New complex might key progress

To the editor:
I’m writing to speak my disapproval of Portland City Council’s stance on the proposed apartment complex being erected at the site of the former book bindery.
I find this decision to be one of backward, not forward thinking.
We do have several complexes in Portland which accept elderly. Some of those have existed for years and could use upgrading, as they will not last forever. It is time to begin looking ahead to the future.
There is the probability that there might be more traffic in some of the local, surrounding neighborhoods, but that is the reality of progress.
Portland has a problem with “brain drain,” our youth leaving for college and not returning. What does Portland offer them to entice them to return?
We have several factories that do not pay high wages, we have some retail and farming. There is nothing in the infrastructure for Portland to regain some of the size that was seen 50 years ago. We’ve shrunk over the years, because we have nothing to retain our youth. We had “brain drain” then, but it has increased over the years.
Portland can stand to have another complex, especially one geared toward the elderly. A complaint was that there would be traffic, there will be some increased traffic with elderly and some younger tenants. There may even be some “undesirables” move in, but that is unavoidable, but if it is intended for older tenants, then that can assist in keeping out the “undesirables.”
With newer units come better units than many that are presently available, and competition is supposed to be good. Those with children would find the location near a school and a park to be a huge plus for their children, those that would get into the unit.
Another complex in Portland may just encourage another employer or two to choose to move their company to Portland and bring more than a couple jobs, and possibly some good paying ones.
Portland may even start to progress again.
Daniel E. Chase
Portland