Update Regarding the 'Red House' on North Mississippi Avenue

Press Release
Published

Members of the media,

Please see a statement below from Mayor Wheeler’s office updating the latest developments around the ‘Red House’ on North Mississippi Avenue.

“As negotiations continue around ownership of the red house on North Mississippi Avenue, the Mayor’s goals remain protecting lives and reducing risk to the health and safety of the surrounding community.

The Mayor’s office met with the Kinneys Wednesday in an ongoing effort to assist with a peaceful and thorough solution for the family and the neighborhood.

The Mayor’s office and other City bureaus are working hard to support de-escalation and ongoing progress. This includes opening lines of communication and supporting a resolution for everyone involved.

It appears the Kinney family now has options available to regain ownership of the property. The Mayor’s office encourages them to continue to pursue those options as quickly as possible.

The Mayor’s office also continues to hear from neighboring residents, business owners and the Kinneys about troubling behaviors in the area, including threats of violence and intimidation.

The Mayor’s office recently joined the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) in a meeting with neighbors to listen to their concerns and share about steps being taken to restore safety in the neighborhood. Clearly, there is still more work to do.

Portland Police are aware that victims of crime in the Humboldt neighborhood, and even elsewhere in the city, may have delayed reporting crimes to the police. PPB created an investigative team to follow up on any formal complaints and crimes reported in the neighborhood. They are encouraging anyone who was the victim of a crime during the last several days to report it either online at PPB Online Reporting or by calling the non-emergency number at (503) 823-3333.

Work is also continuing to clean up the neighborhood. Wednesday, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) removed two truckloads of fencing that surrounded the house. PBOT is also working to repair damaged signs and remove graffiti from City property. Starting today, the City’s Graffiti Program is offering removal assistance to private property locations surrounding the occupation area now that the area is cleared enough to proceed.”  

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