Land Bank Commission reviews funding increase and property updates

The Portland Land Bank Commission met on May 13, 2026, to review its annual report and discuss a significant increase in its CIP allocation from $50,000 to $230,000. Commissioners discussed the status of several land acquisitions, including Davis Pines and the 1133 Washington property, and planned a field trip for June 10.

Key points

• The commission confirmed that the City Council reversed a previous cap on funding, now allocating 0.5% of the CIP budget to the Land Bank, resulting in a $230,000 allocation for 2027.
• Commissioner Dan reported that the annual report was unanimously accepted by the City Council in April.
• The commission discussed the 1133 Washington property, which was sold to Cooper Properties, and considered reaching out to the developer regarding potential conservation agreements for the wooded areas.
• Updates were provided on the Davis Pines acquisition, noting that survey work is complete and an appraisal is currently in progress, with an estimated value between $300,000 and $400,000.
• A public comment was received from Anne Somel expressing neighborhood support for creating a play area or park in the flat meadow below University Park.
• The commission scheduled a field trip for June 10 to visit Murray, Redlawn, and Davis Pines.

Next steps

• Commissioners will review the project spreadsheet and update the assignment inspection data.
• The commission will reach out to the developer of the 1133 Washington property to discuss potential conservation partnerships.
• Staff will finalize the outreach flyer for brand guidelines review.
• The commission will determine a point person to conduct a trail survey at Redlawn to distinguish public and private paths.
• The commission will monitor the appraisal for the Davis Pines property to prepare for a potential purchase and sale agreement.

Read the full transcript