Kenton Neighborhood residents fed up over claims of loud music, trash and RVs

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Residents of Portland’s Kenton neighborhood are expressing frustration over a large, graffiti-covered bus and several RVs parked on Argyle Street, near the iconic statue on Denver Avenue.

The area has become an eyesore, with piles of trash and reports of noise and drug use.

Kenton resident Barq Berry, who manages a nearby apartment complex, described the situation as increasingly problematic.

“There’s a lot of noise and drug use,” Berry said. “And we’ve had people coming on the property defecating and people coming on the property checking car doors.”

Berry often finds herself acting as a neighborhood watch, dealing with disturbances and trash.

She noted that the issues worsen at night, particularly due to loud music from a white pickup truck where Michael Francis resides.

“I had a gentleman over there come out his car door at me and threaten me and come at me because I asked him to please stop the loud music and I had to spray mace,” Berry said.

Francis denied threatening Berry but admitted to playing loud music, stating, “At night, we actually all try to keep it down just because, I mean, I do, just because I wouldn’t want somebody to be in the loud room trying to sleep.”

When asked about his plans to leave, Francis said, “It’s kind of hard to say, but right now I would say probably within the next couple of weeks.”

Residents can report concerns about homeless camps and parked RVs to the city of Portland by calling 311 or using the online system at portland.gov.

Berry, unaware of this option until informed by KATU, expressed a desire for the city to take action. “We’d like to see the city come in and put some, some of the big concrete barriers so that the RVs can’t park here,” she said.