On our way to conserving the next 100 acres

The mostly forested land provides habitat for many species of wildlife. Streams run through the property, providing cool, clean water to Rock Creek, which eventually flows into the Tualatin River. Many animals come to the meadow that the Speroffs mow to keep the blackberries at bay. Coyotes, bobcats, red-tailed hawks, and a cougar have been spotted hunting in the field, which is prime habitat for many burrowing rodents and snakes. A herd of nearly 40 elk often graze in the meadow.

In 1989, the Speroffs purchased an initial 40 acres and built their home. Two years later, they were able to obtain most of an adjacent 60 acres. What they purchased, they discovered, was an interesting piece of Oregon history. In 1909 the enterprising James Sargent bought 80 acres, subdivided it into 960 lots, had it platted with streets, and called the area Greenoe Heights. No one ever built on the lots, and none of the subdivision’s streets were ever constructed. Although Greenoe Heights is on steep terrain and not adjacent to any functioning road in this semi-rural part of northwest unincorporated Multnomah County, county maps show 960 lots with a network of streets that look like any modern day subdivision.

The presence of a flume added complexity to the property. In the early 1900s, Lafayette “Lafe” Pence planned to build a flume to float logs down to Linnton, a small town north of Portland on the Willamette River. In reality, Linnton is not downhill, but over Skyline ridge, then downhill about ten miles away. A local legend, which has not been confirmed, holds that Harry Lane, Portland mayor from 1905 until 1909, discovered that the flume was a scam and put an end to it. Still, the Pence flume was recorded with Multnomah County, and even though never built, it snakes its way through Greenoe Heights in the County records.

When the Speroffs purchased Greenoe Heights, they held the deeds to all of the lots but 32. Over the years, Leon and Sen have tried to purchase these remaining lots. Some became available when owners were delinquent on their taxes and the county put the lots up for sale at auction. The Speroffs usually were able to purchase the lots for about $200 each, but ran into competition on one lot which cost them $2,000. Several of the lots were purchased from a California man who said his grandfather had acquired the lots when he traded a pig for them. Some of the remaining lots may never be sold to the Speroffs because the owners consider them a part of their family’s heritage. The Speroffs now own all but 22 of the 960 lots.

Managing this project has been challenging and expensive. “At one time we had 71 tax bills and each one required a fire fee of $20,” says Leon. Placing a conservation easement on the property has also been challenging. Three Rivers’ Conservation Director, Virginia Bowers, has been helping with the process of vacating the streets, which means removing them from the plat. This is complicated by the requirement that the owners of the 22 lots not owned by the Speroffs have “accessibility” in and out of Greenoe Heights. Leon, Sen, and Virginia have spent many hours managing the reams of paperwork on the property and researching county records. Many more hours will be spent with surveyors, title companies, and public hearings before the project is completed.

As much as this story is about ownership of this land, the Speroffs do not feel they own it, but that they have been privileged to live on it. In the last 16 years, they have seen the growing demand by owners for land to become profitable. Both Leon and Sen were raised to think about land in terms of future generations, not just short-term gain. Having a conservation easement will indeed limit the Speroff family’s use of their own land, but they think this is well worth it. Owners in perpetuity will also be limited and will have to think of the land in terms of stewardship, wildlife, healthy flora, and a healthy watershed. It is hard to imagine what the adjacent area will be like in 25, 50 or 200 years, but the Speroffs hope that their woods will, in time, take on the characteristics of an old-growth forest — a forest that will contribute to a healthier environment for all.

Three Rivers plans to complete the conservation agreement with the Speroffs by the end of year.

Learn more about our Rock Creek Project Area.

This article was published in our Spring 2006 Newletter, please click here to read more!