Category: Community

Community, Event, New Business, Services

Way Home Studio Opens to the Community

On August 18th, the Way Home Studio will open next door to the Way Home Shop as a rentable event space for classes and gatherings. The four studio co-owners came together based on a common need for flexible space to host their sessions. The group’s community-building approach to business includes making the space rentable at an affordable rate to other educators or people needing room for gatherings. The storefront at 8435 SE Stark Street offers a long multi-purpose room and a back area for smaller groups.

The space formally housed an alarm company that relocated to a larger storefront next door. The Way Home Studio team replaced the flooring with a shock-absorbing base layer and a durable laminate surface. One wall will offer a 20-foot wide full-length mirror with a ballet bar for those needing dance space. Groups renting the studio can also use 30 company-provided chairs and five folding tables in various configurations to meet their particular needs. People will have access to coffee, tea, and free wireless internet. The rooms rent together by the hour on a sliding scale based on the time of day. Weekday rates range from $10 to $25 per hour or $15 to $30 per hour on weekends. Full-day pricing is available, and they offer a 10% discount for elders 65 and older, first responders, veterans, and people from the BIPOC community. The current rate card and calendar are available on the company’s website, thewayhomestudio.com.

This space grew out of the success next door at the Way Home Shop. “I had a dream back in February when this space became available next door to my shop,” explained Gergana Kirilova, who owns the shop and is a partner in the studio. Her limited meeting space in the back of the Way Home Shop was often reaching capacity, but expanding to the vacant adjoining shopfront on her own would not have kept it as active as she knew it could be. “I sent an e-mail to all my folks saying, ‘Who’s in? Let’s build this healing center where we have more space for our gatherings.’ Little by little, I connected with these wonderful women,” said Kirilova. Her visions resonated with Amanda Cheer, Ida Cavewoman, and Lindsey Peck, who she knew from the community that formed around her shop. “I think we all came together because we see the need for a true community space that brings people together for a healing center. We’re all practitioners, artists, or healing folk in some capacity, and we were looking for a place for ourselves while also making sure that other practitioners in the area have a space to do the same that’s reasonably priced,” remarked studio partner Ida Cavewoman.

The Way Home Studio owners. (from left to right) Lindsey Peck, Amanda Cheer, Ida Cavewoman, and Gergana Kirilova

Based on the group’s shared interests and expertise, the Way Home Studio will focus on renting to people fostering healing for individuals and the community. These uses include community gatherings, educational workshops, health and wellness classes, cultural events, support groups, healing circles, seasonal celebrations, crafting groups, and offering self-care resources. However, they are open to hearing about other potential uses as long as renters follow their principles regarding equitable access and respect for people in attendance. Public events in this space are viewable on the Way Home Studio’s website or via a calendar link. The Studio team invites interested community members to view event descriptions and follow the signup links available in most listings.

In addition to the core group of partners, other practitioners have shown interest in this space, with several securing time slots. Co-owner Amanda Cheer noted that the early interest is already rounding out the types of activities planned for the studio. “We already have quite a few [people] that are excited. I know we have a couple of yoga and Reiki practitioners. So we have some stuff already on the calendar.” They also have people interested in using the space for book signings and other one-time events. Because the rental rate includes the back room with padded armchairs, a couch, and an under-counter refrigerator, they expect some people will reserve the studio for counseling and small groups needing a private room. Eventually, the Way Home Shop and Studio will connect through an existing door so eventgoers can transition between the storefronts without going outside and give people a place to move to after the scheduled session.

People interested in seeing the space and learning more about the group running it can attend the grand opening event on Sunday, August 18th, from 1 to 5 p.m. It is free to attend without prior registration, and they will provide light refreshments.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Food and Drink

Montavilla Food Co-op’s Kitchen

Almost 15 years ago, the Montavilla Food Co-op (MFC) formed as neighbors sought an organized way to bring healthy and locally sourced food into the community. The group’s early participants envisioned a co-op grocery store connecting shoppers with local farmers and producers. Those efforts never manifested in a dedicated physical location. However, recent advances by the current board have the organization partnered with a local restaurant, using its commercial kitchen to repackage bulk items for its membership. Members and shoppers can now purchase a selection of reasonably sized food items from the Montavilla Farmers Market, which previously were only available in bulk quantities.

The current four-member board began searching for a physical kitchen space last year, talking with several area businesses. When Sebastiano’s announced their intention to close the original Montavilla location at 411 SE 81st Avenue and move operations to Sellwood, MCF found a new opportunity in the business taking Sebastiano’s place. Christa Voytilla opened her first brick-and-mortar location on SE 81st Avenue for Quiche Me if You Can in February 2024. As a long-time farmers market vendor, Voytilla knew the difficulty in finding a commercial kitchen space and agreed to make space at the new shop for MFC board members to expand operations. Access to the commercial kitchen allowed MFC to obtain an Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) license to package food for sale and store items on-site. This summer, the food co-op began repackaging select bulk items from the Quiche Me if You Can location, allowing people to buy smaller quantities. Additionally, the commercial dishwasher at this location allows the group to take back some reusable glass containers, sanitizing and refilling them to reduce waste and cut costs.

Currently, the only two local board members, Christian Parker and Alex Warnes, are permitted in the kitchen space. Food handling requires specific procedures and training. The work must also happen when the primary business is not using the shared space. The board wants more experience running this process before allowing volunteers to assist. Members and interested people can help run the farmers market booth. MFC currently has four volunteers who take shifts running the booth. Board members take care of setup and teardown to simplify the work needed from people handing out pre-purchased items or selling to non-members.

Commercial dishwasher

The board is seeking new members with skills in food handling, grocery operations, or other relevant experience to help the organization grow to its next level. Even with the new shared space, MFC has limited capacity in what it can handle. They only have a single baker’s rack of storage space at Quiche Me if You Can, and what they buy is dependent on items pre-ordered by members. They do not have room to keep large quantities of food that would take months to distribute. Their long-term goals look similar to the original intention of the food co-op: a dedicated facility with fresh produce and storage space sufficient to make economically advantageous purchases. People interested in discovering what MFC offers can look at the group’s online store or visit their booth at the Montavilla Farmers Market. This leap into packaging could be an exciting new phase for an initiative that started in 2010. Residents who have lost track of this group’s activities can attend a future monthly board meeting and learn more about what they can do to support this community-run organization.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Construction, New Residence

PCC Legin Apartments on Division

The affordable housing project slated for the southwest corner of Portland Community College’s (PCC) SE campus moved to its next phase of development, with project team members submitting building permits and selecting a name for the 124-unit apartment building. The Legin Apartments’ name honors the landmark Chinese restaurant demolished after closing in 2012 to make way for the PCC campus expansion. Although connected to the educational institution’s campus, the housing operator Our Just Future will independently manage this 110,000-square-foot residential building without any college enrollment requirements.

In 2021, PCC representatives collected feedback from students, faculty, staff, and PCC neighbors about the physical environment at its four campuses. The researchers combined this qualitative input with data on student enrollment, regional demographics, and market trends to create development concepts that accommodate the next 10 to 20 years of the college’s growth. In that exploration, affordable housing ranked high on the priority list for future developments. However, PCC leaders did not want to increase student housing insecurity by linking shelter to enrollment. Instead, they determined increasing affordable housing inventory near college campuses would better serve the community and PCC students.

Site map courtesy of Bora Architecture & Interiors

Our Just Future, formerly Human Solutions, will develop this housing project in partnership with local nonprofit APANO. Bora Architecture & Interiors is leading project design work for this four-story building located at 7755 SE Division Street and conducted community outreach in 2023. Listening to neighbor feedback while adjusting to city and utility company concerns, Bora reshaped the project while retaining the same basic I-shaped footprint as first proposed. To address those concerns, the team requested several exceptions to Campus Institutional 2 zoning standards, allowing the building to sit further back from the sidewalk on its west and north frontages, among other minor adjustments. These changes will enable the builders to retain more of the established trees on the lot and provide a buffer for the one and two-story homes across from the site along SE 77th Avenue and SE Sherman Street.

A neighbor across from the site appealed the Land Use Adjustment approvals, citing his opinion that the project is too tall to integrate into the residential scale neighborhood and that PCC is not within its rights to lease the land for this non-school use. City officials scheduled the appeals hearing for September 3rd. In regards to this appeal, Brian Squillace of Bora noted this project is below the campus’s allowable density, which permits buildings up to eight stories tall on portions of the site. His team worked to strike a compromise between providing efficient land use and integrating with the existing scale of the campus and neighborhood. The design team also oriented the 30-vehicle onsite parking lot on the northern edge to further distance the taller building from the single-story homes across the street.

Rendering from SE 77th Ave courtesy of Bora Architecture & Interiors

Bora Architecture & Interiors worked with the development team to design the building with several elements that support residents who may need enhanced amenities to meet their specific needs. The building offers tenants two elevators at either end of the building to ensure people with special mobility needs will have quick access to the upper floors from the parking lot entrance or the main lobby on SE Division Street. Providing two elevators ensures out-of-order equipment will not trap people in their apartments. Squillace explained the design incorporates communal elements to “expand the livability beyond the footprint of the unit.” Most floors offer two studying nooks for a single person to take a private video call or work in solitude. The building also features larger gathering rooms for two to six people, available without reservation or pre-approval. The project architects envision each floor supporting micro-neighborhoods with a diversity of shared spaces where people can socialize.

The designers of this project incorporated features that embody resiliency in a changing climate. The Legin Apartments is an all-electric building, utterly free of combustible fuels. Thanks to a Portland Clean Energy Fund investment, the apartment building will include mini-split heat pumps in each unit for year-round temperature control. Additionally, electricity costs are included in the rent, so people on a tight budget will not need to sacrifice in other areas to stay comfortable. Building management provides complimentary wireless Internet to residents with the option to buy enhanced service for video streaming and gaming. Our Just Future considers online access an essential part of modern living and a roadway to future success. The developers are working to secure funds for a significant solar array on top of the building that would reduce external energy demand by up to 60 percent. Limited battery storage onsite will serve critical loads such as refrigerators for medicines and Wi-Fi access during power outages.

Graphic courtesy of Bora Architecture & Interiors

The four floors in this building will support a mix of unit sizes, emphasizing family-sized housing. Legin Apartments will have 33 studio, 28 one-bedroom, 47 two-bedroom, and 16 three-bedroom units. Brian Shelton-Kelley with Our Just Future explained they would reserve apartments for households earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). This site will also receive 20 Project-Based rental assistance Vouchers (PBVs) from Home Forward for people making 30% or below the AMI. Residents in the building will have access to many supportive resources not found in market-rate housing. Our Just Future will provide dedicated resident service coordination staff in addition to the building administrative managers and maintenance crew. The resident service coordinators host community-building events and connect residents to community-based resources, including health care or financial assistance. Our Just Future manages just under 900 units across 19 other properties. Nine resident service coordinators oversee those sites, and the new staff hired for Legin Apartments will have an extensive peer network from which to draw support.

Renderings courtesy of Bora Architecture & Interiors

Along with ground-floor apartments, the main level of this new building will offer a gated courtyard with play equipment and a variety of community rooms for classes and events. A central laundry room on the main floor is adjacent to the kid’s playroom so caregivers can watch their kids while they’re washing clothes. The building also offers smaller laundry rooms on each floor, so residents do not need to travel far. People living at this site will have access to APANO programming and services. The partner organization’s headquarters are across SE Division Street, just east of this location. They will provide workforce development and home ownership classes. The group may host some of their regular music and yoga classes from down the street in the educational space at the Legin Apartments.

APANO is an Asian and Pacific Islander advocacy organization with nearly three decades of broad community development experience. This PCC building is one of three APANO-affiliated affordable housing projects under development in the area. The group is committed to improving conditions for people in this section of Portland, which has an intertwined history in the city’s Asian American community. The site of the Legin Apartments once held a Kaiser Permanente leased one-story building. PCC acquired the property from the German American Society in May of 2010 and later demolished the building. During that time, the college expanded its campus and purchased the land used for 17 years by Legin Restaurant. The pioneering eastside location was a key gathering place for Asian communities in the city as populations moved east. Opening in 1995, Legin became an established regional anchor point with a large banquet hall to host events moving away from Downtown. When newcomers to 82nd Avenue needed a culturally specific communal location, Legin Restaurant’s iconic pagoda served as a beacon.

Google Maps image of the Legin Restaurant from 2012

In addition to honoring Legin Restaurant’s contribution to Portland through the building’s name, project staff will recognize Minoru Yasui, Oregon’s only Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee. The development team is working with the Minoru Yasui Legacy Project to spotlight his historic challenge of Japanese American internment during WWII and his lifetime defending civil rights by naming a key element in the development after Minoru Yasui. The team will announce the details of this homage later in the construction process as they plan a formal naming ceremony.

Construction crews anticipate breaking ground on the Legin Apartments at the end of 2024 or early 2025. APANO is still developing its final programming plan for the residents, and site operators will formalize more project details closer to completion. Next year, people should anticipate significant construction at the site as crews work to bring more affordable housing to the area.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink

2024 Jade Night Market August 10

The Jade International Night Market will return to Portland Community College’s (PCC) SE Campus at 2305 SE 82nd Avenue on Saturday, August 10th. The one-day cultural celebration, eating, and shopping event shifted its time later to return to its pre-pandemic late-night roots. People can attend anytime between 3 and 10 p.m., with most family-focused events happening earlier in the afternoon.

Jade International Night Market 2023 (Photo by Jacob Loeb)

Designed as an annual event to connect with the community and celebrate diverse cultures in the Jade District, the Night Market attracts 5,000 to 7,000 attendees annually. People can expect to see 128 booths staffed with food vendors, craftspeople, organizations, and local businesses. Starting at 4 p.m., a long list of performances will fill the main stage, representing art and entertainment from the many cultures that make their home in the area.

Jade International Night Market 2023 Stage (Photo by Jacob Loeb)

Jade District Community Development Manager Alisa Kajikawa explained that almost every performer asked to attend was eager to participate this year, working around other commitments to appear. “It was a wonderful problem to have,” said Kajikawa. “You reach out and expect some, but not everyone. We have six hours of entertainment for our seven-hour event. It’s a wonderful feeling that performers want to come back and showcase their art for the community.” In addition to the notable list of performers, a crowd favorite will return to the Night Market stage this year to start the crowds dancing. DJ Prashant of Bollywood Dreams will retake the stage with Indian rhythms around 5 p.m. after missing the last few years of events. “It is amazing how this gets the energy going and the audience involved,” remarked Kajikawa.

– Stage Entertainment Schedule –

  • 4:00 Chervona Eastern-European Party Band
  • 4:50 White Lotus Lion Dance Chinese Lion Dance
  • 5:20 Bollywood Dreams
  • 6:05 Portland Art & Cultural Dance Team
  • 6:20 Cambodian Dance Troupe of Oregon
  • 6:30 Ballet Papalotl Mexican folklorico dance
  • 7:00 Rachel Wong Singing & Dancing
  • 7:30 McDaniel High School Cheer Stomp & Shake
  • 7:50 Team Japonesque Japanese Dance
  • 8:00 Summit Wushu Martial Arts demonstration
  • 8:30 Hula Halau ‘Ohana Holo’oko’a Hawaiian Dance
  • 9:00 Anansi Beat African Drumming
  • 9:30 Portland Taiko Japanese Drumming

In addition to the stage-based entertainment, organizers invite kids to decorate a small pot and receive a house plant to take home in their creation. Event sponsor Portland Nursery will donate material for this youth activity from opening to 8 p.m. This year’s Market will also feature a socially engaged and tasty art project by Mario Mesquita. The artist designed his Paletas Communal Social Club project to unite communities through art, shared experiences, and dialogue while enjoying a Mexican frozen treat similar to a popsicle. Kajikawa explained that people can enjoy complimentary cool Paletas while answering questions about their lives in Portland and how they celebrate their culture.

Jade International Night Market 2023 (Photo by Jacob Loeb)

Attendees of past Night markets will find a similar layout this year with the booths and the main stage in the courtyard at the center of the college’s campus. However, this time, organizers placed food vendors further to the west in a parking lot, leaving the driveway and bus parking area clear for tables and canopies where people can eat or rest. The Slavic Church Emmanuel will also allow marketgoers to park in its adjacent parking lot north of the PCC Campus. However, people are encouraged to ride TriMet to the Jade International Night Market with the FX2 rapid bus service and the 72 lines serving the campus. The first 1,000 attendees who want to take a ride-share service will receive 50% off, up to $10, on one Lyft ride with Ride Code JADEINTLNIGHTMKT. The code will only work for those traveling to or from Jade International Night Market on August 10th, 2024, from 2 to 10:30 p.m.

Banners provided courtesy the Jade District

The Jade International Night Market is a well-attended, family-friendly event with hours of entertainment, shopping, and a diverse selection of foods. Forecasters expect temperatures to reach the low 90s that day. Event organizers will provide paper fans to people while supplies last, similar to last year. People should plan for crowds and hot weather, but the expansive PCC campus offers many places for people to rest and cool down away from the event space. The Jade District provides a complete list of food and retail vendors on its website.

Correction: An earlier version of this article said the event starts at 2 p.m. It begins at 3 p.m. this year.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Infrastructure

An Earlier Addition of Groundwater

Update: On August 20th, the Portland Water Bureau returned to providing 100 percent Bull Run water to Portlanders.

On Thursday, August 1st, Portland Water Bureau added groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field to the city’s Bull Run sourced drinking water. Officials are making this change to test well equipment ahead of a possible seasonal shortfall in the watershed supply. This blending comes nearly a month earlier than last year, and the Bureau says it will update the public through the media and email when the system returns to 100 percent Bull Run water.

In past years, the Portland Water Bureau blended water sources due to dry springs and early summer weather. The October 2023 to April 2024 water year had near-average rainfall and a suitable mountain snowpack that should keep Portland’s watershed supplied for a significant portion of the dry season. However, warmer weather patterns and increased water usage have made well-water sources necessary for the regional water supply. This groundwater system test is required to ensure pumps, treatment equipment, electronic controls, and other parts are in working order.

Columbia South Shore Well Field. Courtesy Portland Water Bureau

Columbia South Shore Well Fields tap into deep aquifers filled with rainwater throughout the year. The Bureau assures residents that Portland’s groundwater supply meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water regulations. However, the Bureau’s policy is to notify the public when activating groundwater sources so sensitive water users can take precautions. It can take up to two weeks before residents receive blended water. After operators revert to entirely Bull Run-sourced water, customers can expect it to take another two weeks for the lines to clear of groundwater.

Sensitive water users can sign up at the Portland Water Bureau’s website to receive notifications regarding changes to the water system. Customers with questions should call the Water Line at 503-823-7525 and watch for updates to this article when Portland’s water system returns to 100 percent Bull Run watershed-sourced water.

Correction: This article was updated to clarify that Portland is not currently experiencing a Bull Run sourced water shortfall.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Infrastructure

Artist Needed for NE 82nd Ave MAX Station

TriMet is seeking proposals from qualified artists for a new art installation on the MAX train platform at the NE 82nd Avenue Station. The creative work will reside between an existing shelter and a new covered waiting area planned as part of the Blue Line Station Rehabilitation (BLSR) project. People have until August 12th to submit their application for a site-specific exterior sculpture with a design and fabrication budget of $70,000.

Street level elevator and stairs on the east side of NE 82nd Avenue

Crews working for TriMet are renovating 14 stations between Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center and Cleveland Ave MAX Station in Gresham as part of the multi-year BLSR project. These improvements will update station appearance, improve safety, and aid staff with long-term maintenance. The NE 82nd Ave MAX Station’s platform is adjacent to Interstate 84 and accessible from the street-level TriMet bus stops via a single elevator and stairs on the east side of NE 82nd Avenue. This station is a frequently used connector for riders of the 72, 77, 287, and 292 bus lines transferring between Blue, Green, and Red MAX trains.

In addition to the second shelter and new sculpture, TriMet plans to install new site furnishings. BLSR project updates have included shelter rehabilitation, station lighting, paving repairs, E-Fare infrastructure, and staircase rehabilitation. Similar updates will likely occur at this station as workers install the new shelter and sculpture.

Illustration courtesy TriMet

Crews will install a circular 24-inch diameter concrete base that stands 24 inches tall to support the sculpture. Inground lighting pointing upward will illuminate the artwork, which should feature a strong vertical design. Its placement near the freeway will make this artwork visible to transit riders and motorists, creating a distinct sense of place in the community. TriMet asks that proposals consider the existing mural in their designs. Local artist Alex Chiu created the How They Grow mural in 2017, extending from the street level along the stairs towards the lower train platform. However, because murals are temporary, the sculpture must also be a self-contained expression that encourages connectivity between the transit system and the community.

MAX Station platform adjacent to I-84

TriMet will select the winning artist by the end of August, and the chosen creator will present a concept proposal in October. After refining the proposal, the artist will present the final design in January 2025. Program planners expect contractors to install the finished sculpture in November 2025. The artwork will be the first in a series planned for each future BLSR station upgrade. TriMet will post those opportunities separately in the future.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink

Montavilla Street Fair July 28

The 11th Montavilla Street Fair had record attendance in 2024, with an estimated 25,000 people walking along SE Stark Street from SE 82nd to 76th Avenues. The day started overcast, keeping temperatures lower than the previous two years. However, by the afternoon, the skies were solid blue. Temperatures climbed over the remaining hours until the vendors broke down their booth at 6 p.m. After the fair, many attendees remained in the neighborhood, dining and drinking at local restaurants and bars.

Original Article published July 20, 2024.

On Sunday, July 28th, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will host the 11th annual Street Fair on SE Stark. 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. This year’s event will run an hour later, allowing the anticipated 18,000 guests to stay until 6 p.m., with traffic returning to the street later that evening. Attendees will have access to four beer gardens and entertainment at four stages placed along the 1,400-foot-long community party.

On Wednesday, July 17th, sign installers placed the banner over SE Stark Street at 80th Avenue, announcing the Street Fair dates to everyone passing by. Although many people in the area already marked the date on their calendars, raising the banner represents Montavilla’s invitation to Portland. Thousands of visitors attend this neighborhood event annually, driving record sales to local businesses and introducing people to the historic Montavilla downtown.

This year, event organizers added a teen music stage on SE 80th Avenue and a pet cooling station sponsored by Noble Woof Dog Training. Younger fairgoers can gather for kids’ focused singer-songwriters performing on the SE 79th Avenue Plaza Stage. The two main stages will feature a diverse mix of local Portland music and national touring artists. Many past fair booth operators are returning alongside a crop of new makers, food vendors, and organizations. As an extended bonus, the Montavilla Farmers Market will open during its regular hours on the 28th, allowing attendees access to more booths and food options at SE 76th Avenue and Stark.

Sponsorship from Adventist Health Portland and a grant from the Portland Office of Events & Film help fund what has become one of the largest street fairs in Portland. Other local businesses, like Mr. Plywood, Washman Car Wash, and OnPoint Community Credit Union, are supporting this year’s street fair. People can find day-of-event updates and the full music lineup, including performance times, at the METBA website (metba.org).

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Map courtesy METBA

Promotion: Montavilla News will have a booth at this year’s Montavilla Street Fair. Please see us for a free sticker. We hope to see you there.

Community, Event, Food and Drink, New Business

Hong Phat Supercenter Celebration

Hông Phát celebrated the opening of its new Supercenter at 4200 SE 82nd Avenue on Friday, July 26th, with firecrackers, lion dancers, and speakers lauding the anticipated community contribution of this grocery store. Store staff filled the former Walmart location in Eastport Plaza’s campus with many of the fresh produce and imported brands found in the local chain’s other three locations. However, the added shelf space of this significantly larger grocery allows for a broader selection of brands often found in national stores like the one it replaced. This product diversity signals the subtle shift of the traditionally Asian food retailer into its position as a neighborhood grocery store while retaining its culturally specific roots.

Business partners Brandon Wang (left) and Hoang Nguyen (right)

Opening ceremony attendees heard from the co-owners of the new 154,000-square-foot building, Brandon Wang and Dr. Hoang Nguyen. Wang, who started Hông Phát on NE Prescott Street in 2003, kept his remarks brief while Nguyen led the event. Oregon Representative Dr. Thuy Tran​ of District 45 spoke to the crowd about this store’s importance to the community as it will bring jobs and food resources back into an area abandoned by a national retailer. Religious leaders were in attendance alongside business supporters to cut the ribbon and welcome people into the store, led by lion dancers and followed by firecrackers.

The Hông Phát Supercenter supports several small businesses within the large building along the front of the store, with some unopened stores under construction along the rear wall. The prepared food vendor under the “Food Court” moniker, salon Wind Hair Design, and Ngoc Vi Jewelers sit between the Supercenter’s two front entrances. Inside the grocery area, local company Trazza Foods has a dedicated section offering its assortment of prepared and packaged traditional Lebanese dishes. DAT Furnishings – Harmony Decor’s shop at the back of the store is under construction, and Nguyen said they plan to add 20,000 square feet of additional tenant space.

Shoppers unfamiliar with many of the brands stocked in the Hông Phát Supercenter will still find foods found in non-Asian-focused markets. The store has a Vegan/Vegetarian and a Hispanic food section among other categories. People will discover Tillamook dairy products and other familiar domestic brands on the shelves throughout the store. However, guests will need to search for those products and explore less-known options to fill their pantries.

Americans have imported almost every dominant food type from other countries and cultures. At points in history, Italian sauces and pasta were considered “exotic” foods. Time changes grocery store selections, and it is easy to forget that some items were not in every store until recently. Bagels are no longer the specialty of Jewish delicatessens but now found in the bread aisle of nearly every national food seller. Many shoppers think of the change as gradual mass acceptance of adopted items, but it can also occur from rapid demographic shifts. Regional chains like Hông Phát are a variation of an evolving American diet shaped by its people. Not only will they stock products to meet diverse community demands, but the community may also adapt to what food is close to home, blending ingredients less common to generations before with modified family recipes.

Hông Phát Supercenter is still developing, with new tenant spaces due to open later in the year. Some aisle signage is missing, and a busy opening weekend has left empty shelf spaces. However, there is more to view in this vast store than most will want to tackle in one trip. Shoppers should see more updates over the next few months while the new neighborhood grocery store adapts to meet customers’ tastes. They are open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Construction, New Residence

Faster ADU Development with Pre-Approved Plans

The newly renamed city agency Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) recently released a collection of pre-approved plan sets for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) that could save people time navigating the pre-construction process. Portland based its implementation on City of Eugene created plans and a program that works to remove barriers for people adding housing units to their properties. Four variations of a standard floor plan offer prospective builders free plans that are pre-approved for Life Safety and Structural requirements, reducing the building permit approval times that have increased over the last few years.

On July 1st, the Bureau of Development Services became PP&D as Portland works towards increasing permitting efficiencies and reducing costly delays for people looking to build in the city. The new name includes an organizational update that moves permitting staff under unified management, no longer forcing people to navigate multiple bureaus and processes to gain building approval. Simplifying bureaucracy and removing code hindrances are part of the reforms leaders have enacted to increase housing construction. Last year, a preliminary review process and subsequent survey of developers identified less critical requirements that were most likely to dissuade housing production. In February, the City Council approved the Housing Regulatory Relief Project, which officials hope will spur housing production by providing temporary waivers and permanent changes to zoning regulations.

Floor plan courtesy Portland Permitting & Development

These changes to the permitting process will take time to improve efficiency and simplify the process. That is why PP&D pursued a method to hasten ADU construction through the pre-approved plan program. This process also has roots in an effort to increase housing equity with program improvements planned to make free resources available for people who may lack access to paid design professionals or the experience needed when navigating the permitting process. Adding housing to a property is a recognized way for people to stabilize rising housing costs through additional revenue, accommodate multi-generational households, or offer age-in-place options where people can live in an ADU while renting their family-sized home.

Renderings courtesy Portland Permitting & Development (for representational purposes only)

The current plans offer designs with a shed or gable roof that people can build on a concrete slab foundation or wood-framed floor. Due to its studio-style layout, the single floor plan option will not work for all living situations. The shed roof option or gabled roof versions with a covered front porch will not meet ADU size limits when built within side and rear setbacks. Many other site considerations and potential hindrances to receiving a permit with the pre-approved plans exist. However, it is one step further to making the ADU process faster and more approachable.

People considering this option must account for the considerable building expense they will incur. Even with owner-supplied labor offsetting some work, an ADU of this size could cost over $100,000. Some estimates would put that closer to double that number. The city will charge building permit fees, water service fees, and System Development Charges (SDCs), adding to the overall project costs. Consequently, free pre-approved plans will not be enough incentive for many homeowners considering an ADU. Still, it may help speed up the process for people who have already chosen to add housing density to their property and serve as a tool for builders interested in packaging ADU projects at a standard rate. The PP&D website has additional information about ADUs and important details regarding further costs and restrictions.

by

Jacob Loeb

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Community, Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink

Plaza Berry Bash July 18

On July 18th, from 4 to 8 p.m., the Montavilla Farmers Market will host a Berry Bash Summer Celebration in the Montavilla Plaza on SE 79th Avenue at SE Stark Street. Attendees can receive free berry recipe tastings and make shortcake treats. The event will feature live music and berry sales from market vendors. Threshold Brewery will host a beer garden at the plaza during the celebration. As an extension of the event, Redwood restaurant will host a Strawberry Social happy hour featuring on-theme cocktails and desserts a few doors down the street at 7915 SE Stark Street.

Funding from Prosper Portland and Portland Events and Film helped create this Plaza activity as part of the reimagined Thursdays on the Plaza summertime programming. Berry Bash is an interactive event that celebrates locally grown Oregon berries. The Montavilla/East Tabor Business Association (METBA) coordinates 79th Avenue Plaza activities with summer events like this, Montavilla Movie Nights, and many other family-friendly activities to bring people together in the seasonally comfortable weather. Later this month, METBA will host the 11th Street Fair on Sunday, July 28th. The well-attended event closes SE Stark Street from 82nd to 76th Avenues and offers food, music, beer gardens, and vendors. This year’s street fair lasts an hour longer, running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

People looking for a mid-week activity should consider attending the Berry Bash Summer Celebration this Thursday and keeping an eye on the METBA calendar for future Plaza events. The Firsts Montavilla Movie Nights starts at 8 p.m. on August 8th with Ghostbusters Frozen Empire. People can attend Rock’ N Roll High School on August 15th and Cloak & Dagger on August 22nd.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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