Old Town/Chinatown News

[downtownpdx]

Originally Posted by DMH

Footwear and apparel hub proposed:

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/...d-a27bcd4c17bd.

I hope this really becomes a flourishing area, it has such great bones. And the post office redevelopment nearby can only help.

[maccoinnich]

Does anyone know which buildings are being considered as part of this effort? I tried searching but the Oregonian article is all I can find on the project.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by downtownpdx

I hope this really becomes a flourishing area, it has such great bones. And the post office redevelopment nearby can only help.

Seriously! Old Town is a sleeping giant of a neighborhood. Downtown to the south, the Pearl to the west, and the Post Office site is going to provide so much growth to the north. And as you said, the neighborhood has such good bones. The long term potential for this neighborhood is incredible.

It needs a catalyst to jumpstart major development, but even without one... there's so much potential that the neighborhood will eventually blossom again. It can't NOT happen. It's just a matter of when.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

Seriously! Old Town is a sleeping giant of a neighborhood. Downtown to the south, the Pearl to the west, and the Post Office site is going to provide so much growth to the north. And as you said, the neighborhood has such good bones. The long term potential for this neighborhood is incredible.

It needs a catalyst to jumpstart major development, but even without one... there's so much potential that the neighborhood will eventually blossom again. It can't NOT happen. It's just a matter of when.

I think what is holding it back is the low height limits. I would love to see existing buildings be preserved as much as possible with empty lots having much higher limits and height bonuses for residential buildings. Turning Old Town into an active neighborhood downtown would be a good thing.

[downtownpdx]

Despite challenges, optimism builds for safer, renewed Old Town

by Steve Dunn, KATU StaffThu, April 18th 2024 at 5:30 PM
Updated Thu, April 18th 2024 at 6:14 PM

When you walk the streets of Old Town these days, you see a lot -- the drug use, the mental illness is there.

Old Town has always had its share of issues, exacerbated by the city's turn of events in the last four years. But some who work down here feel the worst may be behind them and that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.

Darek Dohy is a managing partner at River Poker and Sports Bar on Northwest 5th Avenue. He took over a spot there in October.

Like most people he had concerns about what was happening in the streets. Then he just sat in his car and watched. He says he saw people just trying to live.

"I haven't been threatened, I haven't had any problems with anyone here on the streets, it's not an exact like perfect element, but I've never experienced anything that has made me concerned about this area,” said Dohy.

He points to the addition of state troopers on bikes canvassing the neighborhood, and the Clean and Safe program, which allows businesses to call if there are any issues on the streets.

Right across the street is Charlie's Deli.

Charlie Mattouk has been outspoken about the problems down here. He's had his deli in Old Town for 10 years. He feels business owners have long had to fend for themselves down here.

Still, he and co-owner Alicia Matous just signed another 10-year lease and say they feel safer than they have in a long time.

“I don't think either of us can put a finger on it, on what it is -- more than it's the aggregate of all the small things we're seeing from out windows to our front door, from our customers,” said Mattouk.

continues:https://katu.com/news/city-in-crisis...d-safe-program

[downtownpdx]

Gov. Kotek ends veto threat for $2M allocation for Old Town manufacturing hub

Demi Lawrence
By Demi Lawrence – Staff Reporter, Portland Business Journal
Apr 18, 2024

Gov. Tina Kotek will not veto a $2 million allocation for a sustainable apparel manufacturing hub in Portland's Old Town approved by legislators this year.

Kotek said last week she was considering vetos for the Old Town project along with $14 million in infrastructure spending, saying she wanted more information on the projects.

Matthew Claudel, partner on the Old Town project, said last week that partners were working closely with the Governor’s Office to ensure she had all the information she needed.

On Wednesday, Claudel called Kotek's announcement that she would sign the funding bills "a strong vote confidence."

"Most importantly, this investment sends a positive message about the future of the neighborhood to the Old Town community," he wrote in an email. "Since April 8, our team has worked closely with the Governor’s Office to provide detailed project information and establish protocols for the use of state funds. These conversations can become the foundation of an ongoing collaborative relationship."

Claudel, along with Elias Stahl of sustainable footwear maker Hilos and the Old Town Community Association, are working to establish a 30,000-square-foot footwear and apparel manufacturing hub in the neighborhood. Dubbed Made in Old Town, the hub will be developed between Fourth and Fifth Avenue and Glisan and Davis Street over the next seven to 10 years.

continues (paywall):https://www.bizjournals.com/portland...Pos=2#cxrecs_s

[urbanlife]

This is promising news

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by urbanlife

This is promising news

Yup.

"Since April 8, our team has worked closely with the Governor’s Office to provide detailed project information and establish protocols for the use of state funds. These conversations can become the foundation of an ongoing collaborative relationship."

I like Kotek, definitely surprising me. This is exactly what she (and all politicos and ballot measures) should be doing. Asking questions, making sure the project is well defined, where will the money go in detail, how will you measure success, etc. Shocking how often Portland/Oregon votes in a shoot first, ask questions later manner. Kotek is a breath of fresh air, IMHO.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

Yup.

"Since April 8, our team has worked closely with the Governor’s Office to provide detailed project information and establish protocols for the use of state funds. These conversations can become the foundation of an ongoing collaborative relationship."

I like Kotek, definitely surprising me. This is exactly what she (and all politicos and ballot measures) should be doing. Asking questions, making sure the project is well defined, where will the money go in detail, how will you measure success, etc. Shocking how often Portland/Oregon votes in a shoot first, ask questions later manner. Kotek is a breath of fresh air, IMHO.

Same here, I even like Governor Brown more because of Kotek because I feel like Brown gave Oregon some stable middle of the road leadership post Kitzhaber scandal which has made the transition to Kotek much easier and makes it easier for her to lead as this type of governor that I don't think she could have done right after Kitzhaber.

[downtownpdx]

Yeah it’s great that kotek recognizes this importance of a heathy Portland for the overall well being of the state. She also withheld state homeless funds from Multnomah county for a while until they could show how they were going to more effectively use the money. After the debacle of measure 110, and the ridiculous inability of the county to find a way to spend the generous Metro housing tax funds… it is indeed a breath of fresh air to see her hold people accountable.

[maccoinnich]

Notice of Decision on exterior renovations to the Paris Theater for the Can Can.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Notice of Decision on exterior renovations to the Paris Theater for the Can Can.

Just not the same without a shirtless dude taking a smoke break from the porn theater standing out in front.

[sopdx]

https://www.portlandmaps.com/detail/...U/5046672_did/

NW 5th between Davis and Everett

[maccoinnich]

I think that's the first office-to-residential project to advance to the land use review stage.

[DMH]

Originally Posted by sopdx

https://www.portlandmaps.com/detail/...U/5046672_did/

NW 5th between Davis and Everett

This appears to be related to the Feb 6, 2024 post about the residential conversion of the adjacent 2-story building at 208 NW 5th Avenue. Together, these plans are great news for all of us who want to invigorate Old Town.

[sopdx]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

I think that's the first office-to-residential project to advance to the land use review stage.

There was one on SW 2nd and Oak, converting the two-story parking garage below the affordable apartments to housing. Not sure if anything is happening

https://www.portlandmaps.com/detail/...A/4916314_did/

[DMH]

Originally Posted by sopdx

There was one on SW 2nd and Oak, converting the two-story parking garage below the affordable apartments to housing. Not sure if anything is happening

https://www.portlandmaps.com/detail/...A/4916314_did/

It is actually at SW 2nd and Pine Street, and it is a conversion from parking to housing. This is an example of what could occur at the City-owned "white elephant", the SW 3rd & Alder Garage.

[maccoinnich]

It doesn't guarantee it will get built, but the proposal for the Mason Ehrman is has been submitted for historic resource review, while the others that I've seen including at 2nd & Pine have only submitted Early Assistance applications (a much earlier step in the process.)

[maccoinnich]

Long awaited, to put it mildly.

Downtown Portland’s Newest LGBTQ+ Bar, Badlands, Will Finally Open Next Week
The local outpost of the California-based video bar chain will pay homage to Embers, its legendary Old Town predecessor for 48 years.



Badlands, the Old Town queer video bar and dance club on the corner of Northwest Broadway and Northwest Couch Street, will open its doors to the public as soft launch on Wednesday, June 12, according to posts from Badlands’ social media channels made on Tuesday, June 4.

“A lot of people thought they would never see the day, but it’s here,” says Brian Aranda, Badlands’ business development manager.

Badlands’ opening is one of the most long-anticipated among Portland’s LGBTQ+ community in recent memory. Business owner TJ Bruce purchased the building, which had housed the legendary gay bar and dance club The Embers Avenue for more than 40 years. Embers closed suddenly in 2017, after the club’s founder, Steve Suss, had a heart attack. Bruce’s acquisition of the Embers building was first announced in January 2018. At the time, it was believed Badlands could open as soon as that summer.

...continues at Willamette Week.