PORTLAND, Ore. — In a significant move towards restorative justice, the Portland City Council has voted to increase a settlement for Black homeowners and their descendants from the Albina neighborhood from $2 million to $8.5 million.
This decision compensates individuals who assert they were displaced by urban renewal projects dating back to the 1960s.
Councilor Loretta Smith proposed the increase following a mid-session executive meeting, which was seconded by Councilor Candace Avalos.
During the council meeting, Smith emphasized the responsibility of the council to consider how to ensure justice is quantified and to prevent future displacements.
“We have a new council today. We have new ears. We have new eyes. And our response must be deliberate, comprehensive, and rooted in fairness and justice,” Smith stated.
The original $2 million settlement, established in May 2025, was negotiated with 26 Black residents and their descendants from the Central Albina neighborhood.
This agreement recognizes the severe impact of Portland’s systemic discrimination and displacement on Black communities.
It highlights the exclusion from homeownership and wealth-building opportunities and the denial of access to educational resources and jobs, perpetuating segregation and harmful stereotypes through a variety of urban policies.
In 2022, plaintiffs filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the city, Prosper Portland, and Legacy Emanuel Hospital, seeking damages related to the urban renewal initiatives that resulted in the displacement of Black families in Central Albina through the 1970s.
Mayor Keith Wilson described this settlement as an integral step in Portland’s ongoing commitment to ensure that future developments do not mirror the discriminatory decisions of the past.
He remarked on the importance of addressing past harms while reaffirming a commitment to development that builds a stronger, more inclusive, and welcoming city.
Historically, Albina was a thriving Black community, which has faced significant disruption due to urban projects like the construction of Interstate 5 and the Memorial Coliseum.
Reports indicate that Legacy Emanuel Hospital also played a role in displacing families through its expansion plans, leaving much of its property undeveloped.
As part of the original settlement, provisions extend beyond mere financial compensation.
If renovations occur at Keller Auditorium, the city has committed to providing space for plaintiffs to display information related to their history.
Keller Auditorium was formerly known as Portland Civic Auditorium, named after Richard B. Keller, who was involved in overseeing urban renewal projects from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Moreover, the city plans to include at least two descendants from displaced families on any design committee for Keller Auditorium and offer them a 10-year hiring preference for positions at the venue.
The city will also celebrate an annual Descendants’ Day for five years and promote related community events.
For a decade, the city and Prosper Portland will assist with letters of support for any grant-funded documentary regarding Central Albina.
Moreover, plaintiffs can perform due diligence and acquire up to two undeveloped lots in the area from Prosper Portland at no cost.
Additionally, Prosper Portland will allow the usage of the Martin Luther King Jr. Heritage Marker site for up to three days, four times a year for community events, also at no cost.
The City of Portland is self-insured for liabilities related to such settlements, which will be funded across all city bureaus.
The city’s Budget Office will evaluate options for financial implications and potential pathways forward.
This agreement positions Portland among the forefront of U.S. cities addressing legal claims that hold public agencies accountable for the discriminatory impacts of past urban development practices.
In 2022, the city of Palm Springs, California, reached a settlement related to similar claims from Black and Latino families displaced during the 1960s.
Legacy Emanuel Hospital settled its portion of the case in late 2024, and the court dismissed them as a party to the case in January 2025.
Portland’s increased settlement marks a notable step towards healing the wounds of its historical injustices, striving to establish a more equitable city for its residents.
image source from：https://www.kgw.com/article/news/community/portland-city-council-increases-albina-settlement-displaced-black-families/283-c7b3fb40-e5fa-4d26-919b-4d039307aaf8
