Downtown Property Owner Greg Goodman Pitches Camps in Parking Garages

Goodman: SmartPark at Southwest 1st Avenue and Jefferson Street is city's first choice for homeless camping in a garage

You might not expect downtown property owner Greg Goodman to be enthused about Portland Mayor Charlie Hales' latest proposal for homeless camping: using city-owned parking garages as campsites.

But Goodman tells WW he helped bring the idea to City Hall. Hales announced plans earlier this month to legalize camping on city streets and property, and last week Hales staffer Josh Alpert said the city might set aside levels in SmartPark garages as homeless camp areas.

Goodman says city officials told him the SmartPark at Southwest 1st Avenue and Jefferson Street would be the first location.

He hopes the program will expand: "How difficult should it be for 'the city that works' to open up seven garages?"

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