Ben Batti News Today

The site of a derelict Kmart building that went up in flames in the Parkrose neighborhood two weeks ago had an open code enforcement violation with the city. Records show the Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) sent RFC Joint Venture, the property’s owner, a violation notice on July 6, directing owners to “board-up or otherwise secure” the “open and vacant” building. A city inspector was scheduled to re-inspect the property on or after July...

Initial testing confirmed asbestos in some debris, but officials said subsequent testing showed much less contamination than the initial results had indicated.