Portland City Hall Lacks Transparency on the Historic Impact Study Finances.

Jon Stover & Associates (JS&A) has been contracted to complete a historic preservation impact study by the city of Portland the city spokeswoman  announced on January 26, 2023.  The firm will be working on the study through the winter and spring with a public presentation of the findings coming shortly thereafter according to the press release.

Curiously, there was no mention of the fact that JS&A was selected to replace PlaceEconomics because the city had ended the contract in December of 2022.  That fact came out following an inquiry by mhn.com.  PlaceEconomics was selected in December of 2021 to perform the study following an RFP process. Multiple questions regarding the transition to JS&A were forwarded from this blogger to Christine Grimando, Director of the Planning & Urban Development Department, as instructed by the city’s spokeswoman, Jessica Grondin.

Questions such as was the customary RFP process followed to hire JS&A and if not why not, how much money was paid up front to PlaceEconomics for the company’s work until December 2022, how much money has the city contracted to JS&A for the remaining work to be completed later this year, and more. Why did the city end the contract with PlaceEconomics anyway?

On February 1, 2023, mhn.com received the following message from Director Grimando:  “You sent me an email with a number of questions.  I haven’t forgotten them and will provide a reply to them shortly.”  A question is:  How much over the original budget will this historic impact study cost?  Shouldn’t city officials be held accountable for how they spend/squander taxpayers money?

Still waiting for the answers, Director Grimando.

For more background information on the PlaceEconomics selection, please visit post herein dated December 30, 2021.