Jacob Loeb began writing for newspapers in high school, first for the school's publication and then for a Vashon, Washington, community paper. He graduated college with a degree in English Literature and Television Communications. After graduating, Loeb worked in film distribution for a pioneering DVD company that supported independent filmmakers. Years later, he wrote for a weekly newsletter about technology and ran a popular computer advice column called Ask Jacob. Moving to the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, with his family in 2005, Loeb firmly planted roots in the community and now writes for the Montavilla News. He is a Society of Professional Journalists member and volunteers with non-profit organizations serving East Portland.
~
Crews recently prepared concrete forms in the center turn lane of SE Division Street at SE 64th Avenue. This work replaces a temporary pedestrian island installed in 2024 at a high-visibility enhanced crosswalk that connects to a Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) created paved bike path and pedestrian access way leading to Mt. Tabor Park. Cement masons will next pour concrete to create the raised protective infrastructure and construct a level pedestrian holding area at street level.
Pedestrian Refuge Islands are a nationally recognized tool for transportation engineers looking to assist people crossing a multilane road. It allows a pedestrian or cyclist to focus on one direction of cross traffic at a time and puts a person in a more visible space for drivers who may not notice someone waiting at the far left edge of their field of view. The in-street safety infrastructure also helps slow traffic making turns and causes passing motorists to reduce travel speed as the street narrows. Over the last few years, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) have installed similar pedestrian islands at many locations on this street and 82nd Avenue.
Mt. Tabor Park SE Division St at SE 64th Ave paved bike path and pedestrian path near crossing
At the time of the PP&R path opening in April 2024, PBOT installed a temporary pedestrian island at SE 64th Avenue and Division Street, created from plastic delineator wands serving as a visual indicator to motorists of frequent pedestrian activity. Still, it did not provide curb-height infrastructure to further deter vehicles from driving through the space. Funding for this project comes from the Fixing Our Streets program, which allocates funds to replace temporary safety materials with permanent street elements through the Community Street Services category. This is an example of a case where temporary street safety infrastructure serves to prove a concept design and later to secure funds for a more significant investment.
SE Division St at SE 64th Ave crosswalk with temporary pedestrian island in 2024
People should anticipate ongoing construction in the area, which may cause brief delays. The pedestrian crosswalk is currently closed during the construction phase. Previous project work in this area reconstructed two curb ramps at the southeast corner of SE 64th Avenue and Division Street to the current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The median island work began on July 13th and will continue for another couple of weeks. People using the street should use caution and follow crew instructions.
Promotion: Montavilla News now offers audio recordings of articles produced by ElevenLabs, powered by artificial voice technology. We thank our paid subscribers for their financial support, which helps pay for features like this, and special thanks to Weston Ruter for technical assistance in integrating this feature across the back catalog of articles. Please send any feedback to info@montavilla.net
For sixteen years, the Landmark Saloon served the community below the western base of Mt Tabor at 4847 SE Division Street before closing on February 13th. Regulars at that establishment, Graham Talley and Scott Phillips, feared the loss of an affordable community gathering space in an area undergoing significant redevelopment. They took over the lease of the converted 1906-era house and brought on Nick Wilson, who previously owned the Landmark, to guide them as they spruced up the place. On Friday, July 24th, they will begin a two-day grand opening celebration for the Switchback Saloon with drink specials and live music.
The Switchback Saloon is a cultural continuation of the Landmark, but it’s also a new business that draws inspiration from the community and staff as it constructs its future. The owners want to make sure Landmark regulars feel at home in the updated establishment, but they also want to make their space inviting to all people looking for a third space—a location that is neither home nor work. “We’ve met a lot of folks here over the years, and it’s been a good community gathering space,” explained Phillips. “The watering hole that everyone goes to.” However, they know the national trend shows people drinking less adult beverages. Consequently, they are embracing non-alcoholic drink options that include mocktails and NA-beers. They are also looking at serving coffee in the morning with breakfast items that will not price out a neighborhood regular. “We really want to be a resource to serve the community,” said Talley. “We probably won’t be doing anything really fancy, but if someone can come and spend $10 to $12 to get a good filling breakfast, and a cup of coffee under $5, I think that would be great.”
The well liked photo-booth will remain but the arcade games will be replaced by a pooltable
People will have to wait for some of the new additions. Work to this point has focused on repairing the hardwood floors inside, completely reconstructing the two bathrooms to remove their “dive-bar” aesthetic, updating the kitchen, and general decluttering of the building. As they make changes and plans for the future, the partners say they are involving staff in those choices. “We’re passionate about alternative business models and methods, a more democratic workplace where the staff gets to decide the policies, not just us dictating them,” explained Talley. They will be instituting profit-sharing programs and keeping the books open, letting employees see the finances.
Both the new owners are experienced businesspeople, but have never owned a foodservice or bar establishment. That is why they are seeking help from the former owner and the people who know the space well. “The decisions we’re making around here are coming from literally interviewing the customers and our staff to figuring out what they want to see,” said Talley. “There definitely seems to be a demand for a little more low-scale offerings, like the cowboy breakfast and cowboy coffee.”
Outdoor stage for scheduled performers
The nod to the cowboy in the menu is intentional. The Landmark Saloon was a well-received country and western music venue with small stages for recognizable regional performers and developing musicians in the genre. The Switchback Saloon will continue that to a degree but will also make room for other tastes. “We’re planning on expanding outside of just the classic kind of country western honky tonk, still doing live instrumentation, but we’ll be expanding into jazz, funk, and soul,” said Talley. They removed the permanent stage at the front of the interior seating area to make room for more tables, but will replace it with a convertible stage that can transform from a guest area in 30 minutes on event nights. The existing outdoor covered stage will remain the primary venue space, as it is centrally located in the large private yard adjacent to the saloon.
Covers outdoor seating and racked corn hole game boards
The new owners acknowledge that there are several other bars in the area, but note that this one offers a unique format that is not easy to replicate in an area where available land is rapidly being redeveloped for multifamily projects. The saloon’s property features a large outdoor patio that is several times the size of the bar’s interior. Within that fenced outdoor area is a stage, a secondary bar serving canned beers and shots, and clusters of covered seating fill all corners, and bark-chip-covered grounds make room for outdoor game play, including corn hole. Within the exterior space is Leroy’s Familiar Vittles food cart. That independent business operates overlapping hours with the saloon and is the primary food service provider. The menu features smoked and grilled meats along with mac and cheese, collard greens, and other classic country dishes.
Their drink menu features mostly local beers on tap and whisky. The owners explained that they sell a healthy number of packaged beers, with some notoriety. “We sell a ton of cans. I think at some point, [Landmark Saloon] was like number five for Rainier sales in the entire country,” recalled Talley. “We still sell out of Rainier cans every weekend,” added Phillips. They will add craft beer and some top-shelf whisky to meet higher-end interests, but appreciate the affordability of canned beer. “It’s one of our cheapest drinks. Buying a Tallboy, coming out here, hanging out with friends, that’s very much one of the things that we want to keep alive,” said Talley. “Regardless of what is in your bank account, people should have that third space they can go to and just actually hang out with old friends and new ones.”
Second bar outside for cans and shot sales
The regulars are already back in the space as word of the reopening spreads, but the owners know they will need to find new people looking for a social space. “Gen Z’s not as active in the bar scene, and I think in Portland you’ve seen less activity in some of these local bars, which is why they’ve closed,” said Phillips. He hopes their investment in the Switchback will keep Portlanders invested in their local bar spaces and help bolster personal interactions. “Whether it’s for music, or events, or just to hang out with their friends after work, whatever it is, just keeping that social connection alive.” Talley acknowledges it will take work to keep this space alive. “I know from experience it’s not easy running a small business, and there are a lot of bars shutting down. I’m just hoping we keep getting the support that we’ve been getting so far from the Portland community, so that we can keep going.”
New owners Scott Phillips (left) and Graham Talley (right)
The Switchback Saloon’s grand opening spans Friday to Saturday, July 24th and 25th. They currently serve people from 3 pm to midnight on weekdays and open an hour earlier on the weekends. Times will adjust as they update offerings. The event will feature live music both nights and a mustache-shaving service, where the new owner, Graham Talley, will remove his well-groomed lip hair in solidarity with patrons who want to start the long and awkward grow-out period. Past patrons and interested people are invited to the grand opening of the Switchback Saloon. The owners hope everyone will enjoy the updates and the homage to its past incarnation. For those not excited for the name change, they may only need to wait until the old name becomes available again in the State registry. Graham Talley and Scott Phillips said the new name is an inside joke because, after much effort to find a new name, they decided it didn’t matter and may “switch back to calling it Landmark.”
Article and photos by
Jacob Loeb
Promotion: Check out East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.
On Sunday, July 26th, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will host the 13th annual Street Fair on SE Stark Street. Early that morning, crews will close the road from SE 82nd to 76th Avenues, along with segments of side streets, to allow the 150 booth operators to set up ahead of the 10 a.m. opening. Vendors will sell a variety of items, including food and drinks, unique artwork, handcrafted goods, and clothing. Mixed in with people selling items, organizations will provide information, and performers will entertain the crowds until 6 p.m. Vehicle traffic will resume on the street later that evening after organizers clear the area. Still, people can stay in the neighborhood to visit the bars and restaurants along SE Stark and NE Glisan Streets. Last year, a record-breaking number of people from around the region visited Montavilla’s historic downtown to participate in the annual community party. Event organizers expect that it will increase again this year.
Montavilla Street Fair 2026 banner
A week before the event, sign installers placed the banner over SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue, announcing the Street Fair date to everyone passing by. Although many people in the area have already marked the date on their calendars, raising the banner represents Montavilla’s invitation to the city of Portland. Thousands of visitors attend this annual neighborhood event, driving record sales for local businesses and introducing people to the historic downtown Montavilla.
This year’s event is music-forward with four stages. HONK! PDX will offer a special all-acoustic stage experience. People can also enjoy performances at the SE 79th Avenue Plaza Stage next to the Threshold Brewing beer garden. The Main and Brewery stages will feature a diverse mix of larger acts throughout the day. Montavilla Brew Works, Threshold Brewing, and The Observatory will again feature beer gardens. Many past fair booth operators are returning, alongside a new crop of makers, food vendors, and organizations. As a bonus, the Montavilla Farmers Market will be open during its regular hours on the 26th, providing attendees with access to more booths and food options at SE 76th Avenue and Stark.
Parking in the neighborhood is always in short supply during the street fair. People are encouraged to take public transit to the event or explore other modes of travel. Portland transportation leaders organized a Community Ride/Bike Bus to the Montavilla Street Fair this year to reduce parking challenges in the area while providing a family-friendly ride along neighborhood greenways and new protected bike lanes near downtown Montavilla. Interested participants can gather starting at 10:30 a.m. near the Irving Park covered area for a relaxed 5.6-mile ride to the fair leaving at 11:00 a.m.
Promotion: Montavilla News will have a booth at the fair this year. We will give away stickers and sell year subscriptions that will come with a logoed hat or pin, while supplies last.
Nick Zarate, working under the barber’s moniker Zarateblendz, recently opened his first shop in a converted shipping container south of 817 SE 82nd Avenue. FadeBox PDX has room to support four haircutting stations within a long, brightly lit space that, when combined with the many ring lights, entices customers to feel like they are on-set, readying for the camera. Two barbers currently work from the space, but Zarate is actively seeking people who want to rent a chair at the unique 82nd Avenue location.
Zarate opened the space on July 3rd, after refreshing an interior that once housed HT Xpress. He painted the space, which already had double glass doors at the front and three side windows. Adding the hexagon lights visually transformed the black-box interior with near daylight illumination. “I feel like lighting is the most important thing for a barber shop, just so you can see your fade and then the before and after pics turn out really good,” said Zarate.
Zarate has cut hair professionally for eight years, working in area shops like Black Diamond Barber Shop when it was on NE Glisan Street. However, some of his most formative works began during a time when he was forced to work alone. “I was in barber school, and then COVID hit a couple of months later,” explained Zarate. “It was hard to get clientele, but then again, it was easier because there were no barber shops open with everything closed down, so I worked from home most of the time.” He built his client book and alternated between working in shops and from home.
Nick Zarate “Zarateblendz” at FadeBox PDX
This year, Zarate heard from a friend about an opportunity to work in this space on 82nd Avenue and jumped at it. “There’s a lot of people that come by and say, ‘we’ve been waiting for a barber shop to be right here on the block because there’s really none,'” recalled Zarate. The barber shop is clustered near Henry’s Market and Covert Cafe just south of the historic Montavilla Downtown on SE Stark Street. He says they are enjoying the business group nearby, with informal cross-promotion efforts occurring between the barber shop and cafe.
Zarate explained that they work with all hair types and are open to all people looking for a haircut. However, they specialize in the fade, a seamless transition in hair length from short to shorter, often tapering down to the skin on the sides and back of the head. “The most popular one is the bald fade, which is a skin fade basically. Anyone who doesn’t really know about that and comes in here, I tell them the best option is getting a skin fade because it grows out to three different haircuts,” said Zarate. They offer other beard and eyebrow trimming services for a small additional fee. He said they target midrange prices starting at $45 for adults and $35 for kids.
The shop opens daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They accept walk-ins, but the quickest way to get in is to book at fadeboxpdx.booksy.com. The big steel shipping container doors seal up over the storefront when FadeBox PDX is closed, making it easy to see if anyone is available. Zarate likes the converted shipping container barber shop setup and feels that it could become a successful model across the region. “I would like to expand in the Clackamas area, Gresham area. FadeBox Clackamas, FadeBox Gresham, maybe even try to franchise it one day if it really gets popular.” People interested in learning more about the business should visit its Instagram page, instagram.com/fadeboxpdx, to see examples of past work and message Zarate with any questions.
By
Jacob Loeb
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.
The 82nd Avenue Area TIF Community Leadership Committee is midway through a four-month focused exploration of affordable housing priorities to include in the new East Portland Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Action Plan. Portland requires 45 percent of TIF funds to support affordable housing through a variety of established and emerging programs administered by the Portland Housing Bureau. The previous TIF community exploration work that led to the district’s formation in October 2024 created baseline guidance. As part of the continued public engagement, Prosper Portland created an 82nd Avenue TIF District Plan Survey for people living, working, or using resources in the district.
TIF is a funding tool for physical improvements to a specific geographic area. Although funding comes from people’s property tax payments in that District, it does not raise tax rates on its own. Instead, it freezes the portion of the taxes sent to the County and City general funds at its current level and then diverts increases to a special fund that TIF districts can use for projects in the area where those funds were collected. Because of Ballot Measure 50, passed by voters in 1996, property tax increases are mostly capped at three percent annually unless the county reassesses a property due to construction or other upgrades. After the first five years, the City can issue bonds based on the expected three percent TIF district income, providing capital for projects years ahead of collection. TIF allows the City to reserve a segment of tax dollars for use in the community where they’re collected, rather than spreading tax funds across all areas of the City. As of July 2015, Portland mandates that 45 percent of TIF funds be directed to affordable housing, a policy that has led to 47 percent of Portland’s affordable housing units residing in former TIF districts.
TIF district spending is guided by the five-year Action Plan approved by Prosper Portland’s Board of Commissioners and the Portland City Council. In a co-creation process, the district Community Leadership Committee — consisting of local 82nd Avenue Area residents, business owners, and community members — works with city staff to create a spending plan that reflects community needs. The committee does not select specific projects but instead sets a desired percentage of funds that Prosper Portland and the Portland Housing Bureau spend on distinct types of development or programs. The 82nd Avenue Area TIF will have approximately $20-25 million over the next five years to invest in the district.
The Action Plan will focus on permanent, physical development for the corridor. The survey seeks to expand the Community Leadership Committee’s understanding of the 82nd Avenue corridor as experienced by its occupants. Participants will share perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and aspirations. It also includes questions around housing priorities. The survey will remain open for an indefinite period of time. However, early participation helps the thirteen-member committee incorporate public needs into early drafts. Work on the Action Plan has no hard deadline for adoption, but current projections place the final draft work in 2027. People will have time to comment on draft plans when they are created. Spending of TIF funds can occur only after city leaders approve the Action Plan. After participating in the Survey, people can further contribute by attending a monthly evening meeting in person or online, where public comment is accepted. Details are at the 82nd Avenue Area TIF website.
Disclosure: The author of this article served on the 82nd Avenue TIF Working group and is currently the co-chair of the 82nd Avenue Area TIF Community Leadership Committee. Information presented in this article is based on available public resources, and the author does not speak on behalf of the Committee or any City of Portland bureau.
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Catalyst Construction & Kitchen Remodeling, a top-rated general contractor specializing in kitchen, bathroom, basement, and garage remodeling, as well as ADU construction and home additions. We thank them for their support.
Contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) began intermittent night painting on NE Halsey Street between NE Jonesmore Street and NE 92nd Avenue the week of July 13th. Crews will use a blowtorch to adhere the green and white bike lane markings needed to activate the new raised concrete protected cycling path. PBOT says drivers should not encounter changes to travel patterns or restricted driveway access during the work, and that the work will not extend through the entire night.
Recently applied green and white bike lane markings on the south side of NE Halsey St
This activity is part of the NE Halsey Street (80th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project, which aims to improve safety for those traveling outside of cars along this busy High Crash street. Work follows the recent eastbound nighttime closure of NE Halsey Street over Interstate 84 and NE 82nd Avenue on July 8th and 9th. This week’s work will involve painting the two-way bicycle lanes on the south side of NE Halsey. Some crew activities will create noise; however, PBOT explained in its work notice that the night schedule is necessary due to daytime heat, which can warm the asphalt to a point where the paint cannot properly adhere.
The new two‑way protected bike infrastructure on NE Halsey provides a continuous connection from the new mini-roundabout at NE 81st Avenue to NE 92nd Avenue. This upgrade links cyclists directly to existing bike infrastructure and creates new sidewalks for people walking to the NE 82nd Avenue MAX station from the business corridor and nearby residential neighborhoods.
Completed new sidewalk west of 92nd Ave on the north side of NE Halsey St
People can expect this round of overnight work to conclude on July 17th. Pedestrians and cyclists traveling through the area have access to much of the new infrastructure, even as crews install markings to help drivers identify potential conflict points with other street users. Until this project is completed later this year, travelers should use heightened caution on this section of NE Halsey Street, looking for collision points and obeying construction signs or barricades.
Promotion: Consider visiting Montavilla New’s supporter East Portland News as it continues to advocate for and report on outer East Portland. You will find frequently updated articles and an archive of more than 5,000 stories written over the past 20+ years alongside a robust Community Calendar of events.
On Saturday, July 11th, Montavilla Brew Works will host an eleven-year all-ages celebration event featuring special beer releases, food from Oi! The Sausage, and music provided by DJ MD. Melissa and Michael Kora opened Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street on July 15th, 2015, and started using the annual celebration of that event to host a summertime gathering. Michael Kora saw this year’s event as a way to support Friends of Seasonal & Service Workers (FSSW) by donating a portion of the proceeds from the beer, with longtime neighbor Mr. Plywood matching the brewery’s contribution.
Montavilla Brew Works grew from a home-brewer’s passion and a desire to create a neighborhood-scale enterprise. Before starting his brewery, Michael Kora secured work with Bridgeport Brewing Company after briefly working for the owner’s winery business. His time working as a seasonal employee influenced this year’s support of FSSW, which assists independent organizing efforts by farm, seasonal, and service workers with efforts including food drives and medical access. When Kora’s seasonal wine work ended, Dick Ponzi learned of Kora’s desire to work in the brewing industry and found a place for him in his other business where he could learn about operations. “I didn’t get to brew because I didn’t go to brew school. I was driving a truck, working in the warehouse, shipping, distributing, moving beer around, and learning brewing at home. I then nano brewed for a while at the Green Dragon,” recalled Kora. After growing his skills and experiencing the brewing business from the inside, it seemed time to branch out on his own. Sitting at McMenamins Edgefield, Michael and Melissa Kora sketched out a five-year business plan and agreed to start looking for a space to rent.
Melissa and Michael Kora touring the Daugherty Auto Service garage 2013 that became MBW. Photo courtesy Michael Kora
The couple moved into Montavilla several years before starting their business. After agreeing to start a brewery, they looked for commercial spaces in neighboring areas but could not find a suitable location that fit their vision for the taproom. However, with some luck and good timing, Michael Kora discovered the neglected former Daugherty Auto Service garage at the corner of SE 78th and Stark Street. “I was riding home from the gym and came by Stark Street just to kind of look at what was going on and there was a for sale or lease sign. This building was so dilapidated it was nothing to look at, but Melissa and I were from the Detroit area of Michigan. I’d seen worse, so [I thought] this building is pretty cool and would make a cool brewery,” said Michael Kora. William “Dave” Beets, the operator of the now-demolished Beets Auto Body, owned the property and was excited to see it go to new owners for such an unexpected use. “He was a character, but he was surprisingly stoked. He said, ‘I think this is awesome. You guys are gonna be the first. There’s no breweries around here like this. It’s gonna be good for the community and the neighborhood.’ He was a neighborhood guy even though he didn’t live here,” recalled Kora.
The Kora’s became tenants of the Stark Street building in 2013, but it would take over two years to open the doors to the public. The original owners of the 1922-era auto garage never designed it to house any other type of business, and it took substantial efforts to rehabilitate the building. Permits took four months to approve, and construction lasted another nine months. Kora discovered that the building roof slopes significantly to the northwest corner of the property for rainwater drainage, forcing him to place his tall brewing equipment at the south-facing front of the building, blocking windows and putting beer production centerstage. During construction, he added onto the north side of the building to create a walk-in cooler and storage room needed to keep finished beer and ingredients out of the limited customer-facing space.
Construction delays, the added brewery inspections, and unanticipated expenses drained their cash reserves. Michael Kora started beer production offsite to begin bringing in funds and building the brand. Flying Pie Pizzeria was an early supporter, buying the pre-opening batches and installing a permanent Montavilla Brew Works tap handle at the restaurant, replacing Bud Light. Initially, they relied on help from friends, but the couple mainly worked alone at Montavilla Brew Works for the first few years. “Melissa designed everything on the interior. So she made this place feel like it does. And I was the beer guy and eventually the business guy. It was her and I for the first four and a half years,” recalled Kora. After the early lean years, they brought in help to brew their beers and cover bar shifts. With the added staff, it was beginning to feel sustainable until the pandemic upended the business model. Montavilla Brew Works focused on serving draft beer onsite with little attention paid to the at-home market. They distributed a limited number of kegs to local businesses but had not embraced canning. COVID-19 bar closures forced a change in the whole microbrewery industry. “We completely 180’d, and we’re in this world where we were doing 100% draft, and then we switched to 100% cans. Melissa and I were out there every week delivering to people’s homes,” said Michael Kora. They had to let their employees go to keep the business going. The brewery survived that scary time and invested early in outdoor seating to bring people back as soon as possible.
Post-COVID, Melissa and Michael Kora spend less time in the brewery during service hours. Both are more focused on improving operations and branding, with a goal to make each subsequent batch better than the last. For the celebration, they will release an Anniversary Pilsner which is a special dry-hopped version of Plywood Pilsner, a Montavilla Brew Works’ mainstay beer. Attendees of the 3 to 9 p.m. anniversary celebration can also purchase two additional special releases, Lesh Is More, an India Pale Ale honoring Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, and the Peregrin porter aged with Palo Santo wood.
Road Crews will shut down eastbound NE Halsey Street over Interstate 84 and NE 82nd Avenue from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8th, and Thursday, July 9th. At the same time, vehicles will need to detour around a closure on westbound NE Jonesmore Street between NE Halsey and 82nd Avenue. Workers will shut down a traffic signal for updates, including pavement marking specialists removing and replacing lane striping at the NE Jonesmore and Halsey Street intersection.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustrations of Nighttime shutdown July 8th to 10th. Green arrowed lines indicate allowed travel durning closure while red shows prohibited paths
During overnight closures, eastbound drivers on NE Halsey Street will need to detour onto NE 81st Avenue, turn onto NE Wasco Street, then turn left onto NE 82nd Avenue. To return to NE Halsey, drivers can turn right onto NE Jonesmore Street. Westbound drivers on NE Halsey Street trying to access 82nd Avenue can cross over I-84 and then use the mini-roundabout to take the detour on NE 81st Avenue to NE Wasco Street.
PBOT provided map showing the NE Halsey
This phase of road closures will be completed on July 10th. Crews working on this project will implement future lane closures around October 2026, when Microsurfacing work to smooth the I‑84 overpass bridge pavement begins. That closure will also allow the installation of protective fencing on the overpass bridge, lane striping of a new two-way bike track over the bridge, and vertical separation of the two-way bike lane.
PBOT is scheduling this July work during the night to minimize daytime traffic impacts, and driveway access will remain open for all properties in the project area.
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.
Portland City Council permanently banned the sale and use of all consumer fireworks within city limits in March 2022. This restriction includes Independence Day celebrations, often occurring during hot and dry weather. The ban also prohibits the purchase of personal fireworks outside the City and returning to Portland to use them, so Portland Fire & Rescue (PP&R) encourages people to attend the professional July 4th fireworks displays presented throughout the region. Montavilla residents can usually view the 10 p.m. Waterfront Blues Festival display from Mt. Tabor Park uphill from Reservoir Number 5.
The consumer fireworks prohibition passed the 2022 Portland City Council unanimously, in part due to a fatal fireworks fire the previous year and in reaction to the Eagle Creek Fire in the gorge, which started with the use of personal fireworks. Fire departments regularly experience a spike in injuries, fires, and fatalities during the fireworks season, which begins on June 23rd and runs through July 6th. People with pets also report significant stress inflicted on their animals during this time, with some dogs and cats becoming separated from their owners when they run away from the explosive sounds.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustration
On June 15th, Portland’s Fire Marshal issued a burn ban for the City due to forecasted high summer temperatures and ongoing dry conditions. Effective immediately, people must refrain from using recreational campfires, fire pits, or burring yard debris. Outdoor grills, smokers, and similar cooking appliances are allowed if they use clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels. Residents should exercise extreme caution when using the allowed outdoor cooking devices and place them at least ten feet away from anything combustible, such as siding, fences, or shrubbery. The burn ban will remain in effect throughout the summer weather season.
People can contact PF&R 503-823-3700 for additional information about the burn ban. Although the City prohibits the use of personal fireworks, emergency services request that people refrain from calling in reports of firework violations to 911 so that the dispatch system can remain open for reports of serious crimes, fires, and injuries. For non-emergencies reports of illegal fireworks displays, residents who witnessed the unauthorized use of fireworks can report the incident online (portland.gov/311/report-fireworks).
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Catalyst Construction & Kitchen Remodeling, a top-rated general contractor specializing in kitchen, bathroom, basement, and garage remodeling, as well as ADU construction and home additions. We thank them for their support.
SE 78th Avenue is closed to through traffic due to fallen tree limbs between SE Stark and Washington Streets. The large tree branches, which accounted for nearly 50% of the tree’s mass, fell across the roadway on June 30th, blocking traffic and lying across two vehicles. No significant damage or injury occurred. A Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry representative has arrived at the site.
Photo by Michael Kora
Drivers who use SE 78th Avenue to change direction on the SE Stark-Washington couplet will need to use SE 76th Avenue or SE 80th Avenue. Crews will likely require several hours to clear the street for cars. Pedestrians can pass the tree on the sidewalk, but should detour around the area to avoid the workers cleaning up leaves and branches lying on SE 78th Avenue. Arborists will need to determine if the remaining tree structure is safe to leave standing.
SE 78th Ave east sidewalk partially blocked. Photo by Crossett FreilingerSE 78th Ave west sidewalk partially blocked with Urban Forestry vehicle. Photo by Crossett Freilinger
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.
Neighborhood news site focused on buildings and changing businesses
