8135 SE Division – Montavilla News

Unitus Community Credit Union will permanently close its Mall 205 branch on November 16th, relocating operations to a new Cascade Station storefront the following week. Credit Union management expedited the planned move after an early October car crash damaged the building, compromising security. Consequentially, tellers are no longer able to complete cash transactions at the Mall 205 location.

Unitus moved into its current Mall 205 space at 1052 SE 96th Avenue on July 25th, 2011, relocating from its former Mall 205 location less than a mile away. The credit union had outgrown the smaller space and wanted to modernize the branch. In a 2011 press release, the financial institution presented the new storefront as “one of Unitus’ signature branches with artwork, a tech center, coffee kiosk, contemporary furnishings and décor.” A little over a decade later, Unitus’ Chief Retail Officer Corlinda Wooden explained they need less space to support members. “We felt that the space at Mall 205 had become too big for the use we need, so we looked for another location nearby to help reduce our lease expenses. We decided to relocate the branch to the Cascade Station shopping center, which is about five miles from the Mall 205 location.”

*_{Repair to the southeast corner of the of Unitus after car crash}*

Unitus Community Credit Union’s decision to shrink its footprint follows many organizations that have reduced leased space post-pandemic. Even before health concerns forced companies to embrace work-from-home operations, the banking industry was adjusting to the mobile-first preference of users who now complete most banking services via smartphone.

Unitus’ move out of the area further reduces banking options for Montavilla residents. US Bank closed its NE Glisan Street branch three years ago, and Riverview Bank consolidated operations out of the neighborhood in 2021. In late 2020, Chase Bank closed its location inside Fred Meyer at 6615 NE Glisan Street. However, OnPoint Credit Union opened in its place a few months later. Montavilla residents also have BMO Bank, formerly Bank of the West, at 8135 SE Division Street.

Unitus Community Credit Union plans to open its Cascade Station branch on November 20th. The Mall 205 location no longer supports cash transactions. However, cash is available through the on-site ATM. Credit union members should look for an email from Unitus announcing the new branch opening sometime in November or check the institution’s website for more details when they post that information.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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This week, Portland Community College (PCC) released the latest draft of its district-wide Facilities Plan. The proposal covers all four PCC campuses, including the Montavilla location at the northwest corner of SE Division Street and 82nd Avenue. Details are available at the Facilities Planning Online Open House website until October 22nd.

The current Southeast Campus opened 20 years ago in a repurposed grocery store at 2305 SE 82nd Ave. Infrastructure investments over the years have expanded the campus to include new education-focused buildings. However, as the student population increases, there is a need to replace outdated facilities and construct new spaces. PCC leadership believes they can efficiently accommodate the next two decades of growth by developing a comprehensive expansion plan. The second phase of that work is concluding at the end of this year.

Over the last year, PCC representatives collected feedback from students, faculty, staff, and PCC neighbors about the physical environment at each campus. 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 college growth.

The Open House presentation outlines five primary developments recommended for the Southeast Campus. PCC intends to add a new wing to Mt.Scott Hall along SE 82nd Ave. The former single-story grocery store building, designated as Mt. Tabor Hall, will be replaced with a more efficient three-story structure featuring a greater connection to public spaces. PCC would build a new gym and childcare facility roughly located on the land currently housing the Community Hall Annex building. This new building will extend the active campus further west. The large parking lot spanning PCC’s portion of SE 77th Ave could become the location for affordable housing.

Additionally, planners are considering an expansion of the campus by acquiring the land currently owned by Bank of the West at 8135 SE Division Street. The bank’s 9,888 square foot property could become the primary entrance to campus, reinforcing PCC’s goal of using campus edges to connect with the community.

The space between buildings received as much attention within the proposal as the structures themselves. Planners prioritized peaceful outdoor areas in the campus core, providing an antidote to the commotion caused by the school’s location at an intersection of two busy streets. The proposal includes safe and interconnecting pathways that traverse flexible-use green spaces while connecting the neighborhood through the campus.

The facilities planning review process is nearing completion. A short survey accompanies the Facilities Planning Online Open House presentation. Neighbors should review draft concepts for each PCC campus and provide comments before the October 22nd deadline. Answers to these last questions will further refine the plan ahead of its completion. The finalized Facilities Plan will be publicly available in December.

Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Southeast Campus opened 40 years ago in its current location. The campus relocated to this space 20 years ago after existing at another site for 20 years before that move.