PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Residents of Portland’s Lents neighborhood say they feel like they’re bearing the brunt of a problem that belongs to the entire city.
Many neighbors say crimes associated with the Springwater Corridor are only getting worse.
One man told KOIN 6 News he’s thankful his new home didn’t burn down after a small fire erupted on his back deck. He says he’s positive the burnt mess was left by transients brazen enough to try and use his grill in the early hours of the morning.
“Somehow they screwed it up, caught the bag on fire, dropped it here and maybe like tried to kick it off the deck,” Lents neighborhood resident Maximilian Hollie said.
Hollie says he thinks the incident on his back deck could have been prevented if the city policed the homeless problem that’s boiling over in his neighborhood.
“It feels like they’ve quarantined the homeless in the Lents neighborhood,” he said.
And Hollie isn’t alone. He and many other residents say they’re feeling frustrated. Some have even taken their protests to Mayor Charlie Hales’ front doorsteps.
Hollie says he’s now worried about what will happen when the so-called Kalbrenner campsite just a couple blocks away becomes home to dozens of campers.
Brush has already been cleared at the campsite, but KOIN 6 News learned the removal of contaminated soil at the spot was delayed due to scheduling issues.
When it does become an active campsite, it’ll be too soon for Hollie.
“I think they’re going to move the troubles of the [Springwater Corridor] right into the heart of my neighborhood,” he said. “I don’t see an end in sight.”
Residents plan to rally at the proposed campsite later this month.