Tag: Metro

Infrastructure July 10, 2024

I84 Weekend Cleanup Closure

This weekend, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close a five-mile section of Interstate 84 between Interstate 5 and Interstate 205. The 13-hour overnight closure will last from 11 p.m. Saturday, July 13th to noon Sunday, July 14th. Vehicle traffic in both directions must detour around the freeway for east-west travel, potentially adding more cars onto Montavilla Streets. Union Pacific Railroad and TriMet will also suspend most rail usage through Sullivan’s Gulch, clearing the way for crews to remove graffiti and accumulated trash safely.

Around 100 workers from six agencies—ODOT, Union Pacific Railroad, TriMet, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Metro, and Multnomah County—will address graffiti and trash in this hard-hit section that is difficult to clean. The number of overlapping jurisdictions through Sullivan’s Gulch complicates most regular maintenance activities. Consequentially, cleanup efforts are infrequent, attracting people camping who are looking to avoid sweeps and taggers who prize long-lasting displays of their mark.

All on-ramps leading to I-84 will be closed during this work. ODOT crews will also prohibit northbound I-5 travel over the Marquam Bridge, with traffic diverted onto northbound Interstate 405. That overnight closure will allow workers to carry out bridge maintenance. The Morrison Bridge and North Weidler Street ramps to northbound I-5 will remain open. PBOT crews plan to clean their I-84 corridor crossing during this time. Crews will work west to east, starting with the Congressman Earl Blumenauer Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge. Cleaning work will then address blight on the NE 12th Avenue, NE 21st Avenue, and NE 28th Avenue crossings. Work could potentially clean bridges farther east into the Montavilla area if time allows. PBOT crews will close the bridges to traffic one at a time as they deploy large trucks and specialized equipment. This phased work will further disrupt traffic overnight and into the morning. Bus routes will not have to detour around closures, but operators will drive slowly through the work sites, adding to travel times.

*_{NE Glisan Street traffic jamb on June 14th during crash closure of I-84}*

Drivers should check TripCheck.com for real-time traffic information during the closure, with ODOT suggesting that motorists use I-205 or local roads to detour around the work site. TriMet shuttle buses will move riders around Sunday’s partial-day closure between the Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and NE 7th Ave stations. Transit workers may need additional time to resume MAX service once I-84 has reopened, as crews will need to reenergize the system.

Although the closure focuses on cleaning, ODOT crews may perform electrical work and sign maintenance. Workers could also patch pavement, clean drains, and make other repairs that require a full closure. Funding provided by the Oregon Legislature during their 2024 session helped increase ODOT efforts to remove graffiti, clean up trash, and restore areas damaged along the side of the road. This project is part of the multiagency efforts to restore Portland to a cleaner and safer condition. Officials timed this closure to have the most negligible impact on travel. However, people should anticipate some delays and use caution when driving near road crews.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Community, Infrastructure May 7, 2024

Faster 72 Bus Service May Have Fewer Stops

On April 25th, the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Steering Committee voted to approve three project components for new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service along 82nd Avenue. Transportation leaders began investigating a second TriMet Frequent Express (FX) service in June 2022. They convened a Project Steering Committee of elected officials, agency leaders, and community representatives to ensure the project meets the corridors’ needs. This new BRT project could replace the north-south segment of the 72 bus line, adding enhanced bus stations and increasing the travel speed of this highly used transit option. Last month’s vote approved BRT as the transit mode, service route, and general bus station locations for this speeder service. However, one speed-increasing tactic shown in the draft map condenses 54 stops down to 31 stations, impacting some riders who will lose their preferred boarding location. TriMet ridership data predicts this project will enhance ride efficiency for the majority of the people using this route while providing similar access to the residents who rely on it for transit.

The approved route will predominately run along 82nd Avenue, turning east towards Clackamas Town Center at the line’s southern terminus. The project team is considering two options for the north end, which will serve the Cully neighborhood near the Cully Boulevard and Killingsworth Street intersection or the Parkrose Transit Center. This selection could add two or four more stations to the 72 FX Line. Before voting, Transit Project Steering Committee member Zachary Lauritzen with Oregon Walks voiced public apprehension over losing bus stops on the 72 Line, echoing other Steering Committee members’ similar concerns expressed throughout the evaluation process. Lauritzen called for infrastructure enhancements to accompany this BRT expansion so people needing to travel longer distances to the new stations could do so over modern, accessible sidewalks. TriMet notes that they spaced draft stations roughly one-third of a mile apart and said that even if the new FX line is not approved, some 72 bus stop pruning is needed along the route to remove underutilized and redundant locations.

Portland has one other FX line along SE Division Street, intersecting the proposed BRT line at SE 82nd Avenue. The FX service primarily uses longer articulated green buses to accommodate higher ridership levels. Vehicles arrive at stations frequently and communicate with the traffic equipment to change signals in their favor, reducing overall travel time. Stations offer near bus height boarding and multi-door payment systems for faster loading of passengers. Stations often extend into the road to meet the travel lane, allowing busses to stop without needing to merge back into traffic. TriMet and Portland’s traffic engineers designate segments of the outer travel lane for dedicated Business Access and Transit (BAT) use in some areas. Some of these FX 2 features could appear on this new line. The final design will happen after the group finalizes the agreed-upon project components, collectively called the locally preferred alternative (LPA).

The 82nd Avenue Transit Project team will continue to evaluate the two northern route options over the summer while meeting with organizations to align the BRT design with community needs and priorities. As the year comes to a close, project planners will develop conceptual designs and cost estimates, leading to a funding plan that will accompany the final LPA. The 82nd Avenue BRT project would require substantial Federal funding to proceed past planning, along with support from local government. If this project precedes on schedule, construction could begin in 2027, with the 72 FX Line opening in 2030. Oregon Metro created a summary of the process up to this point and should offer more opportunities for community input later in 2024.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

72 Bus Line Stops in Project Area

Clackamas Town Center Transit Center
Clackamas Town Center Mall
SE 82nd and Causey
SE 82nd and Boyer Drive
SE 82nd and King
10100 Block SE 82nd
SE 82nd and Overland
SE 82nd and Lindy
SE 82nd and Clatsop
SE 82nd and Crystal Springs
SE 82nd and Lambert
SE 82nd and Flavel
SE 82nd and Ogden
SE 82nd and Glenwood
SE 82nd and Duke
SE 82nd and Tolman
SE 82nd and Woodstock
SE 82nd and Ramona
SE 82nd and Foster
SE 82nd and Raymond Ct
SE 82nd and Schiller
SE 82nd and Holgate
SE 82nd and Boise
SE 82nd and Francis
SE 82nd and Rhone
SE 82nd and Powell
SE 82nd and Tibbetts
SE 82nd and Woodward
SE 82nd and Clinton
SE 82nd and Division
SE 82nd and Harrison
SE 82nd and Mill
SE 82nd and Hawthorne
SE 82nd and Salmon
SE 82nd and Yamhill
SE 82nd and Washington
SE 82nd and Stark
SE 82nd and Ash
SE 82nd and E Burnside
NE 82nd and Davis
NE 82nd and Glisan
NE 82nd and Oregon
NE 82nd and Holladay
NE 82nd and Multnomah
NE 82nd and 82nd Ave MAX Stn/I-84
NE 82nd and Schuyler
NE 82nd and Tillamook
NE 82nd and Sacramento
NE 82nd and McDaniel HS
NE 82nd and Siskiyou
NE 82nd and Klickitat
NE 82nd and Fremont
NE 82nd and Beech
NE 82nd and Sandy

Proposed 72 FX Stop After Change

Clackamas Town Center Transit Center
Clackamas Town Center
SE Causey Ave and SE 82nd Ave
South of SE Boyer Dr and SE 82nd Ave
SE King Rd and SE 82nd Ave
SE Otty Rd and SE 82nd Ave
SE Overlond St and SE 82nd Ave
SE Lindy St and SE 82nd Ave
SE Crystal Springs Blvd and SE 82nd Ave
ES Flavel St and ES 82nd Ave
SE Bybee and SE 82nd Ave
SE DukeStand SE 82nd Ave
SE Woodstock St and SE 82nd Ave
SE Foster Rd and SE 82nd Ave
SE Raymond St and SE 82nd Ave
SE Holgate Blvd and SE 82nd Ave
SE Boise Si and SE 82nd Ave
SE Powell Blvd and SE 82nd Ave
SE Woodward St and SE 82nd Ave
SE Division St and SE 82nd Ave
SE MLli St and SE 82nd Ave
SE Taylor Ct and SE 82nd Ave
SE Stark/Washington St and NE 82nd Ave
E Burnside St and NE 82nd Ave
NE Gisan St and NE 82nd Ave
NE Holladay St and NE 82nd Ave
I-84 and NE 82nd Ave
NE Tillamook St and NE 82nd Ave
McDaniel High School and NE 82nd Ave
NE Fremont St and NE 82nd Ave
NE Sandy Blvd and NE 82nd Ave

Community, Construction, New Business March 3, 2024

IRCO Free Preschool at Glisan Landing

As construction crews work four stories high on two affordable housing projects at Glisan Landing, developers are planning a third building on the site. Recently, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) received conditional use approval for a new single-story preschool spanning a mid-block lot from NE 74th to 75th Avenues. The two-classroom building provides a buffer between the large multifamily buildings on NE Glisan Street and the single-family housing located south of the project while serving a vital community need.

*_{Sitemaps from Land Use 23-073813 Case file}*

The proposed IRCO Early Learning Center will serve 36 to 40 students in a new 2,784-square-foot building. Preschool classes feature developmentally appropriate and culturally specific books, toys, and curriculum. The nonprofit organization will offer no-cost tuition for up to 40 families. This new facility follows IRCO’s work with a similar Multicultural Preschool in Washington County. IRCO will not limit student spaces to children living in Glisan Landing units but anticipates many families from the apartment complex will utilize their services.

*_{Rendering from Land Use 23-073813 Case file showing building from NE 74th Ave}*

In addition to the two classrooms, the building offers a lobby, staff break room, office, kitchen, restrooms, and storage space. The building’s trapezoidal-shaped roof overhangs the base structure, covering portions of the outdoor play area at each end of the preschool. A continuous tree line along the southern property boundary creates a green buffer for residents living in the adjacent homes. A nine-bed community garden on the site’s NE 74th Avenue frontage will also provide more green space buffers. Glisan Landing residents will directly access the preschool property through a passageway from the complex’s central courtyard.

*_{Rendering from Land Use 23-073813 Case file showing building from NE 75th Ave}*

The preschool building sits on its own lot owned by IRCO Glisan Preschool LLC and is not directly related to Glisan Landing. However, IRCO’s common ownership stake in both buildings will complement the culturally specific wraparound services offered to families living in the neighboring Aldea apartments. This section of the former Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) site that Oregon Metro acquired for affordable housing exists in a Residential 2,500 (R2.5) zone. Developers could not extend the four-story building created in a Commercial Mixed Use 2 (CM2) zone onto this parcel, creating an opportunity for a low-scale supportive use. This usage as a garden and daycare facility fits with the zoning standards for this land and helps transition the scale of the buildings from two-story single-family homes to a four-story development.

*_{IRCO Executive Director Lee Po Cha during Glisan Landing’s groundbreaking ceremony}*

The land use review focused on an exception to the 15-foot landscape buffer required between institutional operations and residences. IRCO will provide a compliant hedge and tree screen but plans to build a 4-foot-wide maintenance pathway from a back door on the south side of the building to NE 75th Avenue in that buffer zone. That pathway would usually not comply with standards. In January, the Hearings Officer concluded that IRCO’s plans would meet the screening standards and approved the project to move forward to permitting.

*_{Future preschool site filled with construction equipment}*

The IRCO Glisan Preschool site is currently used for construction staging by crews working on Glisan Landing. Work on the site’s third building will begin after the housing projects are further along. When completed, it will provide an active daytime use and a quiet evening buffer for residents living south of NE Glisan’s mixed-use developments. Expect more information on this building and its programming after crews break ground in the coming months.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community January 27, 2024

Extra Compost Pickup Allowed

Due to the winter storm earlier this month, many garbage companies could not perform regular collections. To catch up for that missed work, haulers skipped compost collection the following week. Understanding that some people will have three weeks of uncollected organic material and tree limbs broken free from the storm, during the week of January 29th to February 22nd, customers who have not had compost picked up in two weeks can set out three times as much for no extra charge.

Customers who have more yard waste than can fit in your curbside compost bin can use yard waste bags, extra bins, or bundles. A bag or container should not exceed 32 gallons and 45 pounds. Bundled branches must be shorter than three feet, no thicker than four inches, and tied securely with non-metallic string or twine. People should place bags, cans, or bundles next to their green compost bin for easy identification.

People looking to dispose of larger and heavier items must contact their hauler to determine the cost or work with a private recycler. Oregon Metro offers an online search option to find disposal options, or they can call 503-234-3000 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Community, New Business, View of Montavilla September 23, 2023

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.

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.

Construction, Demolition, New Residence June 10, 2023June 13, 2023

TBN Demolition Clears Way for Affordable Housing

This week, demolition crews began deconstructing the former Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) building at 432 NE 74th Avenue. Last month, crews removed asbestos and cleared large portions of the asphalt parking lot surrounding the old television studio. Next week, project participants and funders will gather to officially commence construction on the 137 units of affordable housing planned for this site.

Developers split the residences across a pair of four-story buildings. The combined site will contain a wide assortment of apartments, from studio units to four-bedroom homes. The first building under construction is named Beacon at Glisan Landing. The bar-shaped building offers 41 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless, low-income individuals earning at or below 30% Area Median Income (AMI). Catholic Charities of Oregon will own and operate this site with development support from Related Northwest.

As work is underway on the northwest corner of the expansive half-block property, crews will break ground on the second building called Aldea at Glisan Landing. That larger U-shaped building is co-owned by Related Northwest and Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). This structure will provide 96 apartments, with 41% of units available to people with a 30% AMI.

The Glisan Landing affordable housing development is part of a 2018 voter-approved Metro Housing Bond. Aldea and Beacon represent the sixth and seventh bond-created projects that put the regional housing effort on track to bring over 1,540 affordable homes to Portland, surpassing initial expectations. Ground floor commercial space included in these buildings will offer an onsite cafe with a culinary employment training program run by Stone Soup PDX.

*Rendering of Beacon at Glisan Landing* *courtesy Related Northwest*

These housing developments represent years of planning and community outreach with funding from Oregon Metro, Portland Housing Bureau, and Oregon Housing & Community Services. Over half the units offered in the Aldea building are family sizes with two, three, and four-bedroom homes available. Project planners made significant efforts to include onsite parking for residents, dedicating a large portion of the ground floor to vehicle storage. This design choice and other community-supporting amenities responded to neighbor requests. Construction crews expect to complete work on these buildings by May 2024. Expect temporary sidewalk closures and other building-related disruptions in the project area over the next 12 months.

*Glisan Landing Groundbreaking ceremony June 12th, 2023*

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article served on the Montavilla Neighborhood Association board during the community outreach phase of this project’s development and participated in some of those conversations.

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.

Infrastructure April 20, 2023

82nd Ave Online Open House

On April 19th, the three public agencies planning improvements to 82nd Avenue published an online open house presenting current roadwork plans and concepts for future projects. The resource site provides high-level information with links to more detailed resources. Construction begins this year and will run through 2030, shifting to different sections of the former state highway as work progresses.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), TriMet, and Oregon Metro collaborated on this new site, blending their community education initiatives. The information focuses on the physical road infrastructure and potential implementation of TriMet’s new FX express bus service, replacing the 72 line on 82nd Avenue. A group of site-wide survey questions allows open house participants to share their priorities for where some projects should focus the limited funds. Money for the road work stems from a 2022 agreement to transfer ownership of Portland’s section of 82nd Avenue from the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) stewardship to PBOT. A key requirement of that exchange was the $150 million commitment from the State of Oregon and a $35 million commitment from the City of Portland.

Although the committed funds seem significant, the allocated money is far less than needed to rebuild all the old and failing infrastructure that does not meet City standards. Federal funding provided $80 million of the State’s contribution, and the City must spend that money by 2026 or risk losing it. Consequentially, PBOT is already deploying those funds to address critical safety and maintenance projects that are shovel-ready. They include improved street lighting to fill in gaps where there is insufficient nighttime visibility. Repaving and reconstructing curb ramps to modern standards will occur throughout the corridor, along with new and upgraded crossings for pedestrians or bicycle riders. PBOT will construct median islands and traffic separators at select locations, and some intersections will gain new or enhanced traffic signals.

The remaining $105 million will go to projects still under consideration. PBOT will need to strategically deploy those funds to achieve the most effective safety and operational improvements on 82nd Avenue. Not all projects are made from cement, asphalt, and wires. Throughout the construction, project planners are looking for ways to incorporate trees and other landscaping to improve the environment and make it safer for people walking during high-temperature weather events. People interested in commenting on those projects should visit 82ndave.info and complete the more detailed survey released last month.

Outside of the 82nd Avenue jurisdictional transfer funding, TriMet wants to create FX express bus service to replace the 72 bus line. Similar to the Division FX transformation completed in 2022, the proposed rapid bus service will reduce stops to speed up travel times and have enhanced stations with near-boarding-height platforms to accommodate the longer articulated buses. This bus line adjustment would also change the northern terminus. Four different paths are under consideration, some as far north as the Portland International Airport. Designers are also considering dedicated lanes and signal priority changes to 82nd Avenue to get buses around car traffic.

Planning for these projects is happening now, even though residents and business owners may not see the changes for years. Planners invite all Portlanders to participate in the online Open House and sign up for project updates so they can provide further guidance as officials firm up the transformative changes. Participation in the planning process is the public’s best opportunity to shape the future of 82nd Avenue as it sheds its history as a former State Highway and becomes a city main street.

Jacob Loeb

Illustrations provided by PBOT

Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Avenue Business Association Board and the Building a Better 82nd Community Advisory Group

Community September 14, 2022March 25, 2023

Remembering Former Metro Councilor Bob Stacey

Robert E. Stacey, Montavilla’s elected representative on the Metro Council for over eight years, died September 8th at the age of 72. He resigned from his position a year ago due to further complications from a health condition. Metro Council appointed Duncan Hwang, a Director at the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), to the vacant 6th District seat in January. Councilor Hwang recently secured 68.7 percent of the vote during the 2022 primaries, allowing him to serve out the reaming years of Councilor Stacey’s term.

Bob Stacey came to Metro Council after a long career serving Oregon. His early work with 1000 Friends of Oregon secured the urban growth boundary, protecting farms and forests by limiting an endless suburban sprawl. He led Portland’s planning bureau from 1989 to 1993, and as an executive at TriMet, he helped plan the MAX Yellow and Red lines. Pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the MAX Orange Line at SE 14th Avenue do so via the Bob Stacey Overcrossing, named in his honor for decades of service to Portland. Stacey’s impact across the State was impressive, and the programs he supported within this neighborhood are ongoing.

Bob Stacey’s work with Metro touched many points within Montavilla. Most residents will associate his local efforts with the affordable housing project underway at 432 NE 74th Ave. However, councilor Duncan Hwang recounted several other impactful projects that his predecessor brought to the community. “Councilor Stacey did so much for livability for the entire region but also worked directly on projects in Montavilla, including advocating for the jurisdictional transfer of 82nd Ave to the City of Portland, improving neighborhood connectivity through the Jade Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project, and was a particular champion of the Jade District and APANO’s work in developing affordable housing and community spaces.”

Although holding an elected position, Bob Stacey focused more on his work for the community instead of building name recognition. Representative Earl Blumenauer expressed that sentiment after Stacey’s passing. “Oregon just lost the most important person that most people never heard of.” Despite the lack of public recognition for his work, those who continue his efforts recognize that they stand on his shoulders and vow to follow Stacy’s example of civic leadership. “Oregon lost a true leader, and I hope to carry on his vision for our region and legacy of public service as his successor at Metro,” stated Councilor Hwang.

Jacob Loeb

Images in this article are provided by Oregon Metro

Additional Resources:

Construction, New Residence August 31, 2022March 25, 2023

Affordable Housing Site Divides

On August 8th, Oregon Metro filed a Land Use Review application to re-plat the existing lots that currently comprise 432 NE 74th Avenue. This work will reshape the site to create distinct properties for each new low-income building planned for the site. Interested persons have until 5 p.m. on September 12th, 2022, to provide email comments to the Bureau of Development Services planner.

By early 2023, demolition crews will remove the former Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) building at the NE Glisan site. Once crews clear the old TV studio, the developer will begin constructing 137 units of affordable housing split between two four-story buildings. The development will contain a wide assortment of apartments ranging from studio to four-bedroom units. All housing created by this project will serve families and individuals earning 30% or 60% of Area Median Income (AMI).

*Site Map from re-plat application LU 22-128996 RP*

The smaller structure at the northwest corner of the site will offer 41 units of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) reserved for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), seniors, and people experiencing homelessness. This structure will occupy Parcel 1 of the re-platted property and cover most of the 11,016 square foot lot. Catholic Charities will provide case management and services to PSH tenants.

Parcel 2 will contain the larger “U” shaped building that provides the remaining 96 units of family-focused housing. Additionally, the 45,469 square feet lot will hold all site parking and courtyard amenities for the development. Management will reserve residences in this building for BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, and intergenerational families. Homes will range in floor space from 400 square feet to 1,200 square feet, with rents ranging from $507 to $1,616 per month. Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) will provide resident services at the family housing property.

*Glisan and 74th Affordable Housing project’s site plan*

Although the site will function harmoniously to meet affordable housing goals, each building has a specific focus and management organization that needs autonomy from each other. Separating the site into multiple parcels allows each facility to operate as an individual organization. Parcel 1 will become 7450 NE Glisan, and Parcel 2 will have the address of 451 NE 75th Avenue. Construction of each building could begin independently once this property division is approved. Expect to see this Land Use Review application approved within the next few months, ahead of the anticipated project ground-breaking in early 2023. The City has a website for those interested in following the project’s progress, and public comments will remain open for another twelve days.

Jacob Loeb

Community, Event August 22, 2022March 25, 2023

Jade District Dumpster Day Overwhelming Success

Saturday’s Jade District Dumpster Day and Solve Oregon cleanup attracted dozens of volunteers and a stream of vehicles dropping off large trash items. Within the first hour of operation, people filled 30-yard dumpsters at two drop-off sites. Instead of closing three hours early, the events coordinator, Alisa Kajikawa, picked up her phone and arranged for additional dumpsters. Before the day was done, yet another cycle of dumpsters rolled in to accommodate the overwhelming demand for trash disposal.

Kajikawa, the Jade District Manager, organized this one-day event with funds from Oregon Metro and support from the 82nd Avenue Business Association. The four-hour-long program included a community cleanup and open dumpster access for neighborhood disposal of bulky items.

Volunteers with Solve ventured out with 33-gallon carts to collect trash throughout the area and bring back items of all sizes to the primary dumpster site, located in the Unicorn Inn’s parking lot at 3040 SE 82nd Avenue. Nearby campers used shopping carts to roll in trash from their area and help clean up the streets.

*Jade District Manager Alisa Kajikawa and Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang stacking mattresses*

The dumpster on SE 82nd Avenue, and one on SE 92nd Avenue, were open to residents seeking a free place to dispose of items not collected through curbside trash pickup. Demand for dumpster use far exceeded expectations, and both sites eventually had to turn people away. Even after staff filled the five 30-yard trash containers to capacity, a stack of mattresses remained awaiting pickup by a recycler.

The dumpster demand seen over the weekend signals a great need in Portland for more events like the Jade District Dumpster Day. In 2020, The City canceled a long-running program that worked with Neighborhood Associations to host dumpster days across Portland. These events acted as an annual trash release valve that reduced the number of illegal dumps. Now groups like the Jade District are scrambling to find funding to meet the demand for trash disposal.

The original budget for the event only included funds for two dumpsters. The added cost of the three extra dumpsters will need to come from grant reserves and other funds within the organization. The success of the cleanup is measurable by the tonnage of rubbish collected. However, it barely makes a dent in Portland’s trash problem. Based on the demand seen Saturday and the piles of illegally dumped items across the City, an event like this could run every month for years without slowing down.

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article servers on the boards of the 82nd Avenue Business Association and Montavilla Neighborhood Association. He also volunteered at this event.

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