[MarkDaMan]

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news_graphics/116977674633045300.jpg
KYLE GREEN / PORTLAND TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO
The addition of one or more floors to the northeast block of the Pioneer Place shopping center, known as the Rotunda Block, is one of the projects under consideration in the downtown shopping core.

Retail core will get a boost
Downtown businesses plan renovations to fight loss of customers to suburbs
By Jim Redden


Downtown business owners and city leaders are preparing to invest millions of dollars in the retail core in coming years to better compete against the growing number of successful suburban shopping centers.

The money will be on top of the approximately $219 million in public and private funds being spent to renovate the transit mall. Additional projects under consideration include adding one or more floors to the northeast block of the Pioneer Place shopping center, known as the Rotunda Block. A complete remodeling of the downtown Nordstrom store also is in the works.

Sandra McDonough, the Portland Business Alliance chief executive officer and and president, said the investments are necessary for downtown to regain its competitive advantage against the suburban centers.

The PBA recently presented an updated Downtown Retail Strategy to the Portland Development Commission that calls for around $15 million in targeted public spending to retain and attract downtown retailers.

The business organization also supported Mayor Tom Potter’s Street Access for Everyone proposal to increase social services downtown.

“You’ve got a lot of people focusing on downtown now trying to figure out how we can make this crown jewel of the regional economy healthy again,” she said.

According to McDonough, the regional retail environment has changed dramatically in recent years, especially with the opening of Bridgeport Village and the Streets of Tanasbourne, two so-called lifestyle centers that feature the kind of upscale stores that could only be found downtown in the past.

Bringing shoppers back

The update found that retail growth in the suburban centers is far outpacing downtown. According to the update, leasable downtown space was expected to hold steady at around 2 million square feet through 2008, but increase from around 2.6 million square feet to approximately 4 million square feet in 2008 at the suburban centers.

The update found much of this suburban space was being filled by retailers who once had been exclusive to downtown, including BCBG, Coach, Mario’s and Pottery Barn.

“In the past, these exclusive stores made downtown a shopping destination. Now they can be found outside of the retail core,” McDonough said.

A number of factors also have emerged in recent years that have made downtown shopping trips more difficult, according to the update. Those factors include aggressive panhandlers, sidewalk obstructions and a growing number of construction projects – in addition to the mall renovation – that block streets.

“Coming downtown should be special trip, not a challenging one,” McDonough said.

Despite the problems, downtown boosters say the Portland retail core is the envy of the nation. Potter spent much of his Jan. 19 State of the City speech praising downtown’s vitality and noting that many other major American cities essentially close down on evenings and weekends.

In contrast, Potter noted that business owners already have committed hundreds of millions of dollars for new downtown projects, including developer Tom Moyer, who recently announced plans to build a 35-story mixed use high-rise tower on the block just west of Nordstrom.

“The city, including its downtown core, is alive and well,” Potter told the capacity City Club crowd gathered at the Governor Hotel.

Expanding the core

The retail core is defined in city policies as the 35-block area bordered by Southwest Salmon and Washington streets between Southwest Third and 10th avenues.

According to McDonough, one reason for the core’s success is the Business Improvement District formed by local property owners who assess themselves to provide additional security and cleaning services.

McDonough said talks are under way to expand the boundaries to include the five blocks along Southwest Second Avenue and the 10 blocks between Southwest 10th and 12th avenues.

According to McDonough, the Second Avenue blocks should be included because they already are hosting major retailers, including Borders bookstore. And, McDonough said, the blocks between 10th and 12th avenues are poised for redevelopment projects that could use such services – including a series of mixed-use high-rises similar to the one proposed by Moyer.

“We need more people living downtown, and these blocks could become a new residential center,” she said.

jimredden@portlandtribune.com
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=116977306425785100

[pdxman]

I don't see the reasoning behind expanding pioneer place. I see plenty of empty spots in that mall that haven't been filled--for a while.

[Capitol Hill]

Tough to get people to get to the upper floors in any multi level urban mall. San Francisco Center comes to mind as a success, but they parked Nordstrom on the top with those cool curving escalators. Chicago does vertical retail well along Michigan Ave., but other than that, I can't think of another American city that does vertical retailing that well, even NY. It'll be a challenge for them to lease their upper floors.
Pacific Place here in Seattle has the top floor for the movie theater/restaurants, the floor below has the skybridge to Nordstrom, and they developers stated that if they didn't get that skybridge, they would have stopped at floor 3. It's a difficult project to pull off, I wish them well.

[MarkDaMan]

^Pioneer Place does have a 3rd floor sky bridge and this extension would be on top of the theater. A large national tenant taking half of the top floor plus the theater already up there would drive traffic into that half of the mall. The older section that connects by tunnel to the food court and the new addition has always been successful, but for whatever reason the new section has stagnated. They did put a Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe where the Rose 'Fountain' used to be.

I don't think they are basing the new addition on the fact the mall's square footage is filled, it isn't, but there were some flaws with the design of the new addition, expecting certain tenants to take up space they didn't (Sundance Films). Hopefully an extension could correct that...

I'm glad to see the Nordstrom renovation mentioned again.

[PacificNW]

Who knows....maybe a retailer like Crate and Barrel would be interested in the whole floor space. A retailer like that would entice people up to the top.

[pdxman]

I would love to see C&B fill the galleria building...i'm also hoping that maybe, just maybe moyer could attract the likes of a neiman marcus in his new building

[PacificNW]

I understand he has been working on Needless Markup for years. Now that they are going to open a store in Bellevue he may get his wish.

[65MAX]

Unless Nieman Marcus does a small boutique-like store, it won't fit in Moyer's Park Avenue West tower. It could however fill the lower 3 floors of the Galleria (assuming they would share the rest of the building with the WCI). That was a department store originally, so converting it back to that use makes perfect sense. Plus, it's a beautiful historic building, appropriate for a high-end retailer like NM.

[pdxstreetcar]

So the expansion would be above the theater? Doesnt make a lot of sense to me unless its a major restaurant or a destination attraction.

And as has already been said, theres plenty of empty spaces in the mall particularly on the upper floors.

Perhaps the block north of the Galleria could be a retail complex.

[PacificNW]

Retail, in general, is in a constant flux. If you have a good product and provide great service people will find you. Retail in a mall usually means that the store is somewhat of a national brand (okay not Twist) and must give the customer what they want or die. Look at the huge slide of the Gap company stores.

Other retail, outside the mall/namely downtown, appeal to their customers because they are unique and homegrown.

When Pioneer Place finds the right retail mix I am sure it will do fine. Even at the slowest periods I have noticed it has more shoppers than Pacific Place in Seattle (probably because it is not quite so upscale).

I am sure some of you guys will remember some of the old pictures of some intersections in downtown Portland. The "lighted curved arches" designed to cross the streets. I know Portland is against skywalks but what about creating something very similar and festive to support a skybridge from Pioneer Place to the new Macy's? Just a thought..

[Drmyeyes]

I'm not so opposed to skybridges. I like the ones at Pioneer Place. I'm trying to remember why the city reacted so strongly against them more than 30 years ago it seams. It seems a bit complicated and more of an issue than just blocking views and making the streets seem more claustrophobic.

Before the Heathman Hotels renovation many years ago, it used to have a skybridge connecting it to the building above Coffee People. It was really an eyesore. Seems like they wanted to replace it with the renovation but forces prevailed against it, and then the use for the building changed anyway. Another reason for resistance against skybridges is that some people feel it draws energy away from street level and consequently, emphasis on maintaining the highest quality energy and aesthetics possible at street level.

I'm not sure what to think about Pioneer Place expanding, particularly in PPII. II has one significant flaw relative to I; it's darker, I suppose because of the extra level, and because its atrium isn't accordingly greater in diameter to compensate for that. But that probably only bothers people like me, that need lots of light. This may not have any bearing on more retail in an expanded Pio Pl. Portland downtown customers will probably increase in number to create the business for that additional retail.

[roner]

I think an H&M would do wonders for the retail core. It would attract shoppers of all classes and would be the only one in Oregon. Besides, people love some H&M.

[mcbaby]

i was in pioneer place recently and just realized that i didn't want to be there. it was somewhat claustrophobic. it seems weird to me to be in a vibrant downtown and yet go inside a mall filled with trendy shops that just insulates you from the real city outside.

[cab]

THis is a problem. The business community Downtown has a suburban mall mentality. Instead of competing with suburban malls by offering unique local retail in a very urban environment they want to offer all the same national chains in a suburban environment. They think DT is a mall.

[PacificNW]

↑A national mall developer will incorporate mostly national retailers..But healthy downtown retail cores such as Portland/Seattle unique, one of a kind, retail shops are what makes the shopping experience more positive.

International retailers such as H&M only "add" to the mix.

[SpongeG]

there seems to be so many dead spots downtown why don;t they fill those up?

there was a big spot just across the street from that mall that was empty the last two visits i made downtown Portland... (latest being june 2006) and a lot of other spaces within a block

[PacificNW]

The empty spots have to be "right" for a retailer....in today's world they aren't just going to make do in order to have a presence.

[pdxman]

yes spongeg, its good to know that i'm not the only one who sees how dead DT is. I think it interesting that so much commercial, retail space is being built when theres so many empty spots that aren't yet filled in the DT area.

[bvpcvm]

And I was just thinking how lively DT was this afternoon as I was passing the Galleria. There's the spine along Morrison/Yamhill which always has people on it, along with a jog up 10th to Powell's that's also pretty active. Sure, there are dead spots, but if you really want to see dead, go to Omaha. Or pretty much anywhere else.

Re: construction of retail, this has already been beat to death here, but maybe you missed it: most of the retail space in downtown is too small for large retailers, largely thanks to our small blocks. There won't be any H&M or Crate&Barrel downtown until there's a large enough space for it to open a profitable operation.

[pdxman]

so whats to be done with all of this "useless" retail space? They should stop allowing retail to be built in places like the pearl and fill up the spaces that are empty. Theres a glut of empty small retail in portland and yet they keep building more of it, wtf?

[bvpcvm]

I guess the smaller spaces are pretty much obsolete. The only thing left to do is keep adding Starbucks until they're all filled up.

[65MAX]

There's already a Starbucks on the upper level (and one next to Sharper Image)

[alexjon]

but if you really want to see dead, go to Omaha.

Omaha is alive, it's just sleeping on the couch right now

Buffy is making his "legacy-building" move now that the Wall Street is going up and the First National is home to many a squabble over office space. :P

[pdxtex]

we do not need any more retail downtown.....the only people that shop down town are tourists, suburbanites looking for their city fix, and our small cbd population......build more housing first, and worry about the retail next.....

[MarkDaMan]

^no, you have to do it in conjunction, you can't build a building, and add in retail later. Retail is always overbuilt, you never want to turn down a retailer looking to enter or expand in your market. Because of Portland's dedication to the street environment, the city does require substantial retail in every new development, even when the market might not demand that much space for as much as a decade.

I think downtown is healthy as shit. As someone who has worked in downtown for the past 5 years, I've noticed an incredible increase in activity today, as opposed to 4 years ago when the recession, and unemployment, was really hammering the central city.

I think many people take the torn up streets, closed down stores for renovations, empty blocks waiting to be developed, and empty transit mall as a downtown stagnating when in actuality, Portland is undergoing a massive renovation that will be increasing housing, the addition (in the Moyer Tower) of a destination retailer, an upgraded Nordies, a brand new Macy, a Luxury Collection 4-star hotel, new MAX lines and cleaned up Mall, I could go on...like all the retail within three blocks of Lovejoy in the Pearl that will be in huge demand when Safeway opens.

[pdxtraveler]

I totally agree with Mark, I find downtown VERY healthy. A lot of that comes from having lived in the south and seeing what dead downtowns can look like. But any of the vacancy rates I have seen for retail have been quite low and there are always pedestrians on the street. We can always work to further increase the health of downtown, but I do not see it as a serious problem.

[MarkDaMan]

All downtown needs is $150 million
The PBA issues a call to action to save city center
Portland Business Journal - January 26, 2007
by Andy Giegerich
Business Journal staff writer

There's nothing wrong with downtown that $150 million can't fix.

A new set of strategies offered by heavy-hitting public and private interests believes that the rough figure, driven by a proposed initial $15 million earmark from the Portland Development Commission, could help downtown's retail prospects soar even as myriad construction projects pervade the city.

The money would help implement a new Downtown Retail Core strategy, covering 223 blocks, that could guide Portland's key economic strategies for the next five years.

The plan calls for major improvements on at least six large sites in the areas between Southwest Salmon and Washington streets and Second and 12th avenues.

At best, those site or building owners would convert their spaces into two- or three-story retail outlets that accommodate stores like Crate & Barrel, which had considered launching a downtown outlet before opening at Bridgeport Village in 2005.

"It's also about filling vacant corners or non-retail corners" as pedestrians stroll through the 223-block downtown core, said Christopher Kopca, who led the core strategy's task force.

As Kopca's group finalized its strategies, developer Tom Moyer announced plans to build a large tower on Southwest Yamhill Street between 9th and Park avenues.

The core retail strategy also proposes a revamp of Pioneer Place, which has lost many tenants in the past year. Task force members have yet to determine exactly how to retool the facility.

The task force assembling the plan further hopes to expand the current Business Improvement District one block east, to Southwest Second Avenue between Salmon and Washington streets, and two blocks west to Southwest 12th Avenue. The west-end moves could help better connect that area to the Brewery Blocks, on the Pearl District's southern edge.

The Business Improvement District helps fund the district's Clean and Safe program and other offerings; any expansion of it would require a buy-in from the newly included property owners.

PDC began considering this week whether to steer approximately $15 million toward the efforts. The contribution would fund short-term loans, storefront improvements, seismic upgrades and other changes. The commission's leaders could vote on the funding by early March.

Lew Bowers, a Portland Development Commission senior development manager, said PDC usually expects such allotments to generate about 10 times their worth in other commitments, such as tax-increment financing funds or investments from private building owners. The largest PDC chunk would help revitalize the Galleria and the Southwest 10th Avenue Smart Park garage.

"It seems well-coordinated with the private sector, and hopefully it's tied to some investment that really matters from people like Tom Moyer and the Naitos," who own the Galleria, said City Commissioner Erik Sten.

Overall, the moves could help alleviate competitive disadvantages that have recently hammered downtown.

"The suburban shopping areas are becoming more robust," Bowers said. "We're losing market share in downtown, but we still have a good mix of retail. We have to constantly evolve."

While the core strategy could help land a big-name national chain, its creators also want to keep downtown's cadre of independent retailers, Bowers said.

The recommendations come at a critical juncture for Portland's retail center. While office vacancy rates in the district remain low, downtown has seen a torrent of empty storefronts -- at least 40 vacancies -- in the last six months. Business proponents have feared that the many road construction projects, primarily the new transit mall light-rail plan, could further damage retailers' bottom lines.

But officials from PDC and the Portland Business Alliance, the area's leading business advocate, say the projects will provide an infrastructure around which businesses will eventually thrive.

Indeed, the new light-rail line will begin rolling about the same time that owners fully begin reaping benefits from the revamped business income tax, which the Portland City Council approved last week, and about a year after new panhandling restrictions will have theoretically made downtown's sidewalks more passable.

"We've had several good signals about doing business here that we haven't had before," said Sandra McDonough, the PBA's president and CEO. "In three to five years, this plan will give us what we need to make sure we have a lively downtown and get a good return on our investment."

Along with tweaking the six key redevelopment sites, the strategy's architects want to fill existing or expected vacancies in such structures as the Guild Theater, the current Niketown space and the empty Pioneer Courthouse Square store formerly occupied by Powell's Books.

The downtown Kitchen Kaboodle space, at Southwest Sixth Avenue and Alder Street, is also identified as a potential "upcoming vacancy." Owner John Whisler wouldn't comment on the task force's report.The task force further espouses continued funding of the Downtown Marketing program and adding a liaison to run interference between brokers and retailers.

Kopca, a senior vice president for Downtown Development Group LLC, said the strategy could further ensure that neighboring businesses better complement each other in terms of products and services. The strategy will also seek ways to fight downtown's streetscape blight. McDonough, a former journalist, suggested consolidating news racks into one unit, a successful ploy borrowed from other large cities.

The current study builds on PBA's previous efforts to guide downtown strategies through 2007. That study helped deliver such moves as the Meier & Frank/Macy's and Nordstrom's store remodels, the transit mall revitalization project, and the development of the new Park Block 5 subsurface garage and public space.

agiegerich@bizjournals.com | 503-219-3419

http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/01/29/story4.html?t=printable

[pdxstreetcar]

wow i didnt know the downtown kitchen kaboodle closed/is closing

[pdxman]

AND niketown is leaving, and schumacher haha DT is indeed doing great..not to mention all the empty spots and the businesses closing because of the bus mall renovation, and pioneer place II is essentially a ghost town.

[MarkDaMan]

^no, Nike isn't leaving, they are committed to downtown but will be RELOCATING their store in the DOWNTOWN area. It is possible Kitchen Kaboodle is looking for a better location too. They have been open about looking for a new space for awhile, maybe they found one? and Schumacher...please...

[PacificNW]

I don't think pdxman is a supporter of downtown PDX. I think he would be happier with the retail mix in cities like Dallas or Houston if he thinks the retail situation in downtown PDX is bad. He is a mall snob, no doubt. There is NO WAY Federated Dept. Stores or Nordstrom would invest millions in downtown PDX if they thought it was a lost cause...seriously..

[pdxstreetcar]

I'd like to see a major electronics/computer store downtown, its about the only retail component missing in the downtown/pearl/northwest area (as well as the inner eastside). Either Kitchen Kaboodle or Office Depot in the SmartPark garage was supposed to be a branch of the Canadian electronics chain, the Future Shop.

[PacificNW]

Future Shop was there prior to Office Depot...

[pdxstreetcar]

wow, i take it the store didnt last long. do you know if it closed because the chain was downsizing or there wasnt interest in electronics downtown?

[designpdx]

wow, i take it the store didnt last long. do you know if it closed because the chain was downsizing or there wasnt interest in electronics downtown?

They closed all of the stores in the US.

[PacificNW]

I think a good electronics store would do well in downtown PDX.. (especially with all those living in condo's downtown.)

[Urbanpdx]

A few smaller stores have opened recently. Echo Audio, Pearl Audio, Vision(?) audio video (across from Powells) and the Sony Only store on NW Glisan just did a major re-inventing of itself.

[tworivers]

I don't see how anyone can honestly describe downtown as being "dead" or anywhere dead! Sometimes I feel like I experience an entirely different city than other posters here. Baffling.

[roner]

^agreed tworivers. My parents were just here and took notice of the walkable, bustling and remarkably enjoyable downtown/NW/Pearl area Portland has to offer. I think the area is quite fit now, but in 5 years-look out!

[pdxtex]

i should amend my original statement to have said that new construction to house additional retail seems unjustified when we already have a mall, three major department stores and numerous national brand locations as well. there seems to be alot of smaller vacant storefronts which need to be filled instead of building new stuff to house larger tennants...the ne part of downtown could easily support a mid size grocery store though...that seems important and in line with the notion that old town will continue to gentrify.

[pdxman]

I don't think pdxman is a supporter of downtown PDX. I think he would be happier with the retail mix in cities like Dallas or Houston if he thinks the retail situation in downtown PDX is bad. He is a mall snob, no doubt. There is NO WAY Federated Dept. Stores or Nordstrom would invest millions in downtown PDX if they thought it was a lost cause...seriously..
Oh pacnw, easy does it. Indeed i'm not a "mall snob" and do not enjoy going out to the burbs to shop. I quite hate it--too clean and rich for me. And perhaps i should clarify as to what i consider DT. DT proper to me is encapsuled by burnside, 405 and naito pkwy. With psu and the park blocks being the exception. the pearl, nw, goose hollow and the central eastside i consider to be the DT area. Its pretty sad to be labeled a "mall snob" just because i voice my displeasure with what i see in DT. Just because i have a different opinion doesn't mean i'm automatically wrong...thats a very american way of thinking. The truth is i live DT, i walk(have no car, don't want one) or ride the streetcar to my work in the pearl EVERYDAY so i see things that i honestly think could be a lot better. I don't make these remarks because i hate portland or because i think its a "lost cause", if i did i'd move to beaverton or lake oswego. but i won't because i love DT portland and i just see so much potential and improvement to be made. i also suffer from the problem of always viewing things in a critical or negative light. I love the pearl--its easily my favorite spot in portland, followed closely by nw. But DT portland to me needs a lot of work before i think it becomes what it can be. I just have very high expectations for portland. I'm always looking at it with a tourists eye, a critics eye to find what could be better. Thats why i say what i do...

[PacificNW]

↑pdxman: I guess I was a little out of line by calling you a mall snob but seriously (and you probably have done this) visit some other cities in the U.S. and you will see that downtown Portland is light years ahead of many of them in terms of health and livability

By the way, I am not a huge fan of the "current" Pearl. I think when the city zoned it for its present state we got too much of squatty brick clad condo's and not enough variety in height and texture...just my opinion. But it is so much nicer than what is used to be and the future looks brighter for bringing variety into the mix. (Metropolitan Tower, The Edge).

It just seemed that you were stuck on the negative aspects of Portland. I guess I could have misunderstood. I am definitely not an expert but I have lived in many cities in the U.S. and many would give their eye teeth for what you guys have in Portland. Seriously....there is nothing wrong in having very high expectations for Portland. High expectations help drive the city to be special...its citizens, for the most part, care a great deal for it. Have a good one and don't mind me.

[pdxman]

Of course i'll mind you pacnw, you have good points...i do admit (as before) to being too negative. I have never lived in portland before 8 months ago and i lived and traveled through many other cities that were boring and awful, all the while dreaming of portland. Then i arrived expecting things here to be amazing, and certainly they are compared to some cities, but i was sort of let down by some of the problems that i now find plague the city ie. homelessness, panhandling, unsafe people and behavior on max and streetcar. See, here i go again. With me, instead of comparing portland to places like omaha, slc, boise, sacramento or pitt i compare portland to san fran, new york, chicago, london, vancouver and say to myself--thats what i want portland to be. Overall, portland is great and it has an awesome dense feel that very few cities our size and bigger manage to have. I do love portland--its tough love tho sometimes :)

[65MAX]

I think we all love Portland, or we wouldn't be here. Most of us here have lived in other cities and appreciate that it really is different here, compared to other cities. And different in a (mostly) positive way. You're right to want to compare us to great cities like SF, NY, London, et al. But Portland will never be like them, just as SF will never be like NY, which will never be like London, which looks nothing like Vancouver or Chicago or New Orleans. The thing these cities have in common is that they are demonstrably unique. Unique culture, unique architecture, unique setting and unique mindset. Portland has 3 out of 4 (our architecture's lacking), but our urban form is uniquely ours (small city blocks, extensive park network, UGB) and our leadership in Green building almost qualifies us for 4 out of 4. Most cities are lucky to have one of these.

So are we a "Great City"? I'd say we're pretty damn close.

*end cheerleading*

[pdxtex]

screw the tourists. if you want to make downtown more lively, build a 24 hour laundromat or mid size grocery store that "normal" people can actually afford to shop at.....its funny that we all want this proactive, world class city, but when its 3 am and we need to get basic necessities, they are not available......

[Urbanpdx]

Of course i'll mind you pacnw, you have good points...i do admit (as before) to being too negative. I have never lived in portland before 8 months ago and i lived and traveled through many other cities that were boring and awful, all the while dreaming of portland. Then i arrived expecting things here to be amazing, and certainly they are compared to some cities, but i was sort of let down by some of the problems that i now find plague the city ie. homelessness, panhandling, unsafe people and behavior on max and streetcar. See, here i go again. With me, instead of comparing portland to places like omaha, slc, boise, sacramento or pitt i compare portland to san fran, new york, chicago, london, vancouver and say to myself--thats what i want portland to be. Overall, portland is great and it has an awesome dense feel that very few cities our size and bigger manage to have. I do love portland--its tough love tho sometimes :)

I tend to agree...

[MarkDaMan]

perhaps i should clarify as to what i consider DT. DT proper to me is encapsuled by burnside, 405 and naito pkwy. With psu and the park blocks being the exception. the pearl, nw, goose hollow and the central eastside i consider to be the DT area.

for most of us here, on this forum, that makes sense. Most people consider Manhattan downtown NY, but indeed there is uptown, and downtown, and Broadway...etc...etc...To my parents that live outside Hillsboro, downtown is NW and the Pearl, and the CBD, SoWa, and the Lloyd...okay not so much the Lloyd :)

Seriously though, only urban planners and people that live downtown really view the 'downtown area' as a seperate category than 'downtown proper'.

In any case, I'm glad you have high expectations of your city. It has improved greatly in the last few years, and I think with an influx of residents that continue to take pride in their new adopted city, Portland's central city will continue to strengthen and form its own identity comparable to other world class destinations.

[Urbanpdx]

I agree, except people who live in the Pearl, NW, etc. also view "downtown" as 'downtown proper'.

[edirp]

H&M to Debut New Concept

JANUARY 30, 2007 -- Stockholm, Sweden-based H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, an international brand that offers fashion-forward clothing at low prices, announced plans to expand into the home textile market and to also open a new, more expensive apparel chain. Strong holiday sales propelled H&M’s full-year profit ahead by a better-than-expected 17 percent, and the fast-fashion chain said it would push into the home textile market and start opening stores for its new apparel chain--Collection of Style, or COS--this March. The first store will open in March on London’s Regent Street, carrying both men's and women’s collections. H&M said some 10 stores are scheduled to open during the year in the United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. H&M said it would launch H&M Home Textiles, starting with Internet and catalog sales this fall. H&M said profit after financial items hit $1.94 billion last year. Sales in the fourth quarter rose 8 percent to $2.79 billion, from $2.58 billion, driven by a 16 percent increase in December revenues.

[pdxtraveler]

Now that H&M is in both San Francisco and L.A. we hopefully are next!

[pdxman]

I know i've been harsh on DT retail in the past, but i had to post this and i'm quite happy to see this commitment...

UPDATE: Brooks Brothers coming to Portland
Luxury clothier Brooks Brothers is finalizing a lease for its first Portland store, which would anchor the long underused Galleria building downtown, The Oregonian has learned.

The nation's oldest clothing retailer, established in 1818, Brooks Brothers is known for luxurious suits worn by presidents dating to Lincoln. The brand has been growing since it was bought in 2001 by Retail Brand Alliance Inc., and opened flagship stores in London and Paris last year.

The store would be located in a currently vacant space on the MAX rail line, at the corner of Southwest Morrison Street and Ninth Avenue. The pending deal is a coup for the Galleria, which has been mostly vacant for several years. Its largest tenant is Western Culinary Institute.

Brooks Brothers has been trying to find a suitable downtown Portland location for several years, having failed to get into the American Bank Building at Southwest Broadway and Morrison streets. It has an outlet store location in Woodburn.

-- Dylan Rivera

[Dougall5505]

thanks pdxman more retail news:
Long-dark corner ready to sparkle
PDC works with Carl Greve Jewelers to draw big spenders to city core
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
DYLAN RIVERA
Carl Greve Jewelers this summer will move into the long-vacant retail space at Southwest Broadway and Morrison Street, in a deal that brings a little dazzle to a key corner of the downtown retail scene.

Vacant for more than a year, the space in the historic American Bank Building had become a symbol for some in the business community of a downtown in need of help. After all, if a site where Broadway intersects the MAX light-rail line, across the street from Nordstrom and Pioneer Courthouse Square couldn't get leased, what did that say about downtown?

It turns out the building's owners and the Portland Development Commission haggled for more than a year on the potential to locate the city's first Brooks Brothers store. But those talks broke down at the same time that Carl Greve was earnestly searching to replace its 84-year-old site a block away.

"It's a world of difference in visibility compared to what we have now, even though Morrison has been a really strong retail street," said Tim Greve, president.

The courting of Brooks Brothers and the landing of Greve illustrates a new PDC effort to help finance retail tenant improvements for anchors that the agency says could boost the downtown area and attract shoppers who will spend money at smaller shops as well.

The PDC will loan Greve $500,000 and grant it $32,000 for tenant improvements in the American Bank Building, a 1913 office building designed by A.E. Doyle, said Lew Bowers, a senior development manager.

"They are local, and they have a history with the city," Bowers said. "They are destination retailers -- people come to the city to shop at Carl Greve."

The agency didn't do enough to lure Brooks Brothers, said Bob Scanlan, chief executive of ScanlanKemperBard Companies, known as SKB, which owns the building. Scanlan said he's happy to have Greve as a tenant but he said the PDC would only offer loans at 6 percent, which he said amounted to "de minimus" help.

At issue were tenant improvements of more than $200 a square foot that Brooks Brothers demanded -- more than four times the going rate for many small retailers, Scanlan said.

Anchors often require a high level of tenant amenities, but their presence brings shoppers to the entire area.

"I think the PDC is kind of a paper tiger now," Scanlan said. "In the old days, that deal would have gotten done."

Bowers said the PDC negotiated with SKB and Brooks Brothers for more than six months, and brought the parties back to the bargaining table even after talks broke down. The agency was offering even more money for that deal, which would have involved two floors of shop space rather than the single floor Greve plans.

"I don't think it would be fair to call it de minimus, it was significant," Bowers said.

In the coming year's budget, the agency hopes for $12.5 million for similar strategic downtown retail loans, including $7.5 million for shops in the city's 10th and Morrison parking garage.

Many retailers looked at Broadway and Morrison space over the years and passed. SKB passed on others, Scanlan said. The owner decided to drive a hard bargain for the first floor retail space, renting upper-floors offices for relatively cheap rates, Scanlan said.

Greve will rent 3,900 square feet on the first floor, in a lease that sources close to the deal say comes out to about $65 a square foot for at least 10 years. The firm will also occupy 4,000 square feet of office space above.

Scanlan said SKB turned down an offer from Fidelity, the financial services company, in order to rent the space to Greve, which would bring more foot traffic.

"You can't have a more beautiful display on a great corner than a jewelry store," said Mark New, the broker who brought Greve and SKB together. "It gives people a reason to window-shop and browse around."

we might need a independent thread for retail news

[PacificNW]

Thanks guys for posting....dt PDX is only getting better...

[westsider]

I'm excited about brooks brothers, that is just the kind of business that will draw people downtown who may not have any other reason to come.

[65MAX]

Brooks Bros will need more than just the SE corner of the Galleria (where Mario's used to be). Anyone know if they're going two-level?

[Urbanpdx]

Is Portland really a Brooks Bros. town?

[Lville]

What kind of town is Portland?

[Urbanpdx]

REI, American Appparel, Bannana Republic...

Basically liberal and kind of sloppy rather than conservative and button-down.

[Urbanpdx]

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Content/men/images/Shop-by-Outfit/men-outfit-429-lg.jpg

is this a guy you expect to see at Stumptown Coffee?

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/content/men/images/suits/main-brooksease.jpg

How about this guy pulling his bike off the Max?

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/358M.jpg

How about this guy grabbing a slice of Pizza on Alberta

[Lville]

I don't know about the above, but I think it would be pretty cool to see this guy walking around

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/content/nav/images/mainimages/main512.jpg

[Urbanpdx]

Looks like "Hef"

[MarkDaMan]

Galleria wooing Brooks Brothers
The luxury clothier could revive the downtown building that is overshadowed by newer malls
Thursday, February 01, 2007
DYLAN RIVERA
The Oregonian

Luxury clothier Brooks Brothers has nearly finalized a lease that will place its first Portland store in the Galleria building downtown, in a deal that would help revive a long-struggling retail building.

Kathy Self, an executive vice president with Brooks Brothers' parent Retail Brand Alliance Inc., confirmed Wednesday that the company is ironing out details of a lease with Galleria owner Bill Naito Co. The suit-maker had sought for more than a year to rent space at the intersection of Southwest Broadway and Morrison, where Carl Greve Jewelers said this week it will move.

Brooks Brothers would occupy the southeast corner of the Galleria, facing the MAX light-rail line, potentially as early as September. It would take about 11,000 square feet, entirely on the first floor, including the former space of the Mario's clothing store.

The arrival of the prestigious, high-end store adds to a string of recent announcements of large investments that will add vitality to one of the nation's healthiest downtowns. In addition to Greve's relocation, Tom Moyer announced last month a 35-story office and condominium tower that would include about 45,000 square feet of retail, just a block away from the new Greve site.

An anchor or a lively set of small shops in the Galleria could provide a connection between the strong Brewery Blocks retail district and the cluster of large retailers around Pioneer Courthouse Square, in keeping with a redevelopment plan advocated by former Mayor Vera Katz and city planners.

The expected deal with Brooks Brothers also shows progress for Bill Naito Co., which is comprised of the heirs of the former downtown retail pioneer with the same name. A bitter Naito family conflict put the building's business plan in limbo for years, and modern requirements to make it earthquake-proof added financial hurdles.

Lou Elliott, asset manager on contract for the Bill Naito Co., said the Brooks Brothers plans will help fill the building with shops that he expects will liven the surrounding streets.

"This is the kind of tenant and the tenant that we've been waiting for quite a while and it's part of what our development plan for the property envisioned," Elliott said.

Classic retailer

The nation's oldest clothing retailer has been trying to find a suitable downtown store for several years, having tried and failed to get into the American Bank Building at Southwest Broadway and Morrison Street. It already has an outlet store in Woodburn.

Brooks Brothers picks locations very carefully, said Greg Goodman, whose family company is one of downtown's largest landowners.

"They're not trying to get into every single market -- every single market wants them," Goodman said. "It's a huge deal."

Bob Scanlan, chief executive of ScanlanKemperBard, which failed to lure Brooks Brothers to Southwest Broadway, congratulated the Naito family. "Far better that they should be at the Galleria than at Bridgeport Village or Washington Square or what have you," Scanlan said. "They're a downtown kind of retailer."

A key block

Landing a such a deal at the Galleria was considered essential -- and all but impossible not long ago. The historic building and the Naito family that owns it have been viewed at various times as downtown revivalists and hurdles to redevelopment.

By the mid-1970s, the building had fallen out of fashion when the Naito family bought it, renamed it the Galleria and brought shoppers downtown at a time when downtown's health was failing.

The bold move paid off for years, but the death of Bill Naito in 1996 laid bare a family feud over direction of the real estate development that lasted until a 2005 settlement and division of the assets. The Galleria lost tenants in that time, some said because of competition with the newer Pioneer Place mall.

Seismic code work

The heirs of Bill Naito have tried to aggressively market their properties, taking an especially hard look at the Galleria, Elliott said. It will take millions of dollars to bring the building to current seismic codes, and the family is in talks with the Portland Development Commission on a package of loans that would ease that cost, he said.

"The PDC has indicated a willingness to help us with a comprehensive approach to redeveloping the building," Elliott said. "The Brooks Brothers lease is the first step."

The Galleria has been caught in the middle of urban retail trends, Elliott said. The full-block building has floors too big for many tenants looking for extensive street presence.

At the same time, its 36,000 square foot upper floors -- and even the smaller first floor, cut up by hallways and a parking garage ramp -- were too small for -"big box" retailers. And all retailers find luring shoppers to multiple floors difficult.

Given the constraints, Bill Naito Co. has opted for a strategy that will maximize street frontage, cutting its losses on the less visible interior space, Elliott said.

"Everyone wanted the Mario's corner," Elliott said. "I've got three tenants that can go there today, but I can only do one."

Dylan Rivera: 503-221-8532; dylanrivera@news.oregonian.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/117030394359340.xml&coll=7

[MarkDaMan]

Portland visitor spending up 7.2% in 2006
Portland Business Journal - 10:12 AM PST Thursday

For the fifth straight year, visitors to Portland increased their spending in 2006.

According to Dean Runyan Associates, a Portland-based firm specializing in economic and market research, travelers to the Portland area spent more than $3.4 billion last year, an increase of 7.2 percent over 2005.

Dean Runyan also found that hotel room occupancies increased. In Portland's Central City, an area that encompasses both downtown and the Lloyd Center district, hotels ended the year with an annual average occupancy of 74.6 percent -- 11 points higher than the national average. Hotel occupancy in 2006 for all lodging properties in Portland averaged 69.2 percent, up 3.4 percent from 2005 and nearly six points ahead of the national average.

In 2006, visitor spending included the following: dining, $542 million (a 5.9 percent increase over 2005); accommodations, $465 million (up 12.6 percent); retail purchases, $382 million (an increase of 3.5 percent); and cultural activities/recreation, $182 million (up 4 percent).

Travelers generated $136 million in combined tax revenues -- up 6.3 percent from 2005. Of that total, $52 million was local tax revenue. Primary tax generators include the transient lodging tax levied on the rental of hotel/motel rooms, the gasoline tax, automobile rental taxes, and corporate income taxes and personal income taxes resulting from travel-supported employment.

Although the number of travel industry jobs -- 28,300 -- in the Portland area showed little growth, employment earnings for 2006 rose to $737 million, an increase of 3.2 percent.

The report was commissioned by the Portland Oregon Visitors Association.

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/01/29/daily26.html?f=et75&hbx=e_du

[Dougall5505]

mark do you think we should make a independent portland retail thread? because things are getting a tad off topic in this one...

[65MAX]

I thought this was a retail thread :shrug:

As in "DT Portland begins retail boost...."

BB only needs 11,000 SF? So it WILL be about the same size as the old Mario's. Someplace else for all those visitors to spend their money, sales tax free.

[Urbanpdx]

Isn't that great for business here that we can attract tourism and extra shopping from toursists because we don't have a sales tax? They are making another run at a sales tax right now in Salem btw.

[pdxman]

Ya know, i was going to say something about that but i don't want to have another thead turn into a giant arguement. So, my lips are zipped :)

[65MAX]

[QUOTE=Urbanpdx;2603949]http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Content/men/images/Shop-by-Outfit/men-outfit-429-lg.jpg

is this a guy you expect to see at Stumptown Coffee?

Actually, yes. A lot of people here dress like this. I don't think Stumptown discriminates against people based on how they dress. If they did..... well, I won't go there.....

[MarkDaMan]

mark do you think we should make a independent portland retail thread? because things are getting a tad off topic in this one...

not quite sure what I was doing. I intended the Portland visitor spending story I posted to go in the NW Economy Thread...oh well.

[MarkDaMan]

not everything is so formal anymore...this polo is only $75 a BB, a little more than you'd spend at Banana, but would easily top $125 at Saks...

http://omiru.com/wp-content/images/sailorstripe_031606.jpg

[Urbanpdx]

[QUOTE=Urbanpdx;2603949]http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Content/men/images/Shop-by-Outfit/men-outfit-429-lg.jpg

is this a guy you expect to see at Stumptown Coffee?

Actually, yes. A lot of people here dress like this. I don't think Stumptown discriminates against people based on how they dress. If they did..... well, I won't go there.....

I didn't imply that they would not serve him or would treat him badly, I just don't think I have ever seen someone that looks like that there.

[65MAX]

^^^
No, I didn't get that from your post at all. I think you meant that you don't see a lot of guys like that here because of the myth that Portland is obsessively casual. But I see sharply dressed men and women downtown and in my local coffee house all the time. It's not so rare, and Brooks Bros will do very well here.

[65MAX]

not quite sure what I was doing. I intended the Portland visitor spending story I posted to go in the NW Economy Thread...oh well.

That article belongs in this thread also. It specifically mentions retail spending by visitiors to Portland.

[Urbanpdx]

^^^
No, I didn't get that from your post at all. I think you meant that you don't see a lot of guys like that here because of the myth that Portland is obsessively casual. But I see sharply dressed men and women downtown and in my local coffee house all the time. It's not so rare, and Brooks Bros will do very well here.

Maybe the can corner the umbrella market. :haha:

[PDXPaul]

not everything is so formal anymore...this polo is only $75 a BB, a little more than you'd spend at Banana, but would easily top $125 at Saks...

http://omiru.com/wp-content/images/sailorstripe_031606.jpg

:yuck: Sorry, I had to do it, I just think it's an ugly polo:yes:

[65MAX]

http://omiru.com/wp-content/images/sailorstripe_031606.jpg

It's only ugly if you spent $10 at TJ Maxx.
If you spent $125 for this at Saks, it's called fashionable.

[pdxstreetcar]

Great news about Brooks Brothers in PDX. I remember hearing about a year ago that they were searching for a downtown location. Sounds like major plans for the Galleria might actually be going through this time [crosses fingers]. Perhaps Crate & Barrel will share the rest of the Galleria's first floor along with Made in Oregon. So much for the Schumacher's claim about downtown, especially with BB going in 20 feet away and the proposed tower across the street.


I do think the downtown (esp. the retail core) is slowly shifting westward, considering where all the investment is taking place.

[alexjon]

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Content/men/images/Shop-by-Outfit/men-outfit-429-lg.jpg

is this a guy you expect to see at Stumptown Coffee?

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/content/men/images/suits/main-brooksease.jpg

How about this guy pulling his bike off the Max?

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/358M.jpg

How about this guy grabbing a slice of Pizza on Alberta

Because that's normal day-wear?

How classist. Are you so angry because you can't dress like that? Really, urby, tell us. We're here for you :)

But on a serious slice of things, that kinda person could be anywhere, just like billionaires could look like schlubs.

[PDXPaul]

http://omiru.com/wp-content/images/sailorstripe_031606.jpg

It's only ugly if you spent $10 at TJ Maxx.
If you spent $125 for this at Saks, it's called fashionable.

Stores always mark down on sales. I don't think I've paid more than 30 bucks for a piece of clothing. I don't understand how people can pay so much.

As for the Brooks Brothers isn't really a Portland kind of store, there is something to that. We are kind of into fleeces here.

I got lunch with a friend of mine who was born and raised in Seattle. Usually I wear a peacoat and a manbag to class, but that day I wore a fleece and a (northface)<--because that's critical, backpack. And he was like "I like this, I feel like I can relate to you now. You look like you're from Seattle." To which I said "You can relate to me because I look like I'm going hiking?"

Which the answer is yes of course.

I actually have that bag for, 1. when I need to carry a lot of books, and 2. for when I'm going hiking or snowboarding. So there you go. I guess back east you can't really hike or snowboard. I mean what we call hills they call mountains. Ever been to a Vermont ski resort? Oy vey.

The flipside of that was, I went to Boston/NY/DC to see friends in college out there. And we were hanging out talking about how the East coast is different and someone was like "Where's your fleece, did you wear this stuff(collared shirt + sweater) specifically to fit in out here?" I chuckled at that.

[65MAX]

Schumacher's made the situation much worse than it would have been otherwise. They had to provoke and piss off the protesters, who likely would have given up and moved on after a month or so. If not, the city would likely have sided in Schumacher's favor and passed some ordinance to help them out. But since they acted like complete assholes during this whole thing, I say good riddance. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out to Bridgeport Village.

[Drmyeyes]

Agreed, the Schumachers handled the demonstration situation wrong. They were idiots about the situation. Instead of turning an opportunity to their advantage:

(ex; we actively seek out only those fur suppliers using the most humuane harvest methods possible and encourage those that don't to do so.....we support freedom of speech in the form of viewpoints that may oppose some aspects of our business with a request for respect of this legitimately operated business and those exercising their right to patronize it.)

They reduced themselves to a level below the worst of the demonstrators by profanely swearing at them and making up juvenile derogatory responses in the form of printouts on their computer which they taped to the inside glass of the front door.

Brooks Brothers are part of that classic genre of fashion culture that has held its place in Portland on the retail face by businesses such as John Helmer Haberdashery on Broadway, but also by Schumachers and Nicholas Unger up on Yamhill.

As the business atmosphere in Portland becomes more intense, an inclination towards the more disciplined classic fashion they specialize in will probably give them a strong market. That striped blazer looks extreme, even radical, but maybe such a thing, which looks weird to me, injects a certain civility into the casual business culture where other things might not.

[zilfondel]

Agree, it's kind of funny to see this kind of fashion moving into the Northwest, the home of the laid-back business culture if ever there was one! I own three ties; I've used them only a couple times in my life: high school graduation, funerals, job interviews (sometimes) and college interviews. Other than that, it is seldom seen in the software & computer industry, even for executives... but oh well; there obviously is a growing business culture here, and many people travel on business that live here. No use getting in a fashion argument over it...

[65MAX]

^^^^
Drmyeyes, absolutely. They could have turned the publicity into their favor, even gotten people to sympathize with them. But instead, the Schumachers just imploded on themselves. Now they're slinking out of town like complete losers.

^^
Yes, Portland fashion really is no more casual than in other cities. Not everyone in NY and Chicago walks around in Armani and Brooks Bros. That's just a stereotype. And not everyone here wears flannel and Gore-tex.

There's room for all kinds of fashion here. I've seen as much variety here as I've seen in any other city. I saw a woman the other day in an outfit that Bjork would have been embarassed to wear. I don't know how to describe it other than bizarre. But thank god for diversity... :tup:

[Dougall5505]

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out to Bridgeport Village.
actually i heard a interesting quote in one of those articles about this whole mess that the owner of bridgeport village said something along the lines of: "if schumachers moved in here I would be one of the ones protesting"

[pdxman]

Adidas will close Northeast retail store
MLK Jr. Blvd. - Although neighbors say they are sad to see the store go, it won't hinder plans for the area

Tuesday, February 06, 2007
STEPHEN BEAVEN
After a decade there, Adidas America said Monday that it will close its landmark retail store at the corner of Northeast Alberta Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Adidas will not renew the lease for the store, which is expected to close in the second half of 2007, marking the end of a retail outlet that opened with great fanfare as an anchor in the redevelopment of MLK.

Developers and neighborhood leaders said they would be sad to see the store close. But they don't expect Adidas' plans to hamper growth in the area, thanks to a number of nearby projects under construction.

"It's a disappointment of course," said Bernie Kerosky, of the Portland Development Commission, which is financing several projects along MLK. "But we don't see it as a fatal blow."

In fact, community leaders said that in recent years the store has had little impact on the surrounding area.

Adidas hasn't done much to promote the store and had not worked closely with local leaders for several years, said Willie Brown, the interim executive director of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods.

But Andrea Corso, a spokeswoman for Adidas, said that the company remains committed to the Portland area, with its North American headquarters on North Greeley Avenue and three additional retail sites.

Though Brown and others said the store didn't appear to attract many customers, Corso said it was not being closed because of poor sales.

Rather, the store is no longer "a strong strategic fit" for the company's retail plans, she said, adding that she could not elaborate.

The decision to close is an ignominious end for a store that opened, in part, to provide jobs and training in Portland's urban core.

Developer Ray Leary worked for Adidas in 1996 and had pushed the apparel-maker to open a store on MLK as a means of acknowledging the inner city, which had helped fuel the company's sales.

Leary credits Steve Wynne, who headed Adidas America in the second half of the 1990s, for making sure the company focused on the community in Northeast Portland.

That focus paid off, Leary said Monday. Of the first 27 employees at the store, 18 went on to full-time jobs with the corporate parent.

"That was the goal," Leary said.

Leary has long since left Adidas and is now putting together the Vanport Square project at 5225 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

His project and others have signaled a resurgence on MLK in recent years, perhaps softening the sting of Adidas' announcement.

But Adidas will still leave an empty storefront later this year. Whoever moves in, Brown said, should be prepared to work closely with the community.

"If you're coming," he said, "you're going to be a part of it, or we'll make sure you don't come."

Stephen Beaven: 503-294-7663; stevebeaven@news.oregonian.com

[mcbaby]

it was never really a phenomenal space. i went there once for a pair of shoes and i was the only customer there at the time. maybe the site could be better utilized as a mixed use development with apartments and retail.

[pdxman]

Plan aims to rev up downtown retailing
Downtown Portland’s retail scene isn’t “running on all eight cylinders,” says Christopher Kopca.

So a committee headed by Kopca has drawn up a $15.3 million five-year plan to restore the city center’s reputation as a shopping destination. Kopca works for Downtown Development Group, a private firm with extensive downtown holdings.

Macy’s and Nordstrom are undertaking major renovations. But downtown also faces new competition. Lifestyle centers such as Bridgeport Village and Streets of Tanasbourne try to recreate the feel of old-fashioned downtowns, but because they’re on private land, they can eliminate panhandlers, political activists and news-rack clutter.

And Sandra McDonough, director of the Portland Business Alliance, says the public still perceives downtown as unsafe, though crime figures are down 13 percent from a year ago.

Other hindrances Kopca’s committee found: lack of large store spaces, older buildings with low ceilings and renovation expenses.

As part of its work, the committee tried looking to other cities for ideas.

“The good news and the bad news,” says Lew Bowers, a Portland Development Commission development manager, “is that they all look to us.”
–- Fred Leeson, fredleeson@news.oregonian.com

[PacificNW]

↑"the public still perceives downtown as unsafe" "crime figures are down 13 percent from a year ago." Just goes to show that perceptions are not necessarily reality.. :)

[pdxman]

Indeed, but we need to get rid of that perception all together. Most of what people are scared off by are not criminals so much but panhandlers, intimidating groups of teenagers and drunk or drugged people. Even if they couldn't clean up some of the vagrants i'd atleast like to see more security or beat cops out there.

[cab]

Its just so insulting for DT to be continuely compared with a "lifestyle" center by the DT business community. This is the problem. Look at all the neighborhoods around DT and they are booming. Why? Because those business people in those areas understand what a city is. THey are serving people who like the unique urban environment. DT business wants disney land to attract suburbanites. Its a huge mistake. As DT is filled with national retails bleeding the state of cash and pushing away urban dweller looking for uniqueness. These businesses will increasingly rely on attracting suburbanites who drive. The pressure to get those shoppers into DT will grow and that pressure will come in the form of making DT more friendly to auto infrastructure. Its a nasty cycle, a mistake played out all over the US. I thought we'd had moved past this.

[Urbanpdx]

↑"the public still perceives downtown as unsafe" "crime figures are down 13 percent from a year ago." Just goes to show that perceptions are not necessarily reality.. :)

Remember that is REPORTED crime. More people all the time rightly believe that the police will do nothing so don't report.

[MarkDaMan]

Last time I checked Bridgeport didn't have 100,000 employees working daily in it either...I don't see the negative in that article. Foremost, it takes time for the public perception to change. Downtown although never dangerous, did feel the effects of the economic downtown and increase in highly publicized crime events. In a few years, if DT continues its current path, the perception will change again...like if the Blazers start winning.

What irritates me about these articles is the spin. It casts a negative tone in just the first sentence with the main quote being Portland is not 'running on all eight cylinders'. In reality, the guy running the committee to bring back downtown recognized and pointed out some weaknesses. In order to improve the climate, we have to find out what is and isn't working and than talk about it and find solutions.

[cab]

I guess my point was that the business community choices are not working because they are approaching DT as a mall rather then a city. There goal is to fill DT with national retail to compete with lifestyle malls. They are taking a national generic approach to cities that seems at odds with Portland sensibilities.

[Urbanpdx]

I think CAB has a point but it is hard to fill all that expensive space with retailers that cater only to DT people. Even NW 23rd (and to some extent the Pearl) lives and dies on the suburban shopper.

[cab]

It would be interesting to see a money chart detailing the value of a nationally owned retailer vs. a locally owned to the local community. Oregon is not exactly a rich state so having a money cycle that keeps more money here rather then bleed it out through commerce should be a goal. I don't think filling your largest cities DT with national chains helps. And without a sales tax catching some out of state cash we're kind of in a hole (over coming the transportation oil bleed is hard enough)

[Urbanpdx]

That is a specious argument. Just like the "buy American" BS you hear from the red-neck croud.

Giving preference to local products or businesses is not really different from giving preference to products made by whites over those made by blacks. Economic regionalism, like racism, means judging people and their businesses by the group from which they come, not by their merit. If a business has a better mouse trap and happens to be based in NY then I benefit by being able to buy from that business.

Why do people see the economy as a dog-eat-dog world, where one person's gain is anothers loss? Do we really have to cling to our little herd and fight all the other herds for a share of the spoils? If some other region is getting richer, then we must be getting poorer? Absolutely not.

Government interference with free trade, sacrificing one's standard of living in order to subsidize inefficient local business, and the tribal fear of outsiders is un-American. We should all buys the best things for the best prices, wherever it may be found and from whomever is selling it.

[Drmyeyes]

"Trickle Down Theory" Does that ring any bells? Sure, support the big out of town businesses and it will eventually come back to you. Uh-huh. Not the same, but this shares some characteristics with pyramid schemes. This is the reason people fear Walmart and fight to keep it from further destruction of local economys. Chains are not the same as local business. There is a place for chains, but they should not be allowed to dominate.

[Chicago3rd]

Government interference with free trade, sacrificing one's standard of living in order to subsidize inefficient local business, and the tribal fear of outsiders is un-American. We should all buys the best things for the best prices, wherever it may be found and from whomever is selling it.

First we don't have free trade in this country. Look how much the american tax payer pays in overseas advertising so that foreigners will buy American. That isn't free trade. 50% of welfare goes to companies not people...so again this country isn't free trade.

And that last sentence....not one piece of morality is in that statement.....slave labor is acceptable to you if it means your Nike's cost you a few cents less.

[brandonpdx]

That is a specious argument. Just like the "buy American" BS you hear from the red-neck croud.

Giving preference to local products or businesses is not really different from giving preference to products made by whites over those made by blacks. Economic regionalism, like racism, means judging people and their businesses by the group from which they come, not by their merit. If a business has a better mouse trap and happens to be based in NY then I benefit by being able to buy from that business.



A big reason why some of us buy locally is because the money we spend on local products from local owners is most likely going to remain in this region. It's one of many small ways to invest in our community.

Comparing buying locally to racism is completely absurd.

[MarkDaMan]

All of my veggies are bought local, and almost exclusively from the farmers markets for most of the year when they are open. Why buy a Hermiston Watermellon or Walla-Walla onion instead of a Chilean? Because, one, it tastes better. Two, I can actually drive through the place that produces it (allowing me to know if there is a toxic oil field or some other ground and water polluting factory in the area). Three, most third world produce growing countries destory things like the rainforest for farmland. And, fourth, if everyone in Portland bought local produce, all our local farms would be secure for centuries.

I have to imagine not just food, but many products could be viewed in the same manner.

[mhays]

It seems that Downtown Portland gets hit harder by the "too many panhandlers" thing than Downtown Seattle. My impression is that the actual numbers of panhandlers are similar. But in Seattle they're more spread out -- Pioneer Square, Broadway, Belltown, and the U-District come to mind. That leaves fewer for the Retail District. Even the Pike Place Market, which is no longer allowed to boot panhandlers from public streets, has its share.

I've always viewed DT Portland as very successful. But, reading this thread, I wonder if you're making the same mistake we are in Seattle: requiring retail everywhere, when successful "destination" retail needs to be concentrated. The main retail district should be a few blocks by a few blocks at most, plus a small number of major retail streets elsewhere. Let the other streets have whatever retail the property owners want, but don't require any.

[MarkDaMan]

^I completely disagree. What would San Francisco be like if they didn't have the retail city wide?. I agree with a centralized shopping district. That can be accomplished by using existing boosters like the PDC to assemble larger than normal spaces, and new street/sidewalk improvements (more classier fixtures) in the designated area. A centralized retail district will attract national chains, department stores, and destination shoppers. However, there is more than enough every day services that people, especially residents, need to have located in their neighborhood. Strip malls only build one or two destination retailers and the rest are small spaces, comparing the two, Portland has several destination retailers so food and other service businesses should eventually fill the vacant space. And to be perfectly honest, I don't think there is a glut of retail spaces. Contrary to what the Trib would have you believe, I don't see huge tracks of empty stores ANYWHERE in downtown.

When was the last time you've been downtown Portland anyway? I go through it everyday. I'm not sure what the city has done, but I hardly notice many panhandlers at all anymore. Maybe that because its winter and cold, but those in need are not on every corner as has been the case in the past, and their normal hangouts, like under the Burnside Bridge, have been relatively empty as of late.

[Urbanpdx]

San Francisco has retail where the market will support it, mostly along main streets. Hundreds of buildings are PURELY residential. Even in cities like NY and London, the main streets are mixed use and the side streets are purely residential.

[PacificNW]

↑Wow, Mark, I sense a strong disagreement on your part! :) :)...I agree with your points, though. I feel many of the smaller national retailers, along with convenience stores/dry cleaners, cafe's, local retail will fill smaller spaces in the Pearl and South Waterfront.

I don't feel Portland, or Seattle, are over retailed yet. As I have posted before I think there is a need for the larger national department/retailers to have a presence in downtown ALONG with local/homegrown/one of a kind retail establishments.

I still remember when Nordstrom was considered a local, then regional retailer, prior to becoming a national player. Nordstrom was/is a major reason for keeping downtown Portland active and healthy. The new Macy's, I think, will be a huge asset for downtown Portland.

I think, with the mix of local established retailer's, cities like Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia (to name a few) and Portland are what make their city unique, interesting and a joy to shop, eat, drink, play and relax. The larger National Players create the positive impression of a healthy downtown, or like what many large American cities have experienced when they lack them, their downtowns close up shop @ 5:00 pm... :)

[pdxman]

I see plenty of empty retail in DT, most of it doesn't look like great retail space(perhaps thats why its empty)...but it does make me wonder why they keep building retail on the base of every condo tower. Shouldn't they improve and sell the existing retail? Can there be too much retail? I just don't like to see empty storefronts. And a sidenote---theres still plenty of panhandlers. I get nailed atleast 2-3 times everytime i walk around the pioneer square area

[Urbanpdx]

In suburban malls and strip malls developers often cut sweetheart deals to anchors like Nordstrom or Albertsons as they attract the buyers that support the small independent shops. Sometimes Nordstom even demands FREE rent, without Nordstrom the mall fails. Downtown is sort of like a big mall.

[PacificNW]

I think most of the condo towers sprouting up in Portland and Seattle will attract some kind of business to their street spaces.. If not, there probably are numerous other uses for the space.

[zilfondel]

My god, I wouldn't even know where to start with this one... jesus christ urbanpdx, do you try to be this caustic, or are you just naturally an ass?

My father gave me a great bit of advice when I was young: engage brain before putting mouth in gear. Perhaps they should add more than just a spellchecker on computers these days...

===

but to respond to your rather innane lament against those damned "red neck" hicks who want to buy America (I assume you refer to the Wal-Mart commercials, where in fact the majority of their products are from China?):

Transportation is a huge cost for business and incurs an amazing amount of damage to the environment. Buying stuff locally, which has an EXTREMELY tight tradition in Oregon which you apparently aren't very well versed in, brings the consumer closer to the producer, keeping money in the local economy, as well as the social and environmental ramifications to moving lots of stuff long distances:

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Pacific-Garbage-Patch27oct02.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pacific_Gyre

[bvpcvm]

I see plenty of empty retail in DT, most of it doesn't look like great retail space(perhaps thats why its empty)...but it does make me wonder why they keep building retail on the base of every condo tower. Shouldn't they improve and sell the existing retail? Can there be too much retail? I just don't like to see empty storefronts. And a sidenote---theres still plenty of panhandlers. I get nailed atleast 2-3 times everytime i walk around the pioneer square area

What do you mean by "nailed" in this case? You mean they - perish the thought - asked you for change? So what? Just tell 'em no and keep moving. That's life in the big city.

[pdxman]

Yeah, i guess i could've said "asked"...i do give whatever change i have to the dudes who try their hand at a talent like playing music or whatever. Oh yeah, portlands not a big city. new york, san fran--those are big cities. but i guess its relative.

[PacificNW]

Actually the activity that comes with being downtown is what attracts me to be there in the first place... The malls are way too sanitized for my tastes.

I realize most of us on this forum don't have much "empathy" with many of the less fortunate in our downtowns but we should have some "sympathy". One can only imagine the hell that many of these people are going through. I do realize there are people on the streets preying on other's but there are just as many wearing suits working in the downtown towers...they probably just have better hygiene (but they still smell, imo)

[pdxman]

:previous: I really like that response...i agree and have plenty of work to do in the sympathy dept.

[bvpcvm]

What do you mean by "nailed" in this case? You mean they - perish the thought - asked you for change? So what? Just tell 'em no and keep moving. That's life in the big city.

Actually, I am curious: what is it about the homeless that's so frightening to the Bridgeport Village crowd? When people ask me for spare change, they're almost invariably polite, whether I give or not. I think when it comes down to it, it's either a bit of the "tribalism" The Troll referred to above: "we" don't understand them or their lifestyle and we certainly don't dress like them, so they're frightening simply on the basis of difference, or we're frightened because the homeless remind us that we, too, with a few missed credit card payments, could end up in the same situation. Or possibly there are some ignorant people out there who actually fear violence from the homeless (and given the hollering on local TV about a couple random incidents over the last year, it's not entirely surprising). I suppose a little re-education is in order. A few comments, meant to be heard in neighboring cubicles about how the suburbs are "so over", etc, wouldn't be out of line.

I really think (this is probably urban studies 101) city life (i.e., random meetings of people of all income levels) is vital to democracy. The suburbs are anti-democratic because you never have to see anyone outside of your own socio-economic level, or if you do it's either on TV or rare enough that it's just enough to form or reinforce stereotypes. Consequently, your understanding of the rest of society is skewed, and democracy relies on an informed populace. As does capitalism. Both are degraded by suburban life. Throw in driving around in your car just amplifies the effect.

But fuck it, we probably only have a few decades left anyway.

[Drmyeyes]

There's no realistically simple answer for prejudice directed against any individual or group. With regards to a lot of people on the lower rungs of society, the prejudice against them is partly real and partly conditioned. Also, some people have good reason to be afraid of certain people on the street. A lot of able bodied people won't be intimidated by a dirty smelly person asking for money, but a frail person might. Some people from cities like Chicago where panhandlers were villified through deliberate or coincidental conditioning actions, reflexively despise them regardless of how nice somebody asks for money.

When insensitve, uncivil attitudes are promoted as generally acceptable, even though a little individual consideration would reveal them to be obviously not so, it can be very easy for many people to take on that attitude. So it becomes very easy, for example, for some people to look upon every person sitting on the sidewalk without a briefcase and clean clothes, asking for change, as some kind of social parasite.

The responsibility lies upon every independently thinking person to consider each situation they encounter, and determine, based on what they know and respect, what is right and fair in terms of how to conduct themselves towards people in that situation.

[pdxman]

Points well taken bvpcvm...I just hope you're not saying that homelessness is a necessary component of city life or life in general.

Obviously, it will never be completely resolved(unfortunately), but i would like to see the homeless situation dealt with on a more proactive level. We've (including me, i know, but i'm explaining myself now) identified that there is a homeless problem, but whats been done about it? Very little! The problem is acknowledged, but nothing is done to solve it. This should be one of the nations priorities--to create programs to help prevent homelessness and to have ways and doors for those who are homeless to get out of it. Take a few dollars out of my paycheck every month for goodness sake! As long as it goes towards eradicating homelessness. Lets get something going!

The longer you let people panhandle and dig thru garbage cans the more "acceptable" it will be deemed and thus the problem will increase. Thats why the numbers for homeless kids and adults aren't going down as a whole. People and government aren't cracking down on the problem and its becoming normal. Homelessness should never be normal. But, (i know many will disagree with me on this) for many who are homeless it is a choice. Life is choice and consequence. Now, there are exceptions where some are handicapped mentally and physically and its certainly harder for them to get out of it. And thats where programs are needed to help them. But for the others it IS possible for them to get out of it if they really want to and if they TRY. And i say make it as EASY as possible for them to get OUT of it and as HARD as possible for them to get INTO it.

There really should be more options for the homeless population. I just feel theres too much of an ambivalent attitude towards this issue.

[65MAX]

Obviously, it will never be completely resolved(unfortunately), but i would like to see the homeless situation dealt with on a more proactive level.

Actually, homelessness is a fairly recent phenomenon, coincidentally (or not so coincidentally) starting around the so-called Reagan Revolution. More like Reagan Devolution. The systematic dismantling of social safety nets by the Republicans is disgusting and reprehensible, and entirely to blame for our lack of evolution over the last quarter century. Fortunately the tide is turning and once we get universal health care, fair trade/family wages and proper funding of social services, homelessness will be looked at as a symptom of a truly shameful period of American history.

Just for perspective, homelessness is almost unheard of in Scandinavian and many other European countries. And even in third world countries, homelessness is usually limited to refugees from neighboring countries.

[Urbanpdx]

My god, I wouldn't even know where to start with this one... jesus christ urbanpdx, do you try to be this caustic, or are you just naturally an ass?

My father gave me a great bit of advice when I was young: engage brain before putting mouth in gear. Perhaps they should add more than just a spellchecker on computers these days...

===

but to respond to your rather innane lament against those damned "red neck" hicks who want to buy America (I assume you refer to the Wal-Mart commercials, where in fact the majority of their products are from China?):

Transportation is a huge cost for business and incurs an amazing amount of damage to the environment. Buying stuff locally, which has an EXTREMELY tight tradition in Oregon which you apparently aren't very well versed in, brings the consumer closer to the producer, keeping money in the local economy, as well as the social and environmental ramifications to moving lots of stuff long distances:

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Pacific-Garbage-Patch27oct02.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pacific_Gyre

Racism has a "tight tradition" in the South but there is no way any of us would advocate it. What makes you think that small locally owned stores only sell locally produced goods? If I buy a pair of pants from a ratty little local store with bad service for $100 or from a well run Seattle based store for $90 how am I better off? (assume both are made in China). Without that Seattle store competing the local guy would probably not even have the pants I want in stock and, if he did, he would charge $150 for them. What if that $10 I saved goes to buy lunch from a local restaurant, isn't that restaurant owner better off since I bought from a non-local cloting store?

[Chicago3rd]

I see plenty of empty retail in DT, most of it doesn't look like great retail space(perhaps thats why its empty)...but it does make me wonder why they keep building retail on the base of every condo tower. Shouldn't they improve and sell the existing retail? Can there be too much retail? I just don't like to see empty storefronts. And a sidenote---theres still plenty of panhandlers. I get nailed atleast 2-3 times everytime i walk around the pioneer square area

Nope...you are going against what has worked in PDX for 3 decades now. Pedestrian oriented....retail, service and business oriented on the first floor.
Nope...store fronts can be turned into other things...Check out Chicagos University District...looky what we did with old office and retail buildings 50,000 students now!

Now...I find it odd that people as libertarian as some on here have a problem with panhandlers doing their thing.....sort of ironic or stepping away from party line isn't it?

[pdxman]

Has anyone else seen the new info signs that have been popping up around DT sidewalks? They're pretty nice...i love the idea. I also noticed one in the pearl district today too. I wish i could take a picture of one to post it here...

[tworivers]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/384289134_e5ceaa4711_o.jpg

(Note the hopefully-soon-to-be-redeveloped garage. Talk about blight.)

[pdxman]

Whoa, that was quick...thanks tworivers. again, very good idea

[pdxstreetcar]

very cool

i'm kind of surprised they included powells on the sign.

[zilfondel]

very cool

i'm kind of surprised they included powells on the sign.

3rd largest tourist attraction in Oregon!

[MarkDaMan]

^The sign by my work doesn't mention Powells or the Pearl, I think it does mention the Tram though. Next time I'm out I'll take a look.

[pdxstreetcar]

3rd largest tourist attraction in Oregon? I'm not!

I realize its a major attraction but just the fact that an official sign favors a certain private business.

[pdxtraveler]

I definitely think Powell's is sign worthy. They are tourists signs. Tourists want to be able to find Powell's.

[mcbaby]

i'm always giving directions to powell's

[sirsimon]

Wow...it is amazing the discussion this little thread has spawned since I last looked at it. Lots of interesting points from all of you.

I think the signs are a good idea. I wonder if places like Powell's pay to be listed on them?

[65MAX]

I kinda doubt it, otherwise everybody would want to be listed on the signs. Powell's is a legitimate tourist attraction and warrants the special attention.

[MarkDaMan]

City fights traffic jams with charm, gifts
Effort aims at drivers as construction starts to lock up downtown

By Nick Budnick

The Portland Tribune, Feb 16, 2007

Ask not what your city can do for your traffic jam, ask what you can do for your city’s traffic jam, and the answer may bring you free food and stuff.

To reduce the fury of rush-hour commuters negotiating an unprecedented number of construction projects downtown, city officials are deploying a marketing initiative to get some of those commuters out of their cars.

The Portland Office of Transportation later this month will unleash a large-scale effort called “Downtown Smart Trips” that offers downtown commuters gifts, a chance to win a hotel stay, ample information and a cheery personal touch.

The mantra, as delivered by city spokeswoman Ellen Vanderslice: “You can travel cheaper, in a more healthy way – and it’s great for the environment.”

The plan is to reach out, with the help of employers, to 25,000 people who work downtown, starting with Portland State University.

Participants who fill out a pledge form receive flashy bike maps and personalized information on using TriMet and the car-sharing company called Flexcar, or setting up a car or van pool.

Participants also receive a free entree from program co-sponsor Qdoba restaurants, and will be entered into a lottery for a free night at the Heathman Hotel.

In the past, the Smart Trips program focused on people where they live, in neighborhoods in Northeast and Southeast. Those efforts have resulted in as much as a 13 percent reduction in car trips, Hurley said.

The latest incarnation of Smart Trips is focused on people where they work – downtown. It’s a nod to the extra strain posed by numerous downtown construction projects, especially the revamping of the transit mall to accommodate light rail, a project that will take two years.

The goal is to remove 5 percent of the commuter vehicles traveling downtown during rush hour overall, said program coordinator Peter Hurley.

On Southwest Fourth Avenue, the goal is more ambitious, to remove 10 percent of the afternoon rush-hour traffic. That would only be 150 cars, Hurley said, but “from a traffic perspective, it’s very, very significant.”

With the help of Vancouver, Wash., the program also hopes to tap into a new van pool program of the Metro regional government.

Focused on people living in areas poorly served by transit, notably Clark and Columbia counties, the van pools would be federally subsidized to roughly half their normal cost, affording participants cost reductions of two-thirds or more on average over driving a single-occupant vehicle, according to Metro.

Metro has money to fund 40 van pools, and the city hopes to get half of those downtown, Vanderslice said.

The city is asking employers or people hoping to get their employers involved in Smart Trips to call Hurley, 503-823-5345, or e-mail him at peter.hurley@pdxtrans.org.

For car and van pool information visit www.carpoolmatchnw.org
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=117158189417076700

[MarkDaMan]

Let them eat steak, just one at a time
TRIB TOWN: Downtown dwellers want smaller grocery packaging, more hardware
By Jim Redden
The Portland Tribune, Feb 20, 2007

When the Downtown Neighborhood Association asked its members last fall what would make the city center more livable, Chairman Steve Trujillo was surprised by the responses.

Instead of bringing up such large issues as the transit mall renovation plan or aggressive panhandlers, the members volunteered small inconveniences – such as not being able to buy one or two steaks at the downtown Safeway.

“People said they felt like the store was only marketing to large families, and there aren’t that many downtown. Instead, there are a lot of singles and small families that don’t want to buy four or more steaks at a time,” said Trujillo, who’s also the pastor of the nondenominational Father’s House Church, which meets in the former campus ministry building at Portland State University.

The responses prompted the DNA – the official neighborhood association representing downtown – to kick off a new discussion series called Downtown-Living Forum. The first one will be held at 6:30 p.m. next Monday in Room 327 of PSU’s Smith Memorial Union, 1825 S.W. Broadway.

Troy Steele, the manager of the Museum Place Safeway, has agreed to attend the meeting, accompanied by representatives of the meat, deli and produce departments. Trujillo is pleased that Steele was so willing to meet with downtown residents.

“Other retailers have similar problems, so it’s not just Safeway. They were just the first one that came up, and they were more than happy to hear what we have to say,” Trujillo said.

After meeting with the Safeway representatives, Trujillo said, the residents will break up into small groups to discuss other common issues and generate topics for future forums. He expects one of them to involve the current lack of a hardware store downtown.

“Sometimes you’re working on your condo or apartment and you just need some nuts and bolts – and you feel like you’ve got to run over to the Hollywood neighborhood to get them,” he said.

DNA meetings have included presentations on numerous issues over the past year, including diminishing housing for lower-income renters and middle-class families.

“Unlike many other neighborhood associations, we haven’t had a livability committee to address smaller issues, like Dumpsters on the sidewalks and things like that. Now we’re taking care of it,” Trujillo said.

For more information on the meeting or the DNA, call 503-228-8615.

jimredden@portlandtribune.com
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=117192591551178800

[Dougall5505]

personally im glad they are closing what are your guys views? its going to be a nice space opening up soon i wonder who will move into it.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1171943730278200.xml&coll=7
Furrier will close, blames protesters
Shutdown - Gregg Schumacher says activists undermined relocating his 112-year-old business
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
JOSEPH ROSE
Schumacher Furs & Outerwear is closing for good, saying anti-fur activists have thwarted its attempts to move out of downtown Portland by intimidating suburban mall managers.

Rather than stay in Portland, the 112-year-old fur business will close when its lease runs out this spring, owner Gregg Schumacher said Monday.

But managers at the upscale Bridgeport Village and Washington Square malls, which rejected Schumacher's requests to lease retail space, were puzzled by the fur-store owner's latest claims.

In an announcement Monday, Schumacher said efforts to relocate to the malls were "undone by a targeted intimidation campaign . . . resulting in several late-stage cancellations."

The malls, however, say there was hardly pressure from animal-rights groups, much less lease agreements to cancel.

"That didn't happen," said Jonae Armstrong, senior property manager at Washington Square in Tigard. "We did receive a couple of e-mails, but that in no way influenced our decision."

Bridgeport Village officials said they received fewer than a dozen e-mails. What's more, many supported the idea of the fur business opening amid the mall's other boutique stores, said general manager Bob Dye.

In November, after more than a year of weekly daylong protests at Southwest Ninth Avenue and Morrison Street, Schumacher said he would move his store to an undisclosed suburban location.

In January, he told The Oregonian that he had secured a site but wasn't ready to say where.

Protesters, meanwhile, called Schumacher's assertions unfounded.
Learning that Schumacher plans to shutter his business entirely, Matt Rossell, a Northwest outreach coordinator for In Defense of Animals, initially reacted with disbelief. "Is it April Fool's Day?" he asked.

Realizing it wasn't a joke, Rossell interrupted his phone interview to announce the store's closure to others in his Northeast Portland office. In the background, they greeted the news with clapping and audible exclamations of, "Yes!"

"It's a good day for animals," Rossell said. "Although it was never our intention to put them out of business, it's a really encouraging sign that this community won't have them."

Rossell denied that the group mounted an organized campaign to stop Schumacher from moving into a mall. "If there was a campaign, I would have certainly known about it."

In the past 14 months, as he became the most fiercely protested fur trader in America, Schumacher repeatedly blamed Portland police, the mayor or the City Council for not protecting the business from what he sees as unlawful behavior.

From the start, the weekly circuslike demonstrations on Saturdays were a clash of free enterprise and free speech. Though everyone agrees that animal-rights activists tested the limits of free speech and at times broke laws, fatigued city officials say Schumacher and his wife, Linda, carry much of the responsibility for what happened.

Portland leaders have said the Schumachers not only rejected every overture from them, including taking part in city-sponsored mediation with protest organizers, but they also fanned the flames by frequently confronting and antagonizing the protesters.

Monday afternoon, Schumacher, who has announced his intent to sue the city, referred phone calls to McWilliams & Co., a Portland public relations firm. But his announcement, titled "Furrier Forced Out of Business By Violent Eco-Terrorist Protests," showed that he wasn't surrendering gently.

Spokesman Dan McWilliams said that, as far he knew, Bridgeport Village and Washington Square were the only malls considering leasing to Schumacher.

"There aren't too many places to go with a store like that," he said. "The demographics have to support it."
McWilliams says Schumacher has documents proving mall managers received threatening e-mails and phone calls from "people who clearly support the protesters." McWilliams said he didn't have copies of the documents.

At Bridgeport Village, "I guess they had a great lunch and talked -- and even picked out a spot," McWilliams said. "Then they changed their minds. Eventually, they weren't even returning phone calls."

Dye confirmed that mall managers met with Schumacher, but says there was nothing close to an agreement. The handful of e-mails were mostly polite -- ranging from "educational" to rhetorical to support for Schumacher -- but didn't come into play. "We decided that at this point and time that it was not a good fit," he said.

The reasons for passing on the fur store, Dye said, should have been crystal clear to Schumacher. "It was clear to us."

Armstrong said negotiations with Schumacher essentially ended with his recent calls to leasing representatives. "We get many from businesses wanting to locate here," she said, adding that Schumacher Furs didn't fit the mall's merchandising mix.

McWilliams said Schumacher is negotiating with his current landlord, TMT Development, to have his lease extended so he can stay until May. "Unfortunately," McWilliams said, "they have quite a bit of inventory to sell."

A TMT spokeswoman said the company was unaware of Schumacher's new plans.

Rossell said the going-out-of-business announcement changes nothing. "The Saturday protests," he said, "will continue until they culminate with some kind of party at the end."

Joseph Rose: 503-221-8029; josephrose@news.oregonian.com

[Drmyeyes]

Furs...Visually, they're luxuriantly beautiful, contrasting with and adding in a positive way to the harsh urban setting a sense of the beautiful wild setting from where they came.

I suppose my feeling about the idea of furs as fashion items is mixed, but presently, I continue to feel like they should have a continuing presence in the kind of major urban downtown setting that Portland is. Furs may be the product of an industry that savagely abuses the animals used for the garments they market, but as garments, they also have been significantly associated with contributing to the creation of a generally positive character for a downtown.

The positive attributes of furs are elegance and sophistication. They imply aspiration and success realized. I like seeing the occassional fur worn by somebody downtown. There seems to be something seriously wrong in allowing a very small interest group to allow a merchant legitimately selling furs to be driven from doing business downtown.

I wonder if city hall will come to regret allowing this to happen.

[PacificNW]

I doubt it.... There are other ways to flaunt one's elegance and sophistication than wearing a fur garment. If furs were our only source of warmth/clothing that would entirely be another matter.

It appears to me that this particular shop owner was confrontational and was not open to mediation.

[zilfondel]

I thought furs went out of style long ago... like the 40s? Hasn't anyone heard of this great new technology, nylon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon)?


I have never known anyone in my entire life that owns any fur garments.

[tworivers]

First of all, the city did not "allow" this to happen! Anyone who looks at this story for five minutes can see that the Schumachers (who strike me as being 100% bonkers) were totally unreasonable right up to the end. "Violent eco-terrorists"? My ass.

I am personally disgusted by the industrial fur industry and am happy to see them go. I have mixed feelings, however, about the use of protesting in circumstances like this for reasons of consistency. I can envision a situation in which a similarly small group would be able to close a business down for what I personally would define as unjustifiable reasons. In such a case, I would hope that people would show up to counter-protest, something that never materialized with Schumachers, probably a reflection of their lack of widespread public support. As an aside, I also think most animal rights activists, while generally on the right side of the equation, are nutty and annoying in their single-minded moralism (like the classic vegan argument that humans should never kill and eat animals --"I heart hunting accidents"--, something that anyone familiar with the evolution of the human species can easily shoot down... except that it's like arguing with creationists... or libertarians).

Anyways, Gregg and Linda: don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[PacificNW]

Check this out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PORR9LSoHQw

[pdxstreetcar]

At first I thought the protesters were being unreasonable then I heard that the Schumachers were provoking them and making it worse and about the disputes they had with their landlord, now the fact that the suburban malls dont want them proves even more it was always the Schumachers that were the root of the problem. How typical that they would fabricate some story about why they were rejected from the malls, haha what douchebags. Oh yeah and its all Portland's fault. :haha:

Ze