The previous 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.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustration
The consumer fireworks prohibition passed the 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.
This holiday weekend’s predicted low humidity could increase the danger from fireworks. On June 23rd, 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 in Portland, such as illegal fireworks displays, residents can call the non-emergency line at 503-823-3333 after the holiday. Additionally, individuals witnessing the unauthorized use of fireworks can report the incident online (portland.gov/311/report-fireworks).
On Friday, June 20th, the second annual “Hop Dogs” event will greet hungry and thirsty guests from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Montavilla Plaza on SE 79th Avenue at SE Stark Street. Last year’s winner, Ruse Brewing, will compete against Grand Fir Brewing, Gold Dot Beer, Foreland Beer, and Threshold Brewing. The brewers will offer the crowd a custom hot dog with creative toppings designed by the team, which people can pair with one of their hoppiest West Coast IPA beers.
The all-ages venue allows families to participate in this event, presented as part of Portland Beer Week, a City-Wide yearly celebration running from June 13th to the 22nd in 2025. The Montavilla-hosted cookoff features five West Coast IPA brewers bringing their best hot dog recipes to the public in a friendly competition of flavors and brew craft. Drinking-age adults can select beers and hot dogs in several paired combos ranging from full pints, full dogs, half pints, and shorty dogs. A $7 ticket purchased at the event will allow attendees to pick up either one full-size hot dog or one full-size beer, so people can mix and match as they desire. Curious culinary adventures can also choose to purchase a flight of five shorty dogs to sample the range of flavors for three tickets. The cookoff is an open event, with no need to reserve a spot. However, hotdogs will be available while supplies last, starting at 5 p.m.
Graphic courtesy Portland Beer Week
This returning hot dog and brew event is building momentum as more people enjoy the artful pairing. “Hop Dogs is based on a concept I have been kicking around for a few years. The brewers have a ton of fun and enthusiasm for the hot dogs as well as the beers; they can get really into it, even hand-making the toppings themselves. We worked out the kinks last year, where we had a handful of people making all of the different dogs. Last year, we used a large hot dog roller, but this year, Threshold founder and brewmaster Jarek Szymanski will be grilling them himself,” explained Ezra Johnson-Greenough with Portland Beer Week. “Also, this year, there will be individual brewery reps making each dog; this way, they can really get into the groove of that custom hot dog and put it together to perfection.”
Event organizers will conduct a “people’s choice” vote for Best Dog and also Best West Coast IPA, presenting two awards. People should look over the available hot dog options and come hungry this Friday night.
Threshold Brewing – Tropic Thunder: Good Dog Guava Teriyaki Mustard, Kewpy, Mango, Jalapeño and Pickled Onion Chutney, Fried Wonton Crumble
Gold Dot Brewing – Dan Dan Dog: Cream Cheese, Dan Dan Sauce, Yacai, Roasted Peanuts, Green Onions, Sichuan Peppercorn
Grand Fir Brewing – Farmers Market Dog: Heirloom Tomatoes, Pickled Peppers, Whipped Cheese with Poppy Seeds, Green Garlic Ranch Sauce
This weekend, Montavilla businesses will host two days of events along NE Glisan Street, featuring music, vendors, and activities. It starts on Saturday, May 31st, with the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association’s (METBA) 2025 Spring Block Party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on NE 70th Avenue north of NE Glisan Street. Then, on Sunday, June 1st, Wildcard Barber and their adjacent businesses will host a Pride Month kickoff block party from noon to 5 p.m., with flash tattoos inked by Austin Fillmore and free gender-affirming hot towel face shaves.
The 2024 MEBA Spring Block Party booths
METBA’s event is part of its Spring Fling 2025 celebration and will create a mini street fair with three musicians scheduled by the street activation nonprofit Curbside Serenade. Seven vendors and activity booths will line the block party site, including many neighborhood establishments from around the district.
The May 31st music schedule starts at 10 a.m. with performer Jake Soffer, and then, at 11:15 p.m., Jet Black Pearl takes the stage area. Maeve Steir will close out the live performances with a set starting at 12:30 p.m. More information about the first block party can be found on the METBA.org page.
Wildcard Barber and NightOwl Custom Apparel recently took tenancy within the building that hosts Hinterland Coffee at 7112 NE Glisan Street. The three businesses are collaborating on a June Pride Month party to celebrate the global recognition of LGBTQ+ culture and identity.
Austin Fillmore posts previews of the flash tattoo options at the artist’s website, awwwsin.com. These pre-designed permanent body art designs speed up the inking process, allowing for walk-in service. This vendor is a fitting event for Wildcard Barber to host, as it recently took over the former Highway Tattoo storefront at 7110 NE Glisan Street.
The business owners on NE Glisan invite people to attend their block parties this weekend, marking the cultural start of summer in Montavilla.
After a 12-year run downtown, the annual Archaeology Roadshow will move its 2025 educational and interactive showcase across the river to East Portland on May 31st, taking over the grassy field in Gateway Discovery Park at 10520 NE Halsey Street. Historians, members from universities, Tribes, government agencies, museums, and nonprofit cultural organizations will operate booths at this free event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., sharing presentations and answering questions from inquisitive attendees. People can drop in anytime during the four-hour un-ticketed event. However, some presentations occur at specific times, including an open welcome song and prayer performed by Sam Robinson of the Chinook Indian Nation.
This year’s Portland show features exhibits and hands-on activities demonstrating how arts and crafts reflect the human experience through the items people make and the traditions passed down through generations.
Student exhibitors Phil Daily and Dianna Wilson 2017, courtesy Archaeology Roadshow (Photo Corey James)
Virginia Butler, with the Archaeology Roadshow, explained that the name is an homage to the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, which has people bring items for expert evaluation. Students working on the inaugural Portland event wanted people to make the connection to the TV show because the Archaeology Roadshow similarly allows attendees to bring up to three objects for expert examination, and those people will attempt to determine the object’s age and possible function. Unlike the TV show, volunteers at this event do not offer appraisal but help people connect to the history contained within those objects. Presentations cover the whole of human existence in the region, and organizers try not to put date limits on what constitutes archaeology. “Science can tell us people have probably been in this area for over 15,000 years. But the Indigenous perspective suggests you can’t really put a time on it because some of their origin stories say they’ve been here forever,” said Butler. “There will be perspectives from tribes from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Chinook Indian Nation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and the Klamath Tribes. Their presence will provide those perspectives that go back to ancient times but continue today—since all of these people are part of our world, and they are continuing to educate their people and others about ongoing traditions. Then, we move to more Euro-American settlements with their arrival in the early 19th century. We have several historical societies present. We also have multiple museums and cultural organizations that tell the story of more recent migrations and ongoing immigrant stories. The Portland Chinatown Museum will host a [calligraphy] exhibit, and The Japanese American Museum will host an exhibit,” explained Butler.
The Archaeology Roadshow embraces all phases of human settlement in the region and tries to present people with an experience that entertains and informs visitors about that shared history through activities and face-to-face engagement. Participants can throw an atlatl—a throwing spear—at a target as people have done for thousands of years to take down game. The Hellenic-American Cultural Center & Museum intends to perform a dance representing the Greek American experience in Oregon and SW Washington. Gresham Historical Society will present a musical-focused exhibit that explores the music history in Gresham titled Dance Halls to Divas, Gresham’s Musical Heritage. They will have some instruments at their booth for people to practice and explore their musical expressions. The Rocky Butte Preservation Society will showcase stone masons and metal workers’ craftmanship used while creating the viewing area on top of an ancient cinder cone.
Two children starting a fire 2016, courtesy Archaeology Roadshow (Photo Kendal McDonald)
Although people from universities, nonprofits, government agencies, and cultural organizations will staff most of the booths, Butler explained that several private companies in town carry out projects related to archaeology and history, supporting legal policy structures that help preserve and protect the past. One company sharing the exhibit Art and Craft of Mourning and Remembrance, an archaeology of memorialization, will look at the human experience engaged by memorializing people’s passing and how that occurs across the human experience. “So it’s not specific to the region. That’s one of the things that we hope visitors will get from this. There are important specific things that happened in our area, but it’s also important to know that we share a lot of common ground, at some scales, with how we approach the passing of loved ones, how we approach creating containers to store food, and make pottery. These things bring us together and are distinctive across our cultures,” said Butler.
The Archaeology Roadshow began in 2012 out of the Portland State University’s desire to expose students to public outreach practices in a campus event. The yearly event grew beyond Portland in 2017 when the roadshow opened in Harney County, with shows in Burns and Hines featuring specific regional exhibitors and historical societies. Post-pandemic, they have continued to expand into places like the Dalles and Bend. Growing beyond the Portland Metro area gave event organizers more opportunities to work with U.S. Government agencies that operate in those areas. “Federal agencies have carried out a lot of cultural resources work supporting archaeology and cultural preservation as part of their own mandates. You have to have a timber sale with the U.S. Forest Service. The consequence of that is you may potentially disturb archaeology and local history. And ahead of those big timber sales, you document what those impacts might be and then try to mitigate them ahead of the potential disturbance or destruction. So all of our federal agencies have mandates to protect and support archaeology,” explained Butler. “Organizations like the National Park Service will often attend more than one event. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be in Portland, they’ll be in Bend, and they’ll probably be in Harney County.”
Child with helper preparing to throw spear, courtesy Archaeology Roadshow (Photo Greg Shine)
Butler noted that the Archaeology Roadshow is more than an informative event. It is a valuable tool in connecting organizations and municipalities to understand the importance of historical preservation as communities grow. “This kind of work is really about relationships. The Archaeology Roadshow builds relationships at different levels between the organizations doing this work. Every time you start digging in the ground, you might open up and identify some archaeology. There’s a lot of effort to ensure that we don’t lose historical knowledge as we go forth with development.” The organizing group wants to convey the ethics and legal aspects of artifact collecting in context to its importance to people and not just as a regulation. “We want to emphasize that when you simply dig into what may seem to be an archaeological site and remove objects, you’re losing the context. We lose our ability to understand broader meanings of what those artifacts mean relative to each other. We’re also harming descendant communities that might have special connections to those places. So we convey some of the ethics and the legal aspects of collecting,” said Butler.
Overall, the roadshow project intends to expand people’s understanding of archaeology, a practice often formed through movies and school field trips. “I think most people think that archaeology is exciting; there’s an adventure and an explorer level to it. The Indiana Jones image is about finding things, and a lot of people think archaeology is a treasure hunt. I hope people come and realize it’s so much more than that. Archaeology is everywhere. History is happening everywhere. We are so much richer if we understand it, and we feel much more connected to a place if we understand its history,” said Butler. “People will walk in with one concept of archaeology, and then it’s going to get a lot bigger because of the cultural connections.”
Virginia Butler and the other event organizers hope moving to East Portland after more than a decade will open this event to more organizations and residents who do not always have an opportunity to engage with history in a hands-on and dynamic environment. Within the over thirty-five pop-up exhibits, guests will find people demonstrating skills such as weaving cloth or fibers, tool making, and building baskets, with the option for visitors to participate. Anyone interested in history will also find booths filled with people offering a museum’s worth of information, Including Montavilla News contributor Patricia Sanders, who will join Paul Leistner from Mt. Tabor in sharing neighborhood history. Gateway Discovery Park is a fully accessible facility, and the event staff will have translators for Russian, Cantonese, and Spanish speakers available throughout the event so more people can participate in this community-enriching event. The event is free and open to the public thanks to financial support from East Portland Action Plan, Portland State University, and other sponsors.
On Sunday, May 4th, Wildcard Barber will host a grand opening celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. with food, refreshments, and discount tooth gems. Montavilla’s newest barber shop recently took over the former Highway Tattoo space at 7110 NE Glisan Street. Owner Danielle St. Pierre shares the two-station shop with established Portland barber Erik “Gator” Heglund.
St. Pierre is a Worcester, Massachusetts, native who relocated to Portland almost two years ago, bringing over a decade of barbering skills to the area. She has worked at many other locations across the city, feeling out the West Coast barber community and ensuring Portland was a good fit. “I was trying to figure out if this was a place I wanted to stay more long term,” recalled St. Pierre. “I’ve worked at collective salons where you’re just renting a chair and then at neighborhood barbershops. Neighborhood barbershops are my favorite. I like building a sense of community in a neighborhood area.” She heard that Hinterland had retail space available in its NE Glisan Street building and instantly appreciated the location as a place to create a people-focused barbershop. “I like that it’s very walkable. There are so many coffee shops, restaurants, and other small businesses that I’ve chatted with. It seems like they all work together on projects or little events, and I like the sense of community,” said St. Pierre.
Century old Koken barber chairs
Converting the space took appreciable effort, with the team repainting the shop themselves and then bringing in electricians and plumbers to create the hair washing and two cut stations. St. Pierre is a fan of classic barber finishes, installing antique barber chairs and an electric spiral-striped pole. “These two chairs are over 100-year-old Kokens, which are the original [hydraulic barber chair makers] from St. Louis. And the barber pole is a [William] Marvy pole. I definitely want to continue to fill the space with antique memorabilia because I enjoy old-school barber stuff,” remarked St. Pierre.
Although the space is slender –having once been the alleyway between the century-old commercial storefronts on this street before being enclosed– it is the right size for the two-person shop. “I enjoy the two-chair space a lot. I like that it’s a quiet environment. We always have music, but there is also the feeling that you can have a personal conversation with your client. I’ve worked in other big spaces that can be a little overwhelming. I like that [our location] is a low-key neighborhood shop,” said St. Pierre. She hopes everyone will feel welcome coming in to receive cuts and shaves. “I’m queer, and I think having a queer-owned, women-owned business in this neighborhood is going to be cool. I really enjoy the sense of having a community here and being able to build both his clientele and my clientele.” Gator and St. Pierre worked together at a previous location, and she brought him into the new shop. Since the soft opening on April 8th, his established client list has reliably shown up at the new location. “I would say he’s very booked; he’s killing it. We’re just trying to keep growing here in this new space,” explained St. Pierre.
Although they priced haircuts for grown-ups, they can accommodate younger patrons if requested but anticipate mainly servicing teens and adults. Otherwise, they will see all types of customers, provided they need a style fitting their offerings. “It is a barbershop, definitely a little bit more androgynous as far as who we cut. It’s not necessarily short hair, but we lean shorter styles,” said St. Pierre. People can order haircuts, hot towel shaves, and beard services from the posted price list. They steer clear of coloring and other add-on services that are not traditionally part of a barbershop but have some restorative options. “We offer a shampoo and hot towel 10-minute service, a little relaxing thing, and we’ll do small cleanup stuff in between your bigger services. We wanted to keep it simple with our services and not get too expansive,” explained St. Pierre.
The name Wildcard Barber comes from a nickname St. Pierre received early on in her career for being good at switching between various styles –wildcards being a playing card that can substitute for any other card in a game. “I started in salons and would take all kinds of clients. It was just sort of the joke because I would cut all different people and types of hair, which I enjoy.”
Wildcard Barber is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Danielle St. Pierre and Gator invite people to attend the grand opening event on Sunday night. They anticipate serving pizza, soda, and some local pastries. They will sell logo merchandise and plan to have a raffle basket. Icy Fangs Tooth Gems will be at the shop from 6 to 8 p.m. during the opening to adhere some sparkle to people’s teeth at a discounted rate. If interested visitors miss the event, Danielle St. Pierre hopes to have regular events every other month, with the next one being a Pride Month event planned for June 1st. Follow the company’s Instagram page for more details.
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.
On April 26th, marchers held the 19th annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade from Eastport Plaza Shopping Center to SE Clinton Street. The precession featured community groups, businesses, elected officials, dancing horses, youth performers, and the diverse cultural flavors that fill 82nd Avenue and East Portland.
The shorter parade drew significant crowds along its one-mile route, closing the busy roadway for a few hours on Saturday morning. Overcast skies kept the temperatures cool, but the streets remained dry for the event, which organizers say has never been rained out in its nearly two-decade run.
With the 2025 parade completed, the 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition members will start working on next year’s event, which they expect will feature more participants and heightened production elements during the 20-year celebration.
On Saturday, April 26th, people can support the House of Dreams nonprofit, which provides shelter and care for abandoned and homeless cats, by buying plants and vegan baked goods. The annual fundraiser, held at 7634 SE Morrison Street, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and attendees can purchase outdoor or indoor plants, decorative pots, and garden art. The event will also feature vegan baked goods and raffle prizes.
The House of Dreams began in 1999 and has remained an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. They house elderly and medically special-needs cats in a free-roam, no-kill shelter. Operators allow felines who are not adopted to live out their lives at the shelter. The 501(c)3 registered group depends on donations to support the ongoing care of their cats, many of whom are senior or feline leukemia-positive (FeLV+) animals. Event operators say all proceeds from the sale will go directly to the care and shelter of the cats at House of Dreams.
People walking back from the 19th annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade, which runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., could stop by the sale to extend their outing and help a community organization. However, those who can not attend this fundraising event but want to support the organization’s efforts can visit the group’s website, kittydreams.org/support-us, to contribute in other ways.
The 19th annual 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade returns this year on April 26th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., featuring many returning and several new participants. The event organizers will scale back the route this year, ending just short of Montavilla at SE Clinton Street. This change helps shorten the marching distance for people walking in the parade and reduces the operational complications of crossing SE Division Street.
The volunteer-led organization, 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition, produces the parade each year, having taken over the operation from the 82nd Avenue Business Association. Traditionally, the parade starts from the Eastport Plaza Shopping Center and ends on SE Yamhill Street. This year, the procession will start from SE Bush Street along the northern frontage of the Eastport retail complex and march less than half the previous distance north, ending right before SE Division Street. People can gather along the SE 82nd Avenue parade route for a view of the marchers and procession vehicles. However, with the parade no longer ending at SE Yamhill Street, Montavilla spectators will need to walk south past Portland Community College’s Southeast campus to watch the various groups walk, dance, or drive down the road. This change will upend planned street parties and traditional post-parade events for some people along the discontinued route. Parade organizer Nancy Chapin explained that it was a hard choice for the group to shorten the route. She appreciated the support of SE Yamhill residents over nearly two decades, but after three years of participants requesting a shortened parade, she had to make the change. She said youth marching bands and some older walkers found the length prohibitively long. Also, attendance along SE 82nd Avenue north of Division Street was substantially less than other segments.
Ken Turner started work on parade planning in 2006 when he served as the Eastport Plaza Manager and 82nd Avenue Business Association President. In 2007, the first event marched along its route and quickly grew into a significant community event over the following years. It has been 19 years since the first event; however, they have had to skip the tradition four times during its run. Planned protests and threats to safety caused organizers to cancel the parade in 2017. Leaders halted the in-person event during the pandemic, taking the parade online for 2022. The traditional parade returned in 2023 to a crowd ready to see its revival. Volunteers bringing this East Portland event to fruition believe the parade shows appreciation for the diverse population that defines 82nd Avenue by celebrating the community’s art, music, and dance.
Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards and State Representative Thuy Tran in 2024
The 2007 founding parade committee will be the Grand Marshal of this year’s event. Some featured participants include The Lee’s Association Dragon and Lion Dance, the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, elected officials, schools, and community groups. People will see Friesian Horses, classic military vehicles, and other interesting automobiles transporting participants. This year the Impalas Car Club Portland Chapter will hold its parade day show in Clackamas County, hosted by Krispy Kreme at 9950 SE 82nd Avenue, starting at noon.
According to Chapin, the new short route will likely continue into future years. People looking for a front-row seat can volunteer as parade traffic monitors. One or two volunteers control every crossing along the 82nd Avenue route, and staff coordinators still need people. Volunteers can complete a form at 82rosescec.com.
Disclosure: This article’s author serves on the 82nd Avenue Business Association board with Nancy Chapin, who organizes the 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade with members of 82 Roses Community Enrichment Coalition.
On February 22nd, Zwickelmania returns to Oregon with two of Montavilla’s breweries joining more than 50 other craft beer makers from all areas across the state. Host businesses offer attendees Zwickel tasting pours from the fermentation tanks and leading brewery tours. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street and Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue will again participate in this annual celebration of local beer makers. Event organizers will offer sober transportation between sites through a network of shuttle buses that should widen participants’ exposure to Portland’s selection of independent brewers.
Zwickelmania is an annual celebration of Oregon craft beer during Oregon Craft Beer Month, organized by the Oregon Brewers Guild. Member breweries open their production facility to the public for a behind-the-scenes view of their operation and to offer unique sampling opportunities. The event’s name stems from the industry term Zwickel, describing the valve or sample port mounted outside a cask or tank. Brewers use those ports to test the product during fermentation, and this annual event allows people 21 years or older to taste beer from a producer’s perspective.
The 2025 beer-centric program features a safe way for event attendees to enjoy more brewery locations through free shuttle buses that transport people to participating establishments. This service allows drinkers to experience the event in several neighborhoods without getting behind the wheel or losing time taking indirect public transit. “On a day where people are tasting a lot of beers, this is a great way for people to see more breweries and do it safely,” explained Michael Kora of Montavilla Brew Works. During the event hours of 11 a.m. through 4 p.m., buses will depart each location at close to 30-minute intervals. The two shuttle routes overlap at Migration Brewing on NE Glisan Street for riders to transfer. However, there are too many participating locations to reach them all via the bus service during the event timeline, so people must plan to visit their favorite locations first or decide to explore some new beer makers.
Zwickelmania’s organizers gear the event towards craft beer enthusiasts who can experience samples directly from the Zwickel port, find unique beer releases, take tours, and meet brewers as they provide educational talks. Some host locations will offer food and beer pairings or specials. This non-ticketed event will only cost the price of beer and food at each location. Designated drivers can also find non-alcoholic drinks at the event. People interested in attending should visit the Zwickelmania website for more information and a complete list of participating brewers.
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.
On February 19th, the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) will host a “Sneak Peek” of the Oak Street Village sleeping pod shelter at 333 SE 82nd Avenue. Organizers invite the public to tour the facility before residents move in. Invited speakers will provide brief remarks and participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Organizers ask people wanting to attend to RSVP for the event, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
In 2022, Multnomah County purchased the former RV sales lot and another site several blocks south to create shelter services along 82nd Avenue. However, it was not until officials selected 333 SE 82nd Avenue’s operator, Straightway Services, that the County announced the shelter’s format. Resident selection for Oak Street Village will prioritize individuals living in passenger vehicles and needing to park those while transitioning into the shelter’s housing. The site provides Pallet shelters branded sleeping pods, 33 onsite parking spaces, trash services, showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, and a communal kitchenette. Several years have passed since the County purchased the properties. Since then, County staff have worked to provide community outreach and secure support for the site through a Good Neighbor Agreement.
The second county-owned county site in Montavilla at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue will take on a similar development path but will not focus on supporting residents with cars. That second shelter will likely open at the end of 2025 if the project keeps to schedule. Although the sites are different, this sneak peek can provide a view into how shelter operators organize these sites.
Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Montavilla’s County district representative Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards will speak at the event. Other invited guests addressing the attendees include Pastor Dwight Minnieweather from the site’s service provider, Straightway Services, alongside business and neighborhood association leaders. JOHS director Dan Field will share the project’s history and update people on the facility’s next steps. Event parking for the Wednesday midday gathering on the 19th is available at the Montavilla United Methodist Church at 232 SE 80th Avenue, one block west of Oak Street Village. Event organizers will provide snacks and refreshments.
