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What is Moreland Woods?

Moreland Woods is a wooded two-acre property located on SE 14th Avenue between SE Duke and SE Claybourne Streets in Portland’s Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood. It is owned by Foundation Partners Group (FPG), a Florida-based private equity group that purchased Wilhelm’s Portland Memorial Mausoleum and its surrounding properties in 2017.

On the bluff just three blocks west of the Milwaukie-Bybee retail hub, Moreland Woods sits between Wilhelm’s to the south and Llewellyn Elementary to the north. It’s a quiet place, shaded by twenty mature Douglas-fir trees, with a dog exercise area, rustic benches, horseshoe pits, abundant wildlife including owls and bald eagles, and views of Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge to the west.

The property is zoned R-5; FPG intends to sell it to a developer to build private residences.

What’s happening there?

After purchasing Wilhelm’s, FPG expressed an interest in selling the Woods to a developer and hired a broker to market it. Friends of Moreland Woods came together to intervene. Since late 2017, our group has sought to work with FPG to arrange for an alternative outcome — one that would preserve the lot’s public and natural values.

Between 2018 and 2020, FPG sold its two existing parking lots on SE 14th Avenue and petitioned the City of Portland to remove Moreland Woods from its existing Conditional Use restrictions. Despite opposition, this code change was approved, enabling the development of a new parking lot on Moreland Woods and the sale of the remainder of the wooded property. FPG has advised Friends of Moreland Woods that it plans to market Moreland Woods to a developer again during the second half 2021 but is willing to sell it to the community or a public entity if they meet its financial objectives.

What’s at stake?

For those who live in the neighborhood, where development has been robust, Moreland Woods represents a rare, undeveloped parcel with mature trees, uncommon wildlife, and a peaceful, wooded community space that could be harmed or lost if developed. The Woods also represent a hard-to-find urban connection to the natural world — to the abundant plant, bird, and animal life that live and visit there.

As the effects of human impact are felt across the planet, Moreland Woods represents a rare opportunity to do the right thing: to protect and preserve a small, established grove for everyone — humans and wildlife — to enjoy.

In a quickly developing neighborhood, in an even-more-quickly developing city, Moreland Woods gives neighbors and local businesses the chance to imagine new possibilities and influence the future of this piece of undeveloped land.

What’s next?

🌲 Raising Awareness: FOMW will engage the neighborhood and the broader Portland community to create a shared strategy for the public acquisition of Moreland Woods. To support our efforts, please go to our Donate page at morelandwoods.org; all proceeds go to support this FY 2021-22 awareness campaign. Funds will go towards awareness-raising, events, and legal support.

🌲 Private Fundraising: FOMW plans to register a nonprofit entity to serve as either an interim or long-term owner of the property. This will allow us to seek philanthropic donations from individuals and foundations. Please contact us immediately to register your pledge for acquisition of the Woods—and watch for our Acquisition Pledge Drive we’ll be launching soon.

🌲 Public Funding: FOMW will continue to advocate that city funds—including system development charges, Metro bond funds, and Portland Parks acquisition funds—be dedicated towards preserving Moreland Woods.

🌲 Long-term ownership: Since Portland public agencies have chosen to decline to own Moreland Woods, FOMW is exploring the creation of a nonprofit that could own the Woods. We continue to invite partnerships with other nonprofits and community-based entities to reach out to become part of our vision.

Who are we?

Friends of Moreland Woods is a small, neighborhood-based volunteer group and an affiliate of SMILE, the Sellwood Moreland Improvement League. One of Portland’s oldest neighborhood associations, SMILE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and our fiscal sponsor. In November 2017, SMILE formed a sub-committee, Friends of Moreland Woods, to explore all avenues for conservation of Moreland Woods.

Our priorities are conservation of trees and habitat, maintaining open space, providing an educational resource, providing a community gathering space, and enabling public recreation and enjoyment for Sellwood-Moreland and the greater Portland community. We strive to remain loyal to these goals while considering fiscal realities, a wide range of conservation opportunities, and competing demands for land use. We are committed to remaining open to the wishes and concerns of our neighbors in finding a solution for this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

How can you help?

Donate here to help us preserve the future of Moreland Woods.

Write our elected representatives: Karin Powers, Carmen Rubio, Kathleen Taylor, and Bob Stacey.

Stay informed about Moreland Woods and spread the word by joining our mailing list and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Become a volunteer and help us connect with supporters, community leaders, experts, and other resources. Get involved!

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