Tag: PCC

Community, Entertainment, Event, Food and Drink

Night Market Returns with Daytime Hours

After a three-year hiatus, the Jade International Night Market will return on Saturday, August 19th. The free event will take place within the Portland Community College (PCC) Southeast campus at 2305 SE 82nd Avenue from 1 to 9 p.m. Unlike other years, planners concentrated a two-evening event into a single day, creating an opportunity for more family-focused programming and accommodating a diversity of schedules.

The Jade International Night Market began in 2014, spanning four consecutive Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Fubonn Shopping Center parking lot. “From what I’ve been told was a huge success. So many people came out that they had to find another partner for space,” explained Jade District Community Development Manager Alisa Kajikawa. At the time, event coordinators estimated nearly 20,000 people attended the four-weekend markets. Jade District‘s Night Market moved to the PCC SE Campus the following year and consolidated the event dates to just two Saturday evenings in August from 5 to 10 p.m. The annual event kept the same cadence and location through 2019. After that, the pandemic halted gatherings, and the program lost its inertia.

The Jade International Night Market will return on a single date in 2023 for its seventh year. “Capacity-wise, we decided one day would be better for PCC and our planning, but also wanting to make it longer so that it could be a full-day event,” said Kajikawa. The format change has not dissuaded participation. Over 100 food vendors, retailers, and organizations have signed up for booths. Groups from all over Portland will participate, renting booths at this outdoor event. Kajikawa explained that the Night Market is a district promotion, so they provided subsidies for Jade District businesses to encourage local participation.

Onsite parking is free but limited. Walking, biking, and public transit are recommended for people visiting the Jade International Night Market. The number 72 bus and the FX 2 lines converge on this location. Outside of securing parking in the PCC parking lot, early attendance will improve an attendee’s chance of picking up several free items. To bolster the family attractions, guests can receive free face painting and balloon art from 1 to 5 p.m. During that same time, Portland Nursery will make supplies available to paint a small pot hosting one of 500 free plants. The Jade District will hand out 5000 paper fans from the information booth to keep people cool in the daytime heat. Kajikawa cautioned that all free activities and items are limited to supplies on hand and will probably run out before 5 p.m. 

Event organizers intend to make this year’s Market appealing to a broader range of attendees. The Night Market will be an alcohol and tobacco free event focused on food, crafts, information, and entertainment. The extended hours should allow more people to cycle through the booths without the crowding of previous Markets. Interested people should check the list of confirmed vendors below to plan their visit, noting that they can now eat both lunch and dinner thanks to the extended event.

By

Jacob Loeb

Images used in this article were provided courtesy of the Jade District

2023 Jade International Night Market Vendors

  • BBTEA JARS
  • A Pinch Of Magic Designs
  • All Burn Wax
  • Amza Superfoods
  • Art by Jenn
  • Beaverton Charburger
  • Big Dipper Art studio
  • BOBABLASTIC
  • Cambodian American Community of Oregon
  • Chan’s
  • Chinese Friendship Association of Portland
  • Chutneys Indian cuisine
  • City of Portland
  • City of Portland and Multnomah County Health Department
  • City of Portland, Bureau of Planning & Sustainability
  • Coco Donuts
  • Cosmic Monkey Comics
  • Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck
  • Crafts by Fina
  • Culture club fashion LLc
  • Da Grub Shack
  • Damsel in Defense
  • Edible Art by Natsuko
  • El Inka
  • Flood Safe Columbia River
  • Friends of Trees
  • Goldendale Boutique
  • Hacienda CDC
  • Hap Restaurant Inc
  • Henna by Rashmi
  • heo makes
  • Hestmark Designs
  • Hibisbloom
  • HNH Floristry
  • Hoi Phu Huynh
  • Homra Kid
  • ISLAND KRAFT & KU’ULEIS
  • Jade’s Teriyaki Sauce
  • Jasmine Giftshop
  • JAX JEWELRY BAR
  • JIAHE STUDIO
  • Kalo Kitchen
  • Kinder Toys USA
  • Kona Ice of North Clackamas
  • Kura Sushi
  • Lakota Bows & Arrows
  • League of Women Voters of Portland
  • Lonnie Bowden of New York Life
  • LTY Designs
  • Luna’s gems
  • Lupitas Mexican food
  • LV Kitchen
  • Mangosteen Ceramics
  • Metro – Parks and Nature
  • Mixteca PDX
  • Mojo Crepes LLC
  • Montavilla Farmers Market
  • Mspazhang
  • Multnomah County Elections Division
  • Multnomah County Library
  • My Teatime Dreams
  • Noodle Point
  • Olivo Liquidations
  • Ooh! What’s This?
  • Oregon Department of Human Services
  • Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
  • Parks and Recreation: Urban Forestry
  • pdx lost and found
  • Philippine Market
  • Pomo Snow Cones
  • Portland Parks and Recreation
  • Portland Water Bureau
  • Portlandia Fortune Tellers
  • Potato Desk
  • Red Robe Tea House
  • Rice Thief LLC
  • Rooted by Plant Mamis
  • Sandy’s Myanmar Cuisine
  • Sao Noi
  • Sarah and Hareld
  • SAV: handmade goods
  • Seattle and Saigon
  • Seeds of joy
  • Shane Reaney Studios
  • Shop Amrapali & Salon Amrapali
  • Shop Halo Halo
  • Sloan Creations
  • SmileGiver LLC
  • STAR Voting for Oregon P-011
  • State of Oregon DHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management
  • Sweet Day
  • Thai Fresh
  • The Herb Shed
  • The Kalat House LLC
  • Urban fried fry bread
  • Verizon
  • Wreckognize Apparel & Streetwear
  • Yoonique Pho&Grill
      Community, Event, History

      Art Explores Local Japanese American History

      This Friday, May 5th, people are invited to attend the Furin Project Symposium at Portland Community College’s (PCC) SE Campus. Attendees will see the culmination of a year-long community art project led by artist Midori Hirose and learn more about a project that aims to bridge the Japanese farming history of Southeast Portland with its modern diversity and culture. Since early April, PCC has exhibited a collection of Furin, Japanese “wind bells,” made during free ceramic bell-making workshops. Now, the community can explore three related exhibits, including the work from PCC’s Geographic Information System Club, a Sound Map project, and the Furin wind bells display.

      In collaboration with the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) and Mural Arts Institute in Philadelphia, Midori Hirose’s Furin Project involves honoring the history and legacy of the Japanese American Farming community that once thrived in Montavilla and surrounding area. The project centers on the intersection of the current social landscape in relation to food resilience, farming, and green spaces.

      People interested in participating should register to save a free spot at the event. Attendees should gather before 4 p.m. near the Learning Garden at 2305 SE 82nd Avenue and then take part in the short walking tour. The event coordinators have created several stopping points for speakers to present, leading up to the Furin exhibit inside the Student Commons building. APANO will host a potluck in their building across SE Division from the PCC campus to wrap up the event.

      By

      Jacob Loeb

      Graphics provided by APANO and the Furin Project

      Construction, Infrastructure

      New Signal and Crossing at SE 80th and Division

      Update – Crews recently installed the traffic signal mast-arm poles on the southern corners of SE 80th Avenue and SE Division Street. Soon workers will return to install the remaining two poles. Then city staff will place the new control box, signals, and LED street lights planned for this intersection. Within the next few months, this busy crossing will become available to pedestrians and cyclists who have struggled to use this space safely.

      Update March 11th 2022 – Crews recently completed the south side curb ramps and sidewalk reconstruction at SE 80th and Division. Work has moved across the street to the north side of SE Division Street, spanning Portland Community College’s vehicle entrance. After concrete work completes, signal and painting specialists will add traffic control lights and new crosswalks to the intersection.

      Southwest corner SE 80th and Division
      Southeast corner SE 80th and Division

      Original Article Published January 21st, 2022

      Starting January 31st, crews with Raimore Construction will begin road work at the intersection of SE 80th Avenue and SE Division Street. This project adds traffic signals, marked crosswalks, and other safety measures for bikes and pedestrians. Work will continue through March, causing limited traffic delays in early February. This enhancement is part of the continuing Outer Division Safety Project between SE 80th to 174th avenues.

      Portland Community College’s (PCC) southeast campus interrupts SE 80th Avenue at SE Division. The school’s parking lot entrance roughly aligns with the 80th along the college’s Division Street frontage. Currently, the intersection lacks signals, marked crosswalks, and ADA-compliant curb ramps.

      PBOT bid document for SE 80th Ave and SE Division St with phase notes

      Updates to this intersection will reconstruct all four street corners and provide gaps in the previously uninterrupted traffic flow. Crews will install new curb ramps, add high visibility crass-walk paint, and apply green-striped bike crossings where the SE Division bike lanes intersect 80th Avenue. This new crossing point creates additional connection opportunities to the 70s Neighborhood Greenway project scheduled to run through this area. Four signal poles will support eleven new traffic signals, providing aid to cyclists and pedestrians traversing the busy street. 

      Around January 31st, crews will excavate a trench across SE 80th Avenue on the south side of SE Division Street. Cars turning onto SE 80th from Division Street or connecting with SE Division Street from 80th may experience lane closures. Between February 7th and 9th, trench work across SE Division at SE 80th will close down sections of SE Division street. However, traffic will be permitted in both directions during this work, with occasional lane diversions. Crews expect to close portions of PCC’s south parking lot entrance for a few days between February 10th and the 25th.

      Pavement markings showing placement of new ADA curb ramps on southwest corner

      Road flaggers will direct traffic during work hours, and plans strive for minimal impact on automotive traffic at the intersection. Work is scheduled between 7 AM and 3 PM, avoiding impact to the evening commute. In March, crews will install signal poles at the corners and complete other remaining work. This later construction should not affect vehicle traffic. However, pedestrians and bicycles may have minor detours.

      Portland Bureau of Transportation engineers designed these infrastructure improvements to safely move all modes of travel through an increasingly active intersection. Commuters along SE Division have grown accustomed to this type of construction activity as the multi-year-long improvement project nears completion. When driving through this area, use caution and plan for additional travel time during work hours.

      View from PCC parking lot south entrance looking across SE Division down SE 80th Ave

      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, Construction, New Residence

      Affordable Housing at PCC SE Campus

      At the end of 2021, Portland Community College (PCC) applied to the City of Portland for Early Assistance on a housing project located at 7705 SE Division Street. That process helps developers submit building permit applications that successfully meet City standards. The proposed development would construct approximately 100 affordable apartments within a single four-story building at a maximum height of 45′. Planners expect to provide around 30 surface parking spaces for the residents.

      PCC acquired the property from the German American Society in May of 2010. Kaiser Permanente maintained a lease for the one-story building on the site until 2014. Midway through 2015, PCC began the process of demolishing the building and adding vehicle stalls to the existing parking lot. The area currently serves as auxiliary parking for the college and extended green space for the campus.

      Image from Google Maps 2014

      Last year, PCC staff worked to develop a twenty-year facilities plan for the educational institution’s properties. During that evaluation, PCC determined that portions of the school grounds should support low-income affordable housing. Instead of student-only dormitories, they opted to focus on attainable housing open to the public. From internal surveys of students, PCC staff learned that housing insecurity is a significant concern. They also observed that students often spread their education out over many years with inconsistent enrollment. Consequentially, PCC determined that tying housing programs to school affiliation would not help alleviate the housing insecurities among the student population. Instead, they feel creating more affordable housing inventory would provide better results.

      Image from Google Maps 2015

      Human Solutions and Bora Architects+Interiors are assisting PCC with early-stage planning. Efforts to design the building will begin next year. However, preliminary work masses the building towards SE Division Street with a green buffer zone along SE 77th Avenue. Designers are considering stepping down the building on SE Sherman Street to help blend in with the residential scale of that street. Apartments should range in size from studio units to three-bedroom family residences.

      For the next twelve months, developers will continue to work with the community and design a housing project that serves residents, PCC, and the surrounding community. Final plans should materialize during the Summer of 2023, with construction following in Fall 2023. Interested community members should keep an eye out for future engagement opportunities.

      By

      Jacob Loeb

      Article cover image from Portland Maps

      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, Construction

      PCC’s Draft Twenty Year Facilities Plan

      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.

      Community, Construction

      PCC’s Twenty Year Facilities Plan

      Today Portland Community College (PCC) launched a survey seeking input from students, staff, faculty, and the community regarding the college’s four campuses. The survey results, coupled with feedback received from online workshops, will help shape the facilities plan, guiding the future investment and priorities over the next ten to twenty years.

      James Hill, the PCC Public Relations Manager, explained that they are interested in hearing from all people who interact with the campus, including neighbors. “In addition to ensuring the physical space supports the communities we serve, we are also interested in input to help PCC provide a more welcoming and inclusive place to learn, teach, work, and visit.”

      The online Visioning Workshop for Montavilla’s Southeast Campus is scheduled for Thursday, April 22. It begins at 9:00 AM and runs through 10:30 AM. You can Register on Zoom for the meeting. However, Hill encourages residents of the neighborhood to participate via the online survey, which is available at the project website www.pcc.edu/fp2. Questions will ask for priorities regarding buildings and the outdoor areas with a focus on increased accessibility.

      When all the data is collected, PCC will share the results via the project website, providing a summary of what they gathered at the campus workshops and through the survey. Participant’s input will inform the planning team while they draft recommendations for future development at each campus. Later this year, PCC will seek community input again on draft recommendations and ideas through another online survey. The team will refine the proposed plans based on community input and publish a final report at the end of 2021.

      Construction, Infrastructure

      PCC Cellphone Tower Upgrade

      Upgrades are coming to a cellphone tower located on the main building’s rooftop at Portland Community College (PCC). Permit application 20-211707 describes the replacement of existing cellular communication equipment. This project is part of a batch of permits performing similar enhancements at other tower sites.

      The permit seeks to remove eight antennas and replace them with six new antennas. Six new remote radio units are taking their place of three older units. Three new surge protectors take the place of older units. Twelve tower mounted amplifiers are coming off the building without replacement. A new fiber trunk data line is replacing older cabling. Three new DC trunks will replace six old ones.

      This application proposes no increase in height, nor will residents see much change in tower appearance. This project is a standard equipment upgrade that will bring better service to cellphone users in the area.

      History, Property Sale

      Forgotten Parking Lot

      The long-unused parking lot at 7601 SE Division Street remains on the market. After selling to investors in 2015, the owner attempted several housing projects on the site. None of those seem to have moved past planning, and the property remains for sale.

      Originally this location had an address of 1927 Division Street before the renumbering of Portland streets. The property was owned by the Pickard family as early as 1916. That year, the Morning Oregonian of March 29th and September 7th, listed it as the home address for George B. Pickard.

      A few years later, The Oregon daily journal of August 15th, 1922, reported this location as the home of Mrs. Josephine Pickard. That same year Clarence Larsen was said to live at that address by the August 22 Morning Oregonian.

      Before the 2015 sale to its current owners, 7601 SE Division Street served as employee parking for the Kaiser clinic. The secure parking lot featured 60 parking spaces and electronic gates on a 40,075 square-foot lot. The property went for sale in 2014 after the Kaiser clinic closed.

      The nearby Portland Community college (PCC) considered purchasing it at their July 17th Board of Directors meeting that year. The asking price for the property was one million dollars. Beyond the over market rate asking price, other complications are documented in the PCC Board agenda notes.

      “A significant complicating factor is that zoning for the property is uncertain. Staff’s view is that Kaiser’s need to provide for employee parking developed after the clinic’s development. In response to neighbor concerns, it appears that the City granted a temporary zoning change from R2 (residential) to CN2 (neighborhood commercial) to allow the property to be developed as Kaiser employee parking. It appears that this zoning action required that the zoning reverts to R2 upon a change in ownership. It further appears that this rezoning to CN2 occurred via a process that is no longer permitted, so the process for the zoning reversion is unclear.”

      PCC investigated the purchase but ultimately declined to move forward. The following year DIG 76th Division LLC bought the property for $525,000 and has sought to sell or develop the site ever since. Capacity Commercial’s current asking price for the property is $4,075,000.

      The zoning issue noted by the PCC Board is no longer an uncertainty now that the property is CM2 zoned. That will allow mixed-use for retail, office space, and residential construction. Any development on the property would not require onsite parking due to its access to mass transit.

      If the property sells for a reasonable price, this location would be an ideal low-income development. It is walking distance from PCC and on the number 2 TriMet bus line for fast downtown access. At a time when the City is looking to add more affordable housing, letting this unused parking lot remain undeveloped seems like a wasted opportunity.

      Interested buyers should contact George Diamond or Nicholas Diamond at 503-326-9000.