Portland's Not Getting A Demolition Tax—This Year

Portland Mercury:

Mayor Charlie Hales' proposed demolition tax appears to have blown up.

Hales, who had to duck out of this morning's Portland City Council meeting early, did something sort of extraordinary in a council where votes are often tabulated ahead of time: He whooshed his proposal for a $25,000 tax on home demolitions to the top of the agenda, then asked his colleagues what they thought.

"It’s really at the point now where I need some guidance from council," said Hales, who has sold the tax as way to both prevent loss of "neighborhood character" and raise millions for affordable housing. "We've heard from a lot of people on this issue."

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