Portland, OR – On the eve of its grand opening, Portland’s newest homeless shelter in the Pearl District was vandalized with spray-painted slogans criticizing city leaders and the project itself.
Graffiti Targets Shelter and City Officials
The shelter, located at Northwest Northrup Street and 15th Avenue, was defaced early Monday morning with bright yellow messages. Some directly named Mayor Keith Wilson and Vanessa Sturgeon, president and CEO of TMT Development, whose company has ties to the property.
One message read, “Mayor + Vanessa = ruined lives,” while others stated, “No shelter” and “Shame on you Mayor.” By the time media crews arrived, workers had already painted over the graffiti.
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Authorities have not identified the individuals responsible, and some of the vandalism appeared on sections of the building unrelated to the shelter.
Growing Neighborhood Tensions
The graffiti reflects ongoing resistance among Pearl District residents. Neighbors have protested the shelter’s development throughout the summer, hosting community meetings where city officials faced pointed criticism.
Todd Zarnitz, president of the Northwest District Association, has been a vocal critic. “The concern is that we’ve lived through this before,” Zarnitz said. “We know this will concentrate the problem in a devastating way for the neighborhood. Businesses have already closed because of similar issues.”
Another longtime resident, who asked not to be named, echoed those frustrations. She witnessed the graffiti being removed and described it as symbolic. “We’ve been trying to send messages loud and clear. This isn’t a solution, it’s a waste of money,” she said.
Concerns About Location
For many neighbors, the primary worry is the shelter’s proximity to schools and youth-oriented spaces. The anonymous resident pointed to a monastery school, a dance studio, and a new school planned nearby. “It’s just not the right environment to put in a homeless shelter,” she said.
Mayor’s Shelter Plan
The new facility is part of Mayor Wilson’s ambitious plan to create 1,500 new shelter beds by December in an effort to address Portland’s unsheltered homelessness crisis. His campaign for mayor centered on tackling visible homelessness through rapid expansion of emergency shelter capacity.
The Northwest Portland site will initially open with 40 beds on Tuesday, expand to 100 beds by the end of the month, and has the potential to reach 200 beds.
The shelter will be operated by The Salvation Army, running nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Guests will be guaranteed a bed for the following night, providing a degree of stability often missing from temporary shelters.
Balancing Relief and Resistance
City officials plan to strictly manage the surrounding area, removing tents and vehicle camps to prevent encampments from forming near the shelter. But critics like Zarnitz remain skeptical. “We’ve warned the administration this is a bad idea,” he said. “This building will be where dreams die and nightmares begin.”
The unidentified neighbor was equally blunt: “This is like the Wild West. We’re warehousing people, and then what?”
No Comment from Mayor’s Office
When asked about the graffiti and the criticisms, Mayor Wilson’s office declined to comment.
Despite the backlash, the shelter will open as scheduled. For supporters, it represents a step toward addressing the city’s housing crisis. For opponents, it deepens fears that the Pearl District will become another flashpoint in Portland’s struggle with homelessness.
