A 250,000+ sqft. Prologis Distribution Center is being built at the SE corner of 122nd and Sandy Blvd., just 15 feet from residents in Argay and one block from the athletic fields of Parkrose High School.
Who is Prologis?
Prologis, Inc. is a company based in San Francisco, California, that invests in buildings used for storing and transporting goods. They became the biggest company of this kind in the world when AMB Property Corporation and Prologis merged in June 2011.
As of December 2022, Prologis owned 5,495 buildings across 19 countries, totaling about 1.2 billion square feet. They focus on having warehouses near large cities where land is limited. They have about 6,600 tenants globally.
According to their website in October 2021, Prologis is the largest owner of industrial properties in Portland. They own 65 properties covering 6.25 million square feet, serving 169 customers. They are also constructing over 1 million square feet of warehouse space and planning an additional 2 million square feet in Portland alone.
Prologis claims their investment in this location will create new jobs and help the local economy. However, we are skeptical and believe you shouldn't believe it either. According to their website, they offer advanced technology solutions like wearable devices and self-driving robots to improve worker productivity and safety. They also mention that their autonomous robots can optimize the picking process in warehouses and provide real-time workflow optimization tools for employees and robots.
Why do we think this is a bad idea?
Health: According to the EPA, Parkrose-Argay already has 4 to 6 times the healthy limit for diesel pollution. Diesel particulate matter gets deep into the lungs, increases the likelihood of asthma, impairs cardiac health, and has been shown to negatively impact both developing brains and those of the elderly. According to the Multnomah County 2019 Poverty Report, Parkrose has one of the lowest life expectancies in the county. The asthma rate in Argay Terrace is well above the state average. Our area is amongst the top 10 percent of census tracts most vulnerable to climate change. More diesel traffic will increase pollution and further poison our air.
Traffic Safety: This freight warehouse will bring heavy freight traffic through the crosswalks Parkrose Middle and High School students use to get to school and along Shaver Elementary's “safe route to school.” No kid should have to dodge heavy freight trucks to get an education. In 2022-23 school year alone, two pedestrians have been killed in the crosswalks our students and community members use daily. This development puts the lives of our children and pedestrians at greater risk by increasing heavy truck traffic on our PBOT-designated high crash streets.
Well-Being/Community: You might remember the 2021 Proud Boys rally that brought rioting and violence to this vacant lot. Afterward, the school district asked for input on how the site would be developed, hoping we could find healing after this traumatic event. Despite this clear request, the City ignored the district and community in approving permits for a freight warehouse. We are tired of not being served by our city officials.
City Planning: The freight warehouse development is possible because of a zoning change from commercial to industrial. Just 15 feet from a residential apartment complex and one block from a high school is NOT a safe or appropriate choice for industrial development. This is dangerous city planning that decreases the overall livability of our neighborhoods. Argay and Parkrose will suffer and pay the consequences for years as Prologis has signed a 60-year lease. If not stopped, the harm caused by this development could impact our granchildren.
Environmental Justice: Parkrose School District is the third most diverse in the state (70% kids of color; 72% low-income). Our families are already disenfranchised and face economic barriers. Despite all the nice words about environmental justice and millions in tax revenue collected for the Portland Clean Energy fund, Parkrose+Argay is being used as a sacrifice zone for development that would be unthinkable in affluent inner Portland.