Category: View of Montavilla

Construction, New Residence, View of Montavilla

40 Unit Complex on Unimproved SE 89th

Update: A February 8th article covers new information on this project.

Over the last two decades, Argonaut Group purchased four lots along an unimproved segment of SE 89th Avenue north of SE Brooklyn Street. This month, the owners of the properties submitted an Early Assistance request to build a 40-unit residential building that would span three of those parcels totaling over an acre. The proposed courtyard housing complex at 2905 SE 89th Avenue would provide 32 on-site parking stalls and a ground-floor community space.

Image from Portland Maps

The Early Assistance request proposes a three-story tall building with a single loaded corridor providing access to the residences. This planning process gives builders insight into what the City will require to approve the development. Plans for the project will likely change, and the property owners could elect not to proceed with the project. Road and sidewalk construction costs for developments on unimproved gravel roads like SE 89th Avenue will often impact the project’s financial viability. It is unknown to what degree the developer will have to update the street as part of this work, but the City will likely require some improvements.

Unimproved SE 89th Avenue looking north from SE Brooklyn Street

Housing density in this area has increased over the years. This section of East Portland is zoned Residential Multi-Dwelling 1 (RM1), and that designation supports low-scale multi-dwelling structures. Developments in this zone can support buildings up to three stories tall with frontage setbacks similar to residential neighborhoods. People often build duplexes, townhouses, courtyard housing, or small apartment buildings in the RM1 zones.

This project, if approved, would be an efficient use of land. In the place of two homes, the developer will provide 40 residences with on-site parking. Additionally, the site is within a few blocks of two frequent bus lines and Max light-rail service. If the property owners decide to proceed with this project after receiving the Early Assistance advice, they could apply for building permits sometime this year. However, construction could be over a year away.

Article and phots 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.

Business Closing, Food and Drink, New Business, Restaurant, View of Montavilla

Chipotle to Replace Baja Fresh at Mall 205

Earlier this year, Mexican-themed fast-casual restaurant Baja Fresh closed its 10090 SE Washington Street location at the outer edge of Mall 205. Last week, architects working for the Chipotle chain submitted building permits for a new store at the same address. Both brands position themselves in a similar space within the corporate foodservice marketplace. However, Chipotle offers a smaller menu of core items and substantially more locations than Baja Fresh.

Recently, all Baja Fresh franchise locations in Portland have ceased operations, including the Mall 205 store. Both of these fast-casual dining brands started in the early 1990s and attracted many of the same customers. Baja Fresh was first to the Portland market and established a strong presence. However, early investment from the McDonald’s corporation helped launch Chipotle into a national brand. McDonald’s divested financial interest in Chipotle by 2006, but by then, the restaurants specializing in bowls, tacos, and Mission burritos had already become well-known across the United States, outpacing many competitors.

Chipotle location map with MV News illustrations

The Mall 205 Chipotle is several months away from opening. Building permits for a new serving area, restrooms, office, commercial kitchen, and walk-in cooler are pending approval. Plans can change anytime and may not result in the store’s opening. However, this location fills a service gap for the company, situated between its Cascade Station and Clackamas Town Center stores. This Mall 205 Chipotle location would join another popular fast-food chain planned for this area. This month, Chick-fil-A received approval to construct a restaurant within the existing structure at 9950 SE Stark Street. Both these developments will increase traffic to the area during peak dining times. However, they will not offer drive-through service and both have on-site parking available, reducing the likelihood that lines will back up onto the street.

Update: This location will open on July 23rd.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

New Business, View of Montavilla

Promethean Hair Lounge on E Burnside

In July, curly-hair specialty salon and barbershop Promethean Hair Lounge opened at 6245 E Burnside Street. The inclusive shop has style and accommodation at its core, featuring a private room for women who cover their hair in public or those with sensory considerations. The high-end finishes throughout the shop are representative of the owners’ long-term commitment to serving their clients from this location.

Rachel and DeNario Jenkins purchased the 1925 era storefront at the beginning of the year with a U.S. Small Business Administration 504 loan and spent months updating the former Portland Hair Shop location. DeNario Jenkins has over 20 years of experience as a barber, renting chair space at several well-known shops all over the city. Similarly, Rachel Jenkins has a career spanning 15 years working as an independent contractor in other salons. In searching with a friend for a new shop to work from, Jenkins observed an underserved business model in Portland, where curly-hair specialty met posh amenities. “We were looking and looking and looking and just didn’t find something that really fit our clientele. We thought Portland deserved a more luxurious space for people of color,” said Rachel Jenkins.

Owners DeNario and Rachel Jenkins

Rachel Jenkins and her husband decided to fill that void and invest in their own space. They intended to settle on a storefront within the inner Northeast someplace. However, an accidental search uncovered the location on E Burnside Street. “The truth is, I was searching in the wrong area on Loopnet. It’s a website for finding commercial real estate, and I zoomed in on the wrong spot, and it popped up,” explained Jenkins. The location turned out to meet all their needs. The storefront is centrally located with freeway access for the clients who drive in from all over Oregon and as far away as Seattle, WA. Additionally, the area residents are receptive to the new shop. “The neighborhood has been super kind, warm, and welcoming,” recalls Jenkins.

The Jenkins are both Portland natives with an attachment to the city. They are excited their decades of work allowed them to create this business and invest in their community. That was why they wanted to own the building where they work, establishing solid roots. Rachel Jenkins describes Promethean as a hybrid shop, offering space for independent professionals and an employment-based model for apprenticeship opportunities. Their supportive nature extends beyond the shop walls through services like a sensory-friendly free haircut event planned for November 12th.

Curly haircare has a complicated history that has created damaging practices. Rachel Jenkins explained that not all salon products support healthy follicles, and quality post-visit regiments are essential. That is why client education is a foundational part of Promethean’s approach, and they design those lessons to follow clients home after their appointments. Information can range from haircare product selection to hands-on classes. “We do one-on-one curl coaching, which means they can physically do their hair, and we’re helping them walk through how to style their hair,” explained Rachel Jenkins. Although focused on the hairstyling needs of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community, Jenkins is quick to assert they have the experience to work on all hair types and welcome everyone. In addition to styling, the salon provides makeup services and may expand esthetic offerings in the coming years. They also offer hair and makeup for bridal parties or special occasions.

Promethean Hair Lounge is open every day except Monday. People interested in booking an appointment with Rachel and DeNario Jenkins can schedule one online at the company website. Other stylists working at Promethean maintain their own schedules, call for details.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscribers or sponsors. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, Government, Infrastructure, View of Montavilla

Creating Neighborhood Centers

Over the last two years, staff at Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) developed a plan to cultivate two new commercial centers for residents living south of SE Foster Road in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood. Out of that work and years of gathering community input, BPS drafted the Lower SE Rising (LSER) Area Plan to create community cores similar to what other Portland neighborhoods inherited. Through proposed zoning changes and transportation investments, the plan’s authors intend to incentivize future development that will create new walkable corridors lined with small businesses and multifamily housing. On October 10th at 6:10 p.m., the draft plan will appear before the Portland Planning Commission, where members of the public can register to provide comments.

Many of Portland’s neighborhoods feature commercial corridors with stores and restaurants clustered around main streets. As with Montavilla’s SE Stark Street and NE Glisan Street, most commercial districts centered on transportation hubs created by historic streetcar lines or major roads. Often, businesses coalesced in these spaces over 100 years ago. However, not all communities in the city had that historic commercial core before the automobile age shifted resources miles away from where people lived. City planners are now working to reduce reliance on personal vehicle travel and strengthen locale retail access within neighborhoods, creating environments where residents can walk or take transit to desirable destinations. In older areas, that takes less effort because a legacy organization of buildings already supports that effort. However, in some communities with predominantly post-war development, community intervention is needed to create the desired change.

Map App image with MV News illustrations

The draft Lower SE Rising (LSER) Area Plan proposes turning SE 52nd and SE 72nd Avenues into mixed-use corridors with more housing options and commercial hubs at primary intersections in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood. The new commercial district on SE 72nd Avenue and Flavel Street extends towards SE 82nd Avenue, creating a more significant business district that links to a major arterial road. If the City Council approves the plan, zoning changes will be the first step towards instigating uses along the corridor. However, those changes only allow new commercial services and do not force property owners to make any changes unless completely redeveloping a site. Further enhancements are needed to draw people into these centers, spurring property transformation. As in the past formation of community hubs, transportation can attract people to a business district.

The plan’s authors propose street improvements, making it safer and more accessible for pedestrians to navigate and cross the busier roadways like SE 52nd, SE 72nd, and SE Woodstock. Additionally, the plan includes neighborhood greenway projects connecting the bicycle and pedestrian networks through this area. However, enhanced bus transit in this district offers a high likelihood for increased housing density and business growth while strengthening other centers. “One thing we’re finding is that the existing transit network didn’t really serve centers. For example, you cannot take a bus from the Woodstock neighborhood center to the Lents Town Center,” explained Bill Cunningham, a City Planner with BPS. Realigning bus routes and creating more frequent service between centers can provide the linkage needed for these fledgling business districts to take root. The LSER plan will integrate with future transit line adjustments underway as part of TriMet’s Forward Together plan to cultivate the desired change.

The Lower SE Rising (LSER) Area Plan is a response to community desires. It offers a chance to create a walkable and community-focused neighborhood similar to what Montavilla residents enjoy. The 172-page draft plan is available for review before the October 10th Planning Commission hearing. People can use the Map App to leave written testimony and review what other people have contributed. The Planning Commission will consider testimony and deliberate for several weeks, refining the plan through November before forwarding their recommendations to the Portland City Council. The community will have other opportunities to provide comments during the City Council’s review sometime in spring 2024. If approved, substantial growth for the new could take decades of slow transformation. However, that slow change should help prevent sudden displacement while creating opportunities for micro businesses to sprout up in formerly residential buildings.

By

Jacob Loeb

Images in this article courtesy BPS from draft Lower SE Rising (LSER) Area Plan

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscribers or sponsors. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

New Business, Services, View of Montavilla

A New Name for a Classic Barbershop

This month, after nearly a year under new ownership, the barbershop at 6026 NE Glisan Street received a new name. Window lettering and a sign reading Beck’s Barbershop now adorn the easternmost storefront in the 1911-era building. The new name is the first methodically paced change planned for a business that values the stability of a classic profession.

Rebecca Sweesy began working at this location in April 2021, when the shop was named Lyle’s Barber Shop. She transitioned from working across town and started fresh with a new group of clients. Two years later, Sweesy had found her community and purchased the business from Brian Burt, who opened the barbershop in 2017.

Rebecca “Beck” Sweesy

Burt invested substantial effort into crafting a space honoring the centuries-old barber tradition. It features antique chairs, an iconic barber pole, and wood-paneled stations. Rebecca Sweesy appreciated the aesthetic and bought all the furnishings, keeping the space as it was. Changing the shop’s name to reference her childhood nickname was a leap for Sweesy, and future updates will receive equal consideration. “It’s good to do one thing at a time. I can do the signage and the name change. Let that settle. Then I’m going to paint and let that settle in over the next month, and then maybe I’ll add credit cards in the new year, making one change at a time rather than a billion things at once,” explained Sweesy.

This shop is a cash-only establishment, and although they see the benefits of taking other payment types, accepting credit cards is complicated. Each barber operates as an independent contractor who handles their own money. Consequentially, everyone working there must agree on a unified processor and the added fees before they can start taking cards. “When you run a credit card, it’s a 3% charge. Keeping the economy in mind and how much people struggle right now, I didn’t want to give people a 3% increase just for coming in to get a haircut,” said Sweesy. Client feedback will determine how soon they move to credit cards, but it will likely happen at some point.

The five-chair shop currently has three barbers, including the owner. “I’m still a barber first, and I always will be,” said Sweesy. That craftsman-first approach and the independent nature of the people working at Beck’s Barbershop made the change in ownership easier for customers who saw little change. Feedback over the year of transition has been positive. The next challenge for the shop will come from filling the two empty chairs with experienced people who value strong customer and community relationships. 

The shop survives on barbers paying rent to the business. However, Sweesy knows from experience moving into a new area will require time to build a client base. “With the economy being the way it is, I felt it might be difficult to ask a barber to pay a flat rate every week or every month. So I usually offer a commission [based rate] at first, and then I will move the barber into booth rate over time,” explained Sweesy. This pricing method supports people in the trade and helps attract individuals looking to build a positive reputation within a community over time. 

Beck’s Barbershop is open Monday through Saturday and asks that you make an appointment online. They offer razor shaves and sculpting along with traditional cuts. Although the majority of customers are male identifying, they accept all people over the age of nine. Business is returning to pre-pandemic levels, but they hope more people will try them out. Rebecca “Beck” Sweesy thinks they will win your business because, as the shop’s painted slogan declares, “Pride produces quality work,” and they care about how good you look.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Community, New Business, View of Montavilla

Metro Funds East Portland Tool Library

On July 1st, The East Portland Tool Library opened to Portland communities living east of 82nd Avenue and north of SE Division Street. This tool-lending non-profit offers its members access to an expanding range of repair, maintenance, and crafting equipment. Located within the Cherry Park United Methodist Church parking lot at 1736 SE 106th Avenue, Montavilla residents can easily access the library via SE Market Street. The volunteer-run group opens the doors of its two large shipping containers from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays for week-long rentals.

The East Portland Tool Library provides affordable access to tools and lends to area residents of all income levels. Membership is donation-based, with people contributing as little as $10 and others paying more. Membership comes after a one-time registration where volunteers verify your home address, ensuring you are in their area. The East Portland Tool Library only serves the eastern half of Montavilla, but it is more convenient for many residents than other tool-lending resources. The Green Lents Community Tool Library serves many neighborhoods south of NE Halsey Street, including Montavilla. However, they are further away at 9215 SE Ramona Street near Interstate 205 and SE Foster Road. A segment of neighborhood residents living in NE Portland west of NE 82nd can also use the Northeast Portland Tool Library at 5431 NE 20th Avenue.

Work on the new East Portland Tool Library began five years ago in 2018, with East Portland Neighbors (EPN) serving as the fiscal sponsor. Difficulties locating a host location and the pandemic closures derailed the project for several years. However, the group recently received a grant from Oregon Metro that revitalized the project.

East Portland Tool Library’s board president Nancy Arntson

The East Portland Tool Library’s board president, Nancy Arntson, explained how surprisingly difficult it was to find a host location. Last year, they nearly dropped off their two converted shipping container buildings to a different church parking lot, more centrally located in East Portland. During permitting, city staff noted that the structures would remove three parking spaces and potentially reduce the stall number below minimum requirements. Arntson recalls the city asking for a $5,000 parking reassessment fee that would unacceptably eat into the organization’s budget. “So we came here… and in my opinion, it turned out to be better. This is a better fit for us, even though it doesn’t put us in the center of the service area. But it’s a good fit for us because of the reception we’re getting here,” said Arntson.

The tool library resides in two green shipping containers outfitted with rollup doors that face one another. The steel boxes sit one inch apart to function as one building when the doors are open but exist as separate units to remain under the square footage limits that would have them treated like a structure. Side doors let people enter from one side and leave from another, as the shelves full of tools eat up much of the floor space, leaving room for just a single aisle. An extension cord from the church provides minimal power for lights and a few outlets during the three hours of operation. They want to install dedicated electricity service for heating this winter, but there is currently no budget for that significant cost.

This program is a volunteer-run organization, and they always look for more people to take shifts. When they get more people in the rotation, the board will consider adding additional hours of operation. The group is also interested in receiving more tool donations. All the tools available to loan came from community donations, with the exception of a new power washer, air compressors, and a wheelbarrow. A complete list of tools and their availability is online. Once you are a member, there is no cost to borrowing, and you can check out the same item each week if it is an extended project, as long as others are not waiting on its return. The library will charge a late fee of $1 for small items and $5 for bigger equipment if people fail to bring the item back the following week.

The East Portland Tool Library currently has 29 members, and growing membership is one of the ways they collect funds for new tools. Signing up now provides a lasting membership that can save people money compared to renting tools from a business. The organization believes YouTube can provide people with a wealth of home repair knowledge, but equitable access to tools builds sustainable and thriving communities.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Entertainment, Event, View of Montavilla

Free Concert Rolls onto Mt Tabor

On August 20th, SoundsTruck NW will roll its new mobile stage to the summit of Mount Tabor for a free concert titled Mount Immigration. Performances will feature Illegal Son with Matthew Holmes and Joe Kye with Cory Limuaco starting at 1 p.m. The Sunday event is part of a site-inspired, cross-cultural summer concert series.

The free Mt. Tabor Park performance features trombonist and composer Illegal Son (Denzel Mendoza), followed by the award-winning musician, storyteller, and 2023 Oregon Arts Commission Fellow Joe Kye. The ensemble of accomplished musicians will draw on the movements of Mt. Tabor’s landscape to examine the nature of migration and immigration. Composed using personal experiences, the music and sounds capture an emotional interpretation of life labeled as an immigrant.

SoundsTruck NW created this public concert in partnership with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) and Montavilla Jazz. The 90-minute event takes place atop Mt. Tabor at SE Harvey Scott Circle. People can access the site via the SE 69th Avenue stairs or a paved access road. Nearby parking is limited, so plan for some walking.

By

Jacob Loeb

Images in this article provided by SoundsTruck NW

“Musician and storyteller Joe Kye draws inspiration from the natural movements of Mt. Tabor’s lush, urban, mountain landscape. Joined by percussionist Cory Limuaco, he’ll perform original songs while weaving in improvisational moments, interacting with the audience and the park setting to create new sonic environments. Focusing on creativity, community, and identity, Kye’s work taps into an inner core, inspiring audiences to compassion and empathy. Drawing upon his immigrant upbringing, Kye weaves together electronic and acoustic textures, catchy melodies, and vocals to uplift and empower listeners. Trombonist and composer Denzel Mendoza is Illegal Son, and opens for Joe with bassist Matthew Holmes. A Filipino National born in Singapore, raised in Las Vegas, NV; studied in NYC, NY, and based in Portland, OR; Mendoza has lived in the United States for the majority of his life but yet, he continues to chase the American Dream. Since 2004, Mendoza has been an Undocumented Immigrant. Illegal Son is quite simply his emotional and vulnerable interpretation of life as Undocumented through sound and music.” – SoundsTruck NW –

Community, Event, View of Montavilla

2023 Artist Alley Comics Fest at McDaniel

Independent comics creators will display their work this Saturday at the Artist Alley Comics Fest. The August 5th event takes place inside the Leodis V. McDaniel High School campus at 2735 NE 82nd Avenue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendance is free and highlights the talents of lesser-known producers of comics, graphic art, and zines.

The inaugural Artist Alley Comics Fest occurred on August 2nd, 2015, at the now-shuttered Spritely Bean cafe and comic shop. From its inception, it sought to provide a venue for artists not often given a voice. By minimally curating the participants, the event coordinators hope to give creators a chance to interact with a potential audience without first passing a gatekeeper. Over 50 creators will display their work, with many selling their art, merchandise, books, and zines. Comics fans of all ages have an opportunity to discover something new and support independent artists this Saturday.

By

Jacob Loeb

Poster image courtesy Artist Alley Comics Fest
Crime, View of Montavilla

Shot Driver Involved in 102nd Ave Crash

Update July 11th, 2023: The Portland Police Bureau released the name of the person who died in this crash. Eleven-year-old Ryan Ambrose was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his family member when the collision occurred. The other vehicle’s driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries from the accident and a previously obtained gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and then released into police custody. He is currently being held in the Multnomah County Detention Center, charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Manslaughter in the First Degree. The police investigation revealed that speed and alcohol impairment were the primary factors in the crash.

Ryan Ambrose, 11. Image courtesy of his family

On July 8th, at 10:19 p.m., Portland Police responded to a crash involving two cars near Mall 205. The rollover collision sent two people to the hospital, where one person succumbed to their injuries, and another is receiving care for a previously received gunshot wound. The investigation closed parts of SE 102nd Avenue, SE Washington Street, and SE Stark Street.

Images in this article provided by the Portland Police Bureau

When officers arrived at SE 102nd Avenue and Washington Street, they discovered the driver of one crashed vehicle shot, apparently from a previous incident at another location. The passenger from the other vehicle had life-threatening injuries. Officers performed CPR at the crash site before ambulances transported the injured to an area hospital. This crash is the 34th vehicle-related fatality in 2023.

By

Jacob Loeb

Business Closing, View of Montavilla

24 Hour Fitness Mall 205 Location Closing

On May 26th, Mall 205’s 24 Hour Fitness gym will close permanently, with current members transferring to the Hollywood location at 4224 NE Halsey Street. This closure is the second gym to cease operations in the area this year. The ample exercise space offered an indoor lap pool, steam room, sauna, basketball court, and the standard assortment of fitness equipment.

Representatives for 24 Hour Fitness did not provide a specific reason for the gym’s closure, saying only that it is “due to a combination of circumstances.” Like many in-person fitness locations, 24 Hour Fitness suffered financially during the mandatory pandemic closures and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 15th, 2020. Although the national chain recovered from that setback, emerging from bankruptcy in the same year, the company close over 100 locations as part of its restructuring plan. The Mall 205 location survived those cuts, but gyms have continued to suffer post-pandemic. Nearby Cascade Athletic Clubs closed its Montavilla location earlier this year, citing a slow recovery after reopening.

The fitness chain opened the soon-to-be shuttered location at 10052 SE Washington Street over two decades ago, occupying the southeast corner of the L-shaped building. Members access the exercise facility from the back parking lot. However, the location retained interior access prior to the recent mall reconfiguration. The shopping center failed to draw many customers to its interior corridors, and most stores relied on the outside doors for access when they could.

Site capture of 24hourfitness.com from June 9th, 2002. Curtesy archive.org

In 2022, the Mall property sold to an investment group that ended leases with the interior tenants. The property’s new owners will renovate the building to support larger storefronts independently accessed from the parking lot. Recent building permit applications state that Hobby Lobby will open a location somewhere on the property between Target and Home Depot. Other national brands are expected to take space in the revitalized shopping complex, and the 24 Hour Fitness vacancy should help with that transformation.

The exercise location’s closure, regardless of the cause, will leave just one general-use gym in the area. MUV Fitness is less than 1,000 feet from the 24 Hour Fitness Mall 205 location. That business attracted some former Cascade Athletic Clubs members and could become a viable option for 24 Hour Fitness members. People uninterested in switching to 24 Hour Fitness Hollywood location will likely consider MUV Fitness or look to alternative venues like Mt. Tabor CrossFit at 8028 NE Glisan Street.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscribers or sponsors. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.