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Category: News

  • Urging Preservation and Restoration of the Thompson Elk Fountain

    Urging Preservation and Restoration of the Thompson Elk Fountain

    The Downtown Portland Neighborhood Association (DNA) sent a letter (below) to Mayor Wheeler and the City Council on March 24, 2022, urging the immediate preservation and restoration of the Thompson Elk Fountain.

    The Elk Fountain has been restored many times over the years and the time has come to make it whole once more. In 1974 the City designated the “David P Thompson Fountain” or “Elk Fountain” as a local Historic Landmark. It’s described as an elk statue on a granite pedestal, surrounded by a reservoir with four animal troughs served by water spouts in form of animal heads. The elk and pedestal are inextricably linked.

    As the City is well aware, it is responsible to conserve historic landmarks. The Thompson Elk Fountain is historically significant because it was designated by the City as a historic landmark, and it is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

    The public have tried tirelessly to engage with City staff and have been absolutely stonewalled in these efforts. Individuals and organizations that have reviewed and endorsed the findings in the letter below include Bill Hawkins, Aubrey Russell, Chet Orloff, the Architectural Heritage Center, Restore Oregon, Portland Coalition for Historic Resources, and many others. The public is desperate for a forum where the alternatives to demolition can be discussed.

    The City must not only comply with state law and local preservation program requirements but also be transparent and up front about intentions with respect to the protection of historic resources. This should be accomplished in a public forum where the public is given a formal opportunity to be heard by a politically accountable decision-maker.

    [embeddoc url=”https://cornellroad.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-03-24-DNALUTLetterElkFountain-1.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google”]

  • Portland Streetcar Rider Ambassadors Get on Board

    Portland Streetcar Rider Ambassadors Get on Board

    A purple vest and a backpack will be a new sight for regular streetcar riders. Newly-hired Rider Ambassadors are working aboard the streetcar to provide a non-security presence to help keep the system safe, supportive and comfortable.
     
    Completing mental health outreach training and equipped with water, dry socks and other supplies, this team will respond to riders experiencing homelessness or struggling with mental illness or addiction.
     
    “Providing more helping hands on the streetcar is a way we can help our neighbors in need while also keeping the streetcar safe and clean for all riders,” said Dan Bower, Executive Director of Portland Streetcar, Inc. “The Rider Ambassador program is an extra layer of community support, and the team can respond to situations where otherwise a security or police response would be called in.”
     
    The one-year pilot program is funded by a research and demonstration grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The grant is also funding the transition from cloth upholstery to easy-to-clean vinyl seat covers and new rider information screens at key stops.
     
    Portland Streetcar expects to collect data, stories and rider feedback about the program to evaluate its effectiveness at the end of the year. The team will be in addition to existing customer service representatives and PBOT’s fare officers.

    Andrew Plambeck (he/him)
    Public Affairs Manager
    Portland Streetcar, Inc.
    p. 503-222-4200 | m. 503-869-5507 | andrew.plambeck@portlandstreetcar.org

  • Portland Streetcar Rider Ambassadors Get on Board

    Portland Streetcar Rider Ambassadors Get on Board

    A purple vest and a backpack will be a new sight for regular streetcar riders. Newly-hired Rider Ambassadors are working aboard the streetcar to provide a non-security presence to help keep the system safe, supportive and comfortable.
     
    Completing mental health outreach training and equipped with water, dry socks and other supplies, this team will respond to riders experiencing homelessness or struggling with mental illness or addiction.
     
    “Providing more helping hands on the streetcar is a way we can help our neighbors in need while also keeping the streetcar safe and clean for all riders,” said Dan Bower, Executive Director of Portland Streetcar, Inc. “The Rider Ambassador program is an extra layer of community support, and the team can respond to situations where otherwise a security or police response would be called in.”
     
    The one-year pilot program is funded by a research and demonstration grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The grant is also funding the transition from cloth upholstery to easy-to-clean vinyl seat covers and new rider information screens at key stops.
     
    Portland Streetcar expects to collect data, stories and rider feedback about the program to evaluate its effectiveness at the end of the year. The team will be in addition to existing customer service representatives and PBOT’s fare officers.

    Andrew Plambeck (he/him)
    Public Affairs Manager
    Portland Streetcar, Inc.
    p. 503-222-4200 | m. 503-869-5507 | andrew.plambeck@portlandstreetcar.org

  • Downtown Urgent Sewer Repairs

    Downtown Urgent Sewer Repairs

    Environmental Services is constructing urgent repairs to 3,600 feet of 140-year-old public sewer pipes in downtown Portland that are in very poor condition. At a high risk of collapsing, the pipes require repairs to protect buildings, streets, and greenspaces from sewage releases and flooding.

    Contact
    Cheryl Kuck, Community Outreach
    Cheryl.Kuck@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-5315

     Project Area
    The project boundary is SW Ankeny Street to SW Market Street between SW Naito Parkway and SW 12th Avenue.

    Click to enlarge

    What’s Happening Now
    Remaining work includes installation of top hat liners for two sewer service laterals and pavement restoration. The construction schedule may fluctuate due to weather, conditions underground, subcontractor schedules, materials availability, supply chain delays, and other factors. 

    SW Alder Street just east of SW Broadway—February 1–3:
    Crews will install a “top hat” liner at this location. This work will not require digging in the street. (Tuesday, February 1)After the top hat passes inspection, crews will complete final pavement restoration of the patched trench from prior work at this location. They’ll grind down the existing surface early Wednesday morning and re-pave on Thursday. (Wednesday–Thursday, February 2–3)

    SW Harvey Milk Street just west of SW 6th Avenue – February 1:
    Crews will install a “top hat” liner at this location. This work will not require digging in the street.

    Note that there is a chance this work will be pushed out to the following week, February 8–10, due to a delay in the shipment of the top hat liners. As of the publication of this project bulletin, the liners have not yet arrived in Portland. Construction Method: The top hat liner installation is trenchless, so there will be no digging in the street or sidewalk. Crews will work at maintenance access holes to insert the liner. A bypass system will be in place to ensure uninterrupted sewer service. The liner is called a “top hat” because it is shaped like a top hat. When installed, it will create a leak-proof connection between the City-maintained mainline public sewer pipe and the private property-maintained sewer lateral pipe. The top hat connection will seal gaps and help prevent tree roots from intruding into the pipe.

    What to Expect During Construction
    You can expect the following activities and impacts: Work hours will be during the day between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. On-street parking will be removed in the work zone. One travel lane will be restricted to create a safe work zone. Local access will be provided to parking garages, businesses, and all other properties, but you can expect delays. Sidewalks will remain open. Water and sewer services will be maintained without interruption. To avoid circling around construction to find parking, please use SmartPark garages.

    Environmental Services will inform residents and businesses about project activities and respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. The following resources will help you stay informed and report concerns: Visit the project webpage for more details about the project. Learn more about other sewer repair projects in downtown Portland.

    Questions or comments: call 503-823-5315, stating that Downtown Urgent Repairs is your area of concern. Outreach staff will return your call by the next business day. To report a sewer emergency or odor concern, call 503-823-1700 immediately. The City Maintenance hotline is staffed 24/7, all hours and all days. Email City outreach staff.

  • Opinion: Our Schools Support a ‘Safe Rest Village’ But the City Must Do Its Part

    Opinion: Our Schools Support a ‘Safe Rest Village’ But the City Must Do Its Part

    Read this related opinion piece on Oregonlive or below.

    Published: Dec. 22, 2021, 6:15 a.m.

    SW Naito site
    The site at 2300 SW Naito Parkway has been selected by the city as one of its “safe rest villages” for homeless people to live.

    By Guest Columnist | The Oregonian

    Bodo Heiliger and Beven Byrnes

    Heiliger is head of school at International School of Portland. Byrnes is principal and executive director at Bridges Middle School.

    Three months ago, Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan announced plans to site one of the city’s first “Safe Rest Villages” at 2300 SW Naito Parkway near downtown Portland. This new outdoor homeless shelter village will be a stone’s throw from our two schools, Bridges Middle School, an independent school serving fifth through eighth-grade students with learning disabilities, and the International School of Portland, an independent language immersion school with students from pre-K through fifth grade. Given the current unsanctioned encampments already near our schools, it’s a plan that we greet with a combination of hope, concern and clear expectations for the city.

    Staff, students and parents of both schools are aware of the humanitarian crisis within our city and the need for the increased safety and well-being of its residents, both housed and unhoused. Our schools believe that global citizenship begins with our taking responsible action within and outside of our community. Our students, staff and families strive to actively model our schools’ values, including being open-minded, caring, deep-thinking and principled in our actions. As such, we wholeheartedly support the mission and vision of the Safe Rest Villages.

    There have been many questions about why the city chose the Southwest Naito site, given its proximity to two schools. But this is not the first transitional village located close to a school. St. Johns Village is directly next to The Montessori House preschool and a block away from James John Elementary School. Administrators at The Montessori House and local community members have said that St. Johns Village has been a positive experience for both the neighborhood and the village residents. The village itself is beautifully maintained, and the residents are committed to being positive members of the community.

    There are many lessons that we can harness from St. Johns Village, in tandem with the enforcement of local ordinances. The safety of our school communities is our top priority, and we share deep concerns about the unsanitary conditions, including trash, drug paraphernalia and human feces that we have already experienced with some nearby unsanctioned campsites. Currently, we are collaborating with representatives from the Downtown and South Portland Neighborhood Associations, Commissioner Ryan’s office and other stakeholder groups to develop a comprehensive good neighbor agreement that outlines our expectations for the success of the Southwest Naito Safe Rest Village, including:

    • No camping in the vicinity of the Safe Rest Village, the International School of Portland and Bridges Middle School: This includes the enforcement of Emergency Ordinance 190478, which prioritizes the relocating of high-impact, unsanctioned campsites within 150 feet of any public, private, or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school.
    • Clear expectations for Safe Rest Village residency: Residents will be accepted by referral only, and we expect the contracted site operator to ensure background screening of potential residents so that only those appropriate for living within the Safe Rest Village will be permitted.
    • Robust safety and security measures: In addition to clearly articulated expectations for safety and security within the village, we expect to have a clear line of communication between the site operator and our schools.

    We are committed to working with Commissioner Ryan and other city representatives to ensure that the site provides necessary support for our unhoused neighbors while also increasing the safety and security of our campuses by removing unsanctioned campsites nearby. We believe that Portland can, and should, both protect our students and set an example of what a compassionate community looks like.

  • Opinion: Our Schools Support a ‘Safe Rest Village’ But the City Must Do Its Part

    Opinion: Our Schools Support a ‘Safe Rest Village’ But the City Must Do Its Part

    Read this related opinion piece on Oregonlive or below.

    Published: Dec. 22, 2021, 6:15 a.m.

    SW Naito site
    The site at 2300 SW Naito Parkway has been selected by the city as one of its “safe rest villages” for homeless people to live.

    By Guest Columnist | The Oregonian

    Bodo Heiliger and Beven Byrnes

    Heiliger is head of school at International School of Portland. Byrnes is principal and executive director at Bridges Middle School.

    Three months ago, Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan announced plans to site one of the city’s first “Safe Rest Villages” at 2300 SW Naito Parkway near downtown Portland. This new outdoor homeless shelter village will be a stone’s throw from our two schools, Bridges Middle School, an independent school serving fifth through eighth-grade students with learning disabilities, and the International School of Portland, an independent language immersion school with students from pre-K through fifth grade. Given the current unsanctioned encampments already near our schools, it’s a plan that we greet with a combination of hope, concern and clear expectations for the city.

    Staff, students and parents of both schools are aware of the humanitarian crisis within our city and the need for the increased safety and well-being of its residents, both housed and unhoused. Our schools believe that global citizenship begins with our taking responsible action within and outside of our community. Our students, staff and families strive to actively model our schools’ values, including being open-minded, caring, deep-thinking and principled in our actions. As such, we wholeheartedly support the mission and vision of the Safe Rest Villages.

    There have been many questions about why the city chose the Southwest Naito site, given its proximity to two schools. But this is not the first transitional village located close to a school. St. Johns Village is directly next to The Montessori House preschool and a block away from James John Elementary School. Administrators at The Montessori House and local community members have said that St. Johns Village has been a positive experience for both the neighborhood and the village residents. The village itself is beautifully maintained, and the residents are committed to being positive members of the community.

    There are many lessons that we can harness from St. Johns Village, in tandem with the enforcement of local ordinances. The safety of our school communities is our top priority, and we share deep concerns about the unsanitary conditions, including trash, drug paraphernalia and human feces that we have already experienced with some nearby unsanctioned campsites. Currently, we are collaborating with representatives from the Downtown and South Portland Neighborhood Associations, Commissioner Ryan’s office and other stakeholder groups to develop a comprehensive good neighbor agreement that outlines our expectations for the success of the Southwest Naito Safe Rest Village, including:

    • No camping in the vicinity of the Safe Rest Village, the International School of Portland and Bridges Middle School: This includes the enforcement of Emergency Ordinance 190478, which prioritizes the relocating of high-impact, unsanctioned campsites within 150 feet of any public, private, or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school.
    • Clear expectations for Safe Rest Village residency: Residents will be accepted by referral only, and we expect the contracted site operator to ensure background screening of potential residents so that only those appropriate for living within the Safe Rest Village will be permitted.
    • Robust safety and security measures: In addition to clearly articulated expectations for safety and security within the village, we expect to have a clear line of communication between the site operator and our schools.

    We are committed to working with Commissioner Ryan and other city representatives to ensure that the site provides necessary support for our unhoused neighbors while also increasing the safety and security of our campuses by removing unsanctioned campsites nearby. We believe that Portland can, and should, both protect our students and set an example of what a compassionate community looks like.

  • Here Together Answers

    Here Together Answers

    [embeddoc url=”https://portlanddowntownna.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/dna-here-together-responses-apr-18-2020.pdf” width=”80%” height=”80%”]

    Download PDF

  • Multnomah Behavioral Health Center

    Multnomah Behavioral Health Center

    Ebony Clark, the Director of the Multnomah County Mental Health and Addiction Services Division, will announce the latest progress on the Behavior Health Resource Center to be located in the Bushong Building, 333 SW Park. The Center is a partnership between peer-run nonprofits and Multnomah County that has been created to provide basic services to people with substance abuse disorders and mental illness to residents who are experiencing homelessness.
  • Bybee Lakes Hope Center

    Bybee Lakes Hope Center

    CEO Alan Evans and Project Manager Raven Russel will represent  the Bybee Lakes Hope Center, the planned conversion of the Wapato Jail into a transitional housing and service facility to support Multnomah residents who are experiencing homelessness and have been approved by Metro for placement.
  • Here Together Coalition

    Here Together Coalition

    Cole Merkel, Deputy Director for Outreach and Engagement for the Here Together Coalition, will explain the details of the May 19 ballot initiative that will provide more than 250 million dollars to fund homeless services in the Metro county area.