period after a sale authorization.
Two members of the public testified. Attorney Andy Chopkanian said his client, Center Street Lending, now owns 6307 North Montana Avenue and has rehabilitated the fire‑damaged site into a 19‑unit building; he asked staff to delay foreclosure so his client and the city could negotiate occupancy and a plan to rent some units affordably. Waz Epley, custodian for a minor owner of 2734/2738 Northeast Alberta Street, said he had personally invested approximately $500,000 addressing flood damage and demolition and asked for staff to pursue fee waivers, payment arrangements or lien‑reduction review rather than moving directly to foreclosure.
Councilors probed specific cases (including 10104 Southeast Herald Street and 855 Northeast Church Street), noting probate complications and owners’ engagement status. Jonas Berry (chief financial officer) explained timeline tradeoffs if the committee left any property out of the current batch versus moving the whole package forward and pulling an item later at full council.
Given ongoing engagement and outstanding questions, the committee continued items 4 through 18 (with item 8 removed from the agenda after staff reported the owner satisfied the lien) to its August 4 meeting for further staff follow‑up and potential removal from the foreclosure list if owners reach agreements. Staff reiterated that foreclosure remains a last resort and that outreach and resolution tools remain available.
