Portland's stately Eastmoreland neighborhood wasn't able to obstruct the prospect of more housing Wednesday as the City Council officially shot down a controversial proposal from Mayor Charlie Hales -- all without uttering a word.

Hales, who lives in Eastmoreland, wanted the City Council to reduce allowable density in the neighborhood. But two months after making his proposal, Hales on Wednesday couldn't get a single city commissioner to second his plan.

It died without a vote.

"No second?" Hales said to his colleagues. "Alright, then we're going to move on."

But that didn't mean no one was talking.

City Commissioner Steve Novick offered a play on words -- a combination of city zoning parlance, combined with the Occupy Wall Street's rebellion against the wealthiest 1 percent -- a few moments after Hales' defeat.

Asked about the decision, during a break from Wednesday's lengthy hearing on a slew of proposed land-use changes, Novick quipped:

"I'm glad that the council didn't elect to create what I think would have to be described as an R1 Percent zone."

For necessary context: Eastmoreland is currently zoned "R5" but Hales and Eastmoreland's vocal neighborhood leaders wanted to downzone that to "R7."

The proposal was meant to block added density -- or preserve existing neighborhood character, depending on one's view -- by requiring minimum lots of at least 4,200 square feet instead of the current 3,000-square-foot requirement.

Eastmoreland features a combination of sprawling mansions, tidy Tudors and charming colonial homes -- with price tags generally beginning at three-quarters-of-a-million dollars. It's home to some of the city's prominent business leaders and political minds, plus an active neighborhood association that's successfully fought to save old trees from being cut down in favor of new housing.

Yet while some developers have been ripping down old homes and replacing them with two houses, Eastmoreland isn't really expected to see much growth in the years ahead.

There are 1,629 single-family homes within the neighborhood now, according to city statistics, and that number is projected to grow to 1,714 by 2035.

That's the equivalent of about four new homes per year.

Novick, who had been prepared to vote against Hales' plan, quickly refined his comments about one of Southeast Portland's most regal neighborhoods.

"I say that with deep love," he clarified. "Some of my best friends are rich people in Eastmoreland."

-- Brad Schmidt

503-294-7628

@cityhallwatch