Goodbye, Pearl District sky: Recently, Mayor Charlie Hales and a majority of the Portland City Council approved design plans for a Seattle-based developer to build a 150-foot high-rise in the middle of a low-rise historic district in the Pearl.

This decision will mark the beginning of the end for the Pearl District as we know it. Where residents and tourists were once able to meander through the area shops and restaurants with an open sky above and sunshine lighting up the streets, towering high rises will cast massive shadows blocking the sun, sky and light for much of the day. From early afternoon on, the soon-to-be-constructed Block 136 building will leave Jamison Square park directly in its shadow. No more sun to warm those thousands of wet kiddies whose parents transport them from all over Portland and Vancouver, Washington, to play in the fountain during the summer. Residents of condominiums on Northwest 12th and Northwest 14th avenues will have their already minimal views of the sky and accompanying sunlight pared down to near nothing.

If you didn't know about this, it's because the notification process was carefully managed by the developers to notify almost no one.

The reason numerous protests about the development have fallen on deaf ears at City Hall is -- surprise! -- money. The city's thirst for tax revenues now takes precedence over its residents' quality of life.

This development will lead to other high-rise construction that will destroy the appeal of the Pearl. Although some residents will be financially unable to opt out of the area, we will not stay for the end to come. We will be off to a town where City Hall values its heritage and the quality of life for its residents.

Tim Allen

Northwest Portland