In the hours before it opened to guests Tuesday, media were welcomed to view the new overnight-only homeless shelter in the Pearl District that has caused an uproar among neighbors.

The Pearl District shelter at 1435 Northwest Northrup Street is the fifth to open as part of Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s plan to open 12 to 15 such shelters by Dec. 1. Wilson has set a goal to add 1,500 shelter beds to the area’s existing 3,000 beds and end unsheltered homelessness for anyone who wants a safe place to sleep.

However, the mayor wasn’t in attendance Tuesday morning. The former trucking company executive was at Daimler Truck North America for a different press event to mark the city’s purchase of a battery-electric Freightliner M2 truck for use by the water bureau.

On Tuesday night, the Pearl

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