Tag: 82nd Ave

Infrastructure

82nd Signal Improvements at Glisan and Davis Update

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) recently released an updated concept design for the 82nd Avenue Glisan and Davis Signal Improvements Project alongside results from the bureau’s public outreach. Changes to the design reduced the number of median planted trees due to mid-street utility conflicts and combined two options for left turn handling at NE Davis Street. Plans also include a short westbound bus-only lane on NE Glisan Street west of 82nd Avenue. The strategic sidewalk widening on the east side of 82nd Avenue allows for additional tree planting space along this frequently used connector between Vestal Elementary School and Montavilla Park.

NE Davis and 82nd Illustration courtesy PBOT

NE Davis Street is a “T” intersection at 82nd Avenue in front of Vestal School. Consequentially, young pedestrians and families frequently use these crosswalks. The Addition of “The Yard at Montavilla” food cart pod on the southeast corner has further increased vehicle and pedestrian usage throughout the day. PBOT engineers had considered two alternatives for reconstructing this intersection with the possibility of preventing all left turns. However, based on community and business feedback, they opted to allow continued left turns from NE 82nd Avenue to Davis Street while restricting left turns from NE Davis to 82nd Avenue. This design provides drivers sufficient access, and pedestrians have a mid-crossing protected island at the south side of the intersection. PBOT also anticipates removing one or two curbside parking spaces on the north side of NE Davis Street to help with visibility and vehicle navigation of the skinnier side street.

NE Everett and 82nd Illustration courtesy PBOT

North of Davis Street, the “T” intersection of NE Everett Street will also receive enhancements during this project. PBOT plans to extend the northwest sidewalk corner and add updated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps. The south crossing will have a protected pedestrian refuge island. However, the north and south crosswalks will not receive high-visibility markings due to their proximity to two other signalized crossings.

NE Glisan and 82nd Illustration courtesy PBOT

Signal reconstruction at NE Glisan will include concrete traffic separators north and south of the crossing to confine left turns to the intersection and keep turning vehicles from crossing over the center turn lane. A new right turn-only, except buses, lane on the west side of 82nd Avenue for westbound Glisan drivers will shift the through traffic merge east of the intersection. Westbound traffic currently merges 200 feet to the west, often backing up traffic into the intersection. This change removes congestion in a dangerous area and creates space for a bus and turn lane on the west side of the intersection. The four corners at the intersection will receive some ADA updates to improve access and pedestrian visibility.

PBOT crews intend to install wider sidewalks on the east side of 82nd Avenue between NE Glisan and 100 feet south of NE Davis Street. This new twelve-foot-wide pedestrian zone will replace the narrow walkways currently placed tight to the curb. The buildings in this area are adequately setback to allow this expansion, and engineers expect this sidewalk expansion will improve safety while providing an opportunity to plant trees between the curb and walkway. The design phase for this project will continue throughout 2024, and PBOT anticipates construction will begin in fall 2025.

By

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the Building a Better 82nd Community Advisory Group.

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay directly online. 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.

Crime, Infrastructure

82nd Avenue Traffic Citation Cameras

On June 24th, crews installed a new intersection safety camera system to monitor southbound traffic on 82nd Avenue at E Burnside Street. The next day, workers returned to add two new camera systems at NE Glisan Street and 82nd Avenue. Those will focus on traffic traveling northbound and westbound. After a short testing period around September, motorists running red lights or speeding past these automated devices will receive a citation in the mail.

In 2023, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced plans to expand the camera-based citation infrastructure along high-crash streets and intersections. This expanded program is part of PBOT’s commitment to using available tools to reduce traffic fatalities. “These devices have virtually eliminated top-end speeding on corridors across Portland within weeks after their deployment,” explained PBOT representative Dylan Rivera.

Although fines generate revenue, Oregon law directs around 70% of the net income from automated citations to the State, funding the Criminal Fine Account. The speed camera enforcement program has not generated revenue for PBOT since it began eight years ago. City of Portland retained fines currently pay for installing and operating the cameras. Regulations require Portland to spend any future earnings from this automated citation system on traffic safety programs or improvements, and collected funds will not help with PBOT’s budget constraints.

Rivera said all timelines for camera activation are tentative, but PBOT expects these new 82nd Avenue cameras to begin issuing citations in October. He explained that recent damage to other camera systems currently in operation has only added to activation uncertainty. “That timeline will likely shift as we continue to see vandalism and other issues impacting our timelines for delivering these crucial safety improvements.” Portland’s network of cameras across the city recently suffered damage at the hands of a shooter who targeted these devices. Police apprehended a suspect in the case who stands accused of causing over $500,000 in damage to more than a dozen traffic control cameras across the city.

Although authorities are not yet issuing citations based on information from the new camera systems, their appearance will not change when activated, and they could begin issuing fines without further warning. Drivers should treat intersection safety cameras as active and obey posted traffic rules, or risk receiving a mailed citation. PBOT lists current and planned cameras on its Vision Zero website.

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 directly online. 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, Construction, Infrastructure

New Lamp Poles at Montavilla Park

Recently, crews working with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) replaced ten lamp posts and ornamental fixtures in Montavilla Park at 8219 NE Glisan Street. This work is part of the PP&R Light Pole Safety Project, which grew out of public objection to the program’s first iteration, which planned to remove 244 light posts in twelve parks without sufficient funds for replacement. Since May 6th, lighting installers have concentrated efforts in Mt. Tabor Park, replacing 88 old and unstable lights. 

On February 22nd, 2023, PP&R began the removal of potentially dangerous light poles in City parks. Engineers determined that some older cast-concrete light poles in Portland Parks have structural anchoring issues that could pose life and safety hazards to the public. This project had limited funding, with just two parks expected to receive new lights within 16 months. Affected parks would have closed at 10:00 p.m., with Park Rangers frequently visiting at night to compensate for the dangers caused by the poorly illuminated facilities. Before citizen groups could mobilize, PP&R crews removed lights in Mount Scott Park, Sellwood Park, and Sellwood Riverfront Park. The maintenance worker’s quick action and the public’s short notice caused anger in the community. 

Within weeks of announcing the Light Pole Safety Project, several community groups asked PP&R leaders and City elected officials to halt the removal and reconsider the process. Among them, Montavilla’s neighborhood coalition Southeast Uplift sent a letter signed by 23 community-based organizations. The letter requested the City find funding to restore all lighting it had or planned to remove. It also asked PP&R to postpone further light removal until they procured replacement units and engaged the community in the replacement lighting process.

At the April 5th, 2023, Portland City Council session, the Mayor and all four Commissioners approved an amended contract with McKinstry Essention for energy savings performance contracting services, including funding for new park lights. PP&R halted light pole removal and sourced replacement lighting that met the community’s requests for replacement.   

Example of old fixture on the left with a new one on the right in Montavilla Park

The new lamp posts feature a similar design and use LED lights that are 66% more efficient than the nearly 100-year-old units they are replacing. Vendors fitted new fixtures with a shield to direct light towards park pathways, lessening light pollution in the night sky caused by upward illumination. Additionally, circuitry in the lights ensures limited operation from dusk to dawn, saving energy while providing nighttime safety. PP&R says they selected new light poles and fixtures to replicate the previous ones as closely as possible. The replica fixtures are objectively equivalent in design, and most parkgoers will not notice a difference other than the new poles look cleaner and more substantial. The fixture connects to the cast concrete pole with the same vertical straps cinched in place with four metal bands. The spacing of each element exactly matches the older version’s proportions. The lamp’s glass-paneled housing differs slightly from the past fixtures seen in Montavilla Park. However, not all park lamp posts are of the same vintage, and the new poles lean towards the classic design found in many older parks. In this instance, Montavilla Park’s lamp posts will better match the neighboring parks.

PP&R will continue to replace the light pole in Mt. Tabor Park through May and then work on the remaining two parks. If the project keeps on schedule, crews will install nine new poles at Lair Hill Park in June, with four units replaced at Ladd Circle Park in August. A year after community groups moved to action, residents are seeing the results of their advocacy, just in time for a season of warm summer night strolls. 

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.

Construction, Infrastructure

SE 82nd Lane Closure for Clinton Crossing

Recently, crews working at SE 82nd Avenue and SE Clinton Street closed the outer southbound lane, repurposing the center turn lane to maintain capacity. This work is related to the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) bundle of 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes. Crews will install a pedestrian half signal, a continuous protected concrete median refuge island, updated curb ramps, and new marked crosswalks. Work will also require limited road reconstruction down to its base layer near the intersection. When completed, road infrastructure at the intersection will prohibit left turns.

This project is less than 500 feet from the fully signalized intersection at SE 82nd Avenue and Division Street but 700 feet from the next signalized intersection at SE Woodward Street. Since Portland City Council adopted the PedPDX update to Portland’s Pedestrian Master Plan in 2019, PBOT began installing marked crossings roughly 800 feet apart on major streets. Engineers place marked crosswalks closer together at around every 530 feet for designated Pedestrian Districts like the Jade District, adding median refuge islands, Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB), and signals as needed. “Clinton Street was identified early on in our planning process as a desirable location to fill this gap, being the closest intersection to the mid-point between the two existing crossings, and the closest to meeting the 530-foot guideline, and being a four-way intersection that serves a larger area of the neighborhood on both sides of 82nd Avenue,” explained PBOT representative Hannah Schafer.

Graphic from 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes 60% Draft Concept Design, January 2024. Courtesy PBOT

City planners also chose this location for improvements based on future projects planned along SE Clinton Street. This crossing will eventually lead to an affordable housing development planned for the former Canton Grill site at the northeast corner, and the street will receive upgrades as part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project. “An upcoming funded project will be paving some gravel blocks of Clinton Street just east of 82nd Avenue and adding sidewalks that will connect to this new signalized crossing,” remarked Schafer. She noted that this crossing was the site of a 2015 traffic fatality, along with several other non-deadly crashes involving pedestrians struck by motorists, elevating the need for safety upgrades at this intersection.

The Half Signals selected for this project stop vehicle traffic on 82nd Avenue. This equipment works similarly to RRFB signalized crossings. People request the light by pressing a button when ready to cross. However, instead of activating flashing amber lights, drivers see a stoplight, clearly halting traffic so pedestrians can cross. In addition to signals and a continuous protected concrete median refuge island that prohibits left turns, contractors working for PBOT will construct enhanced stormwater inlets and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant corner ramps at SE 82nd Avenue and SE Clinton Street. 

Since April 23rd, construction at the site closed the southbound number 72 TriMet Bus stop (ID 7948). The stop will reopen in early May. Drivers should anticipate continued construction at this intersection in the next few months, blocking various traffic lanes on 82nd Avenue and closing SE Clinton Street access from 82nd Avenue as work requires. 

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 directly online. 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, Construction, Government, Infrastructure

82nd Ave and East Portland TIF Exploration

Over the next 30 years, more property tax dollars collected in parts of East Portland could go directly towards projects in that geography. If evaluators recommend new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) expansion to Portland City Council later this year, Portland could gain new TIF Districts along 82nd Avenue, East of Interstate 205, and in the Parkrose-Columbia Corridor. In 2023, Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio’s office convened an East Portland TIF Exploration Steering Committee to identify three possible TIF locations. That work progressed to the next phase of investigation in November 2023 with the formation of working groups charged with creating TIF boundaries, guiding principles, and permissible project lists. Those groups of community members, organization leaders, and business people must also communicate with the people in the affected area to determine if a TIF District is the right project funding tool for each proposed District. Community members can learn more about TIF and voice their opinions at TIF Open Houses this May.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a funding tool for physical improvements to a specific geographic area. Although funding comes from people’s property tax payments in that District, it does not raise tax rates on its own. Instead, it freezes the portion of the taxes sent to the County and City at its current level and then diverts any increases to a special fund that TIF Districts can use for projects in the area where those funds were collected. Because of Ballot Measure 50 passed by voters in 1996, property tax increases are mostly capped at three percent annually. The City can issue bonds based on that expected three percent TIF District income, providing capital for projects in the District years ahead of collection. TIF has the benefit of reserving a segment of tax dollars for use in the community where it’s collected instead of spreading all tax funds across all areas of the City. Portland also dedicates 45 percent of funds collected towards affordable housing, a policy that has led to TIF districts now supporting 47 percent of Portland’s affordable housing units. Even with those upsides, forming a TIF District has the potential to cause harm to communities and has displaced people for decades under another name, Urban Renewal.

Past Urban Renewal projects used TIF District funds to fuel the destruction of communities across the country by demolishing “blighted” neighborhoods. The municipalities created new infrastructure and other public works in those areas, causing displacement and gentrification. The Albina neighborhood stands as a prime example from Portland’s past, where Urban Renewal displaced hundreds of Black families and businesses by creating Interstate 5 and other public projects where people once lived. However, even the relatively recent Interstate TIF District caused substantial displacement in the corridor surrounding the MAX Yellow line. Consequently, Prosper Portland adopted a new approach to implementing TIF Districts that relies on community guidance and early anti-displacement work. Portland’s newest TIF District in the Cully neighborhood spent nearly four years shaping a plan to fund projects meant to strengthen the existing residents while improving conditions. Approved in November 2022, the Cully TIF District is too young to prove this new model, and it will take years to see if it can meet all its goals. However, the three new TIF Districts under consideration will leverage the Cully work in an effort to create an equitable tool for funding improvements and provide community stabilization during a transformation already underway.

The issues around TIF District formation are complex. Past projects have shown that an improvement for some can cause injury to others, and it often disproportionately harms people from communities of color. It is essential that a variety of residents participate in conversations, learning about the positive impacts and helping shape risk mitigations that will prevent harm. Montavilla Residents can attend the May 6th meeting in The Orchards on 82nd building at 8118 Southeast Division Street from 6 to 8 p.m. or the May 9th meetings held in the African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO) building at 2110 SE 82nd Avenue. All three sessions are presented in English with translators available for Cantonese at 6:15 p.m., Vietnamese at 6:50 p.m., and Somali at 7:20 p.m. Attendees are asked to pre-register online for the Orchards meeting and the AYCO meeting. For people looking to attend on another day or are more invested in the East of I-205 TIF, there is an event on Saturday, May 11th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Gethsemane Lutheran Church at 11560 SE Market Street. People can request translation services when registering online.

Update: Added additional meeting information for May 6th event.

Article by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Ave TIF Working Group. It is a unpaid volunteer position. However, participants can receive honorariums for attending each meeting that have a cash value. Montavilla News does not endorse candidates, ballot measures, or government initiatives. The Authors participation in this Working Group and votes should not be considered the opinion of this publication.

Community, Event

The 2024 82nd Avenue Parade

On April 27th, the 18th Annual 82nd Avenue Parade entrants marched down SE 82nd Avenue. Elected officials, community groups, and organizations started the precession from Eastport Plaza Shopping Center, heading north towards SE Yamhill Street. Hundreds of community members lined the streets to watch the 90-minute event, cheering and clapping. Portland Police and event organizers cleared barricades by 11 a.m., reopening the busy street to cars. However, attendees lingered on the sidewalk for a while longer, filling the pedestrian realm on 82nd Avenue to a degree not seen since last year’s parade.

Event organizer Nancy Chapin remarked that it has never rained on this parade. Drops only started to fall after the precession moved off 82nd Avenue, securing another dry year of community celebration. Organizers hope to increase parade fundraising efforts to bring back the event’s live stream for those unable to make it in person.

List of registered parade participants (in order of appearance)

  • City of Portland Police Bureau – East Precinct – Commander Jake Jensen
  • Parade Banner presenters
  • Troop 24 (BSA boy troop) and 5024 (BSA girls troop)
  • Grand Marshals
  • The Royal Rosarians
  • Portland Rose Society
  • Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757
  • Portland Rose Festival Foundation
  • Ascension Catholic Church
  • TenBridge Partners/ The BlackPearl Friesian Dance Troupe
  • Montavilla Farmers Market
  • 56th Army Band
  • Mysti Krewe of Nimbus
  • Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio
  • PageantsNW Miss Oregon USA | Miss Oregon Teen USA
  • Past Queen & Princess
  • Saint Anthony Catholic Church
  • Beneficial State Bank
  • White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance
  • Portland Commissioner Mingus Mapps
  • Portland Winterhawks Booster Club
  • Madison South NA
  • SEI King SUN School Drill Team
  • Chelsea McManus with MORE Realty and Aidan Keller with Guild Mortgage
  • East Portland Rotary Clubs
  • Portland Raging Grannies
  • Rip City Scooter Collective
  • Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers
  • Portland Skyliners Tall club
  • Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez
  • KC Cars Inc.
  • Military Vehicle Collectors Club of Oregon
  • PCC Gateway to College & Yes to College
  • Kim’s Taekwon-Do
  • Squares of Warmth
  • SEI Kalros PDX Sun School Drill Team
  • State Representative Thuy Tran and Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards
  • Portland Ghostbusters
  • Portland Lees Assocation Dragon & Lion Dance Team
  • Oregon Walks
  • Kellogg Middle School Marching Band
  • Portland Peace Corps Association
  • Free Arts NW
  • United Way of the Columbia-Willamette
  • House of Prayer for All Nations
  • Holgate Library
  • Comparsa Orgollo Morelence Cemiac
  • Impala Car Club
  • AMR

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Oregonian/OregonLive Coverage

Business Relocating, Food and Drink, New Business

Dollhouse Espresso Opens on SE 82nd

In Late March, Dollhouse Espresso opened its bikini coffee stand at 1133 SE 82nd Avenue and has served caffeinated drinks to drive-through customers every day since. Owner Jessica Cody bought the cart with donations from supporters interested in seeing a woman-owned stand that would create a safe space for the people working there. Although barista attire is a theme of the cart, Cody and her staff strive to deliver well-made coffee, tasty food, and friendly service for all customers.

Jessica Cody has worked as a dancer and bartender for several years. She continues to do that work to help support this new business, some days working from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. the next day. However, it was her work abroad that gave her a true passion for coffee service. “I used to live in Australia before the pandemic on a working visa. I lived there for about two years, and I managed a really great coffee shop in Perth. That’s where I learned how to make good, authentic coffee,” Cody recalled. That experience and an Australian influence shape some of the drinks on the menu. “I’m bringing a little bit of my experience there, out here, with the style of coffee that I make,” said Cody. “I have normal coffee, and I also do things like Aussie iced coffee, which is iced coffee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. That’s a staple drink in Australia.”

The Aussie iced coffee is not the only sweet thing on the menu. “I also have real cotton candy and cool candies, different things to make our drinks a unique and cool experience. It’s a lot of fun,” said Cody. The shop also offers traditional breakfast items, including muffins and a French toast breakfast sandwich. On the savory side, Dollhouse Espresso can sell guests egg and cheese, ham and cheese, or sausage breakfast sandwiches. Cody is particularly proud of their feta cheese and spinach brioche wraps. Because of the limited space and a need for fast service, all food is prepared by a partner kitchen in Washington State and heated to serve in the stand on SE 82nd Avenue.

Bikini coffee has a varied history in the Pacific Northwest, and Jessica Cody was an early employee in that industry before moving to Australia. Through that tumultuous experience, she developed her idea for a respectful woman-run business. “I had a very bad experience working at a bikini coffee stand when I first did it years ago. It was called Dream Girls,” recalled Cody. The former owner of Dream Girls now faces charges of sexual abuse and rape, along with other crimes reportedly committed against some of his employees. Cody felt Dollhouse Espresso was an opportunity to come back to bikini coffee from that experience and create a safe place for this type of service. Many of the people working there are her friends, and she operates the stand similar to an employee-run shop.

Part of Cody’s vision for Dollhouse Espresso is to make people feel respected inside and outside the cart. “I feel like we are friendly and welcoming enough for everybody, any part of the community. I try to hire women of all different shapes, sizes, and colors,” said Cody. The organization is LGBTQ-friendly, and Cody says families come through often. “I try to make it exciting for everybody,” explained Cody.

The path to opening this new business has not been without issues and false starts. Dollhouse Espresso opened last year in Vancouver, Washington, operating for just three months. Cody said the landlord raised the rent on her with little notice and caused property damage when she did not pay the increase. In 2024, she had to relocate and regroup. Having lived in the Montavilla during her youth and working in some nearby businesses, this location on SE 82nd felt appropriate for the stand’s long-term home. “The demographics seem great for what I’m trying to do here, especially for girls being in bikinis,” said Cody. So far, customers are responding well to the new location, and Dollhouse Espresso is seeing consistent business. Expanding to more areas is not out of the question for Cody. However, she will focus on building this location into its best version before considering taking on more work.

The shop is currently open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, but Cody is considering plans to start opening early at 5 a.m. on Monday through Saturday in the near future. The stand can support two drive-through windows, and Cody hopes to reconfigure the cart’s placement to open up that second window. Walk-ups and bicyclists are welcome, but the staff recommends drive-through visits for the safest experience because the stand is in a parking lot.

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.

Construction, Infrastructure

Utility Work on SE 82nd and Ash

Road crews again closed sections of SE Ash Street at 82nd Avenue this week as they service underground utilities and demolished a pedestrian refuge island. The round of work that started March 5th clears the way for substantial improvements to the protected pedestrian crossing at this intersection, replacing older infrastructure with a larger raised median that contains space for street trees or other plantings. The new mid-street structure will offer pedestrian cutouts for at-grade crossings from both corners of SE Ash Street, but it will now prevent drivers from turning left and prohibit cars from traveling through the intersection on SE Ash Street.

Contractors working for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) cut through the road surface at this intersection on Tuesday and removed the existing pedestrian refuge island. Soon, workers will install the currently staged sewer pipe underground, replacing the aging infrastructure in this area. In January, NW Natural Gas reworked pipes ahead of this median installation project. All utility companies must update their subsurface lines before the new above-ground concrete infrastructure potentially blocks access or causes interference.

PBOT provided design document

This project is part of the 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes collection of safety improvements underway across 82nd Avenue. PBOT recently released its 60% Draft Concept Design for the 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project, which will add more raised medians, sidewalks, and street trees along 82nd Avenue. People interested in learning more or providing comments can attend a March 13th McDaniel High School hosted meeting at 2735 NE 82nd Avenue or complete an online survey. People traveling through SE Ash Street at 82nd Avenue should anticipate temporary lane closures and detours.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the Building a Better 82nd Community Advisory Group

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.

Construction, Infrastructure

82nd Ave 60% Draft Concept Design

Update Feb 29th, 2024: PBOT scheduled two in-person events to present the project’s 60% design refinements and collect public comment. Details are provided below and available online for the March 4th and March 13th meetings.

Article originally published February 1st, 2024

In late January, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) released its 60% Draft Concept Design for the 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project, which includes $55 million in improvements to the former State Highway. This collection of road and sidewalk reconstruction work will deliver many safety upgrades to the high-crash corridor and provide approximately 250 new trees to an area that suffers from the heat island effect.

For PBOT staff, the 60% designed phase represents a significant milestone for a project. At this point, many of the streetscape attributes are outlined and placed on the map. The transportation bureau has hosted many public meetings with community members and organizations. Then, following the group and individual outreach, staff reworked proposals to adjust design concepts to accommodate access needs. However, this advancement in the planning process does still allow for changes. PBOT encourages people to participate in an informative survey or the two in-person meetings in February and March. City staff will schedule those meetings soon and ask people to visit the project website for updates.

SE 82nd Ave at SE Mill. Image courtesy PBOT

The 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project spans five miles, and the ten-page design document provides an annotated scrolling map view of the work area. It indicates the placement of raised median islands, separators, and signal equipment upgrades. The document marks spaces for tree planting or other foliage with green dots and lighter green lines. Later design work by PBOT will determine the final number of trees planted and the botanical space created. Crews working on this project will build or upgrade 15,000 feet of sidewalk on 82nd Avenue or adjacent side streets and update or replace 200 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps.

Drivers will benefit from the repaving of two segments totaling 2.5 miles of smoother asphalt. Crews will replace the street surface from NE Siskiyou to Schuyler streets and SE Mill Street to SE Foster Road. Crews will completely rebuild the outer two travel lanes in these segments. Most of 82nd Avenue has insufficient base layer support for heavy traffic on the curbside lanes. Historically, they supported street parking, and engineers did not anticipate the current four-travel-lane design.

SE 82nd Ave at SE Harrison. Image courtesy PBOT

Montavilla residents will see a small portion of the repaving planned in this work cycle. However, several in-street elements and sidewalk work will occur in the Neighborhood. Around 200 feet of SE Mill Street east of SE 82nd Avenue will receive new pavement and sidewalks with street trees. PBOT plans to rebuild the sidewalk across 82nd Avenue from the Portland Community College SE campus, connecting to a newly protected mid-block crossing. The enhanced raised center median will have space for street trees and other plantings, allowing roots to spread beyond the confines of typical tree wells. PBOT recently expanded unpaved sections of street median throughout the project in this recent design, making way for better planting zones and reducing the heat radiating from concrete.

SE 82nd Ave at PCC SE Campus. Image courtesy PBOT

PBOT’s designs for the 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project provide better driving conditions for drivers, but the majority of work centers on improving conditions for those outside a car. In some places where travel lanes on 82nd Avenue are wider than needed, the transportation bureau intends to extend sidewalks in the roadway and plant street trees. Some design elements reduce opportunities for left-hand turns, aggregating them in safe, predictable locations. Crews will rebuild or replace traffic signals and paint high-visibility crosswalks at many intersections. Cyclists and pedestrians should benefit from more places to safely cross 82nd Avenue, while people traveling along the roadway will have more shade and space away from traffic.

SE 82nd Ave at SE Clinton. Image courtesy PBOT

Crews will complete this phase of work by the end of 2026, but it does not represent the entirety of upgrades planned for this area. The City is developing many more projects related to the jurisdictional transfer of 82nd Avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation to PBOT. That process came with $185 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, PBOT, and State transportation budgets. City Council will vote on approval for the 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project this spring, with construction starting after receiving that final endorsement. People can take the survey through March 31st and participate in the in-person events when PBOT staff schedule them.

Update: PBOT scheduled the in person meetings

By

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the Building a Better 82nd Community Advisory Group

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.

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

Happy Lemon Opening in Fubonn

A new Happy Lemon tea shop will open in the Fubonn Shopping Center within the next few months. The former insurance agency storefront at 2850 SE 82nd Avenue, Suite 8, will transform into a brightly colored tea and bubble waffle restaurant offering dine-in tables and counter service. When it opens, it will be the fourth store in the Portland Metro area and the only location on the east side of the Willamette River.

Rendering of Happy Lemon store courtesy Jian Xu

Happy Lemon franchise owner Jian Xu became a fan of the brand after discovering their Bridgeport Village location during a search for flavors from Xu’s childhood. “Lemon tea is one of the most popular drinks in China because it’s tasty and refreshing. Growing up in China, my friends and I would always grab a lemon tea after school. The drink would make us feel energized and cool us down in the hot weather. When I moved here, I couldn’t find good lemon tea until I found out about Happy Lemon,” explained Xu. In addition to its Fresh Lemon line of tea flavors, Happy Lemon is known for its Salted Cheese tea and hexagon-shaped bubble waffles. The company also features classic milk tea with boba variants.

Rendering of Happy Lemon store courtesy Jian Xu

Since 2006, Happy Lemon has grown its network of franchise locations across Taiwan, Mainland China, and Hong Kong. By 2014, they expanded globally with stores in 21 countries, including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Dubai, and the United States. Xu decided to open this new Happy Lemon at Fubonn because it is centrally located and well-known by the community. “I want to bring it closer and share it with everyone here in Portland,” remarked Xu.

The new Happy Lemon sits in an externally accessed storefront to the right of the main Fubonn entrance. Xu expects to open by late April. However, it is still under construction, and buildout delays could shift that date. When ready, the Fubonn Happy Lemon location will greet guests daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Expect to see updates about the official opening date in April.

By

Jacob Loeb

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