Downtown Portland News

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by urbanlife

So the metric is the grocery store that has always been one of the worst grocery stores to go to? I mean, it has literally been called Psycho Safeway for as long as I have lived here.

This. Even long before COVID, this Safeway was rough, to say the least.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by urbanlife

So the metric is the grocery store that has always been one of the worst grocery stores to go to? I mean, it has literally been called Psycho Safeway for as long as I have lived here.

The barbershop that's been on the corner of 11th & Columbia for over 20 years closed.

The little convenience store a block away on 12th & Jefferson for over 20 years closed.

The dry cleaners that had been at 12th & Jefferson for 20 years. Closed.

The Amazon Prime location across the street. Closed.

Coava Coffee spent quite a bit of money (for a local shop) to open on the other side of 12th & Jefferson. Closed.

The retail shop across the street from Safeway at 10th & Jefferson has a prime location and hasn't been able to lease for years.

Those are just a few examples off the top of my head.

But, yeah, everything's great.

I love Portland so much, but I'm blown away by the amount of denial here. It's funny to see those who don't live downtown telling those who do how we're wrong about the state of downtown.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

This. Even long before COVID, this Safeway was rough, to say the least.

It's never been this bad. And look at all of the other businesses nearby that have closed - some of which made it through Covid.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

The barbershop that's been on the corner of 11th & Columbia for over 20 years closed.

The little convenience store a block away on 12th & Jefferson for over 20 years closed.

The dry cleaners that had been at 12th & Jefferson for 20 years. Closed.

The Amazon Prime location across the street. Closed.

Coava Coffee spent quite a bit of money (for a local shop) to open on the other side of 12th & Jefferson. Closed.

The retail shop across the street from Safeway at 10th & Jefferson has a prime location and hasn't been able to lease for years.

Those are just a few examples off the top of my head.

But, yeah, everything's great.

I love Portland so much, but I'm blown away by the amount of denial here. It's funny to see those who don't live downtown telling those who do how we're wrong about the state of downtown.

It's not denial, it's just a fact. Don't lead with Psycho Safeway being bad when trying to make a point. You want to say the loss of businesses during the pandemic are still hurting this part of downtown, then that is valid, but don't use a grocery store that has been known as "psycho" for the past several decades as the example.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by urbanlife

It's not denial, it's just a fact. Don't lead with Psycho Safeway being bad when trying to make a point. You want to say the loss of businesses during the pandemic are still hurting this part of downtown, then that is valid, but don't use a grocery store that has been known as "psycho" for the past several decades as the example.

No.

The "psycho Safeway" was the old building, across the street from where it is now. That Safeway didn't even need security guard.

The current Safeway opened in 2002. It was open for a decade before they had to hire a security guard.

Somewhere around 2016, they added a second security guard.

Now they have FIVE.

Yesterday, they had more security guards than they had checkers. If that's not shocking to you, you're in deep denial.

This month, after 22 years in this location, Safeway had to permanently close what was the store's main entrance, at 10th & Jefferson because they're being overrun by crime. If that's not shocking to you, you're in deep denial about the state of downtown.

A grocery store is THE perfect example of the health of a neighborhood because everybody eats.

I can't believe I even had to explain something like that in a forum about development where so much of the emphasis is on housing.

I'll say it again. A grocery store is the PERFECT example of the health of a neighborhood because everybody eats.

Downtown is in rough shape, and the denial is shocking.

But hey, the old Safeway had a nickname which you can use as a way to deny that things aren't worse now.

Fine. Let's talk about the library. The library recently reopened after being closed for months, for a major renovation.

How'd the reopening go? Predictably, badly:

As fentanyl use increases around Central Library, Portland agencies scramble for solutions

Police have focused on the area as the 90-day downtown Portland “fentanyl state of emergency” winds down, calling it a hotspot for fentanyl use — the latest in a series that have popped up since 2023 when authorities shut down the derelict Washington Center.

The fentanyl emergency also prompted local leaders in February to suspend bottle and can redemption services at the downtown Safeway and nearby Plaid Pantry — both only a few blocks away from Central Library.

...continues at Oregon Live

Gee, I wonder if the library had a nickname too.

Come to the Plaid Pantry after the store closes tonight - or any night. No, really. I dare you. Come to the Plaid Pantry after it closes, on any night. Dudes set up shop under the lights in front of the store, dealing. The police don't even care.

Gee, I wonder if the Plaid Pantry had a nickname too.

[2oh1]

P.S. If I need to explain how a grocery store is the heart of a neighborhood, not to mention a lifeline for a neighborhood, let me know. If a concept that basic needs to be explained, no, really, let me know, because there is no shortage of studies documenting it.

I'm not trying to pick a fight here, but I am done with denial about the state of downtown.

[M Kass]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

No.

The "psycho Safeway" was the old building, across the street from where it is now. That Safeway didn't even need security guard.

The current Safeway opened in 2002. It was open for a decade before they had to hire a security guard.

Somewhere around 2016, they added a second security guard.

Now they have FIVE.

Yesterday, they had more security guards than they had checkers. If that's not shocking to you, you're in deep denial.

This month, after 22 years in this location, Safeway had to permanently close what was the store's main entrance, at 10th & Jefferson because they're being overrun by crime. If that's not shocking to you, you're in deep denial about the state of downtown.

A grocery store is THE perfect example of the health of a neighborhood because everybody eats.

I can't believe I even had to explain something like that in a forum about development where so much of the emphasis is on housing.

I'll say it again. A grocery store is the PERFECT example of the health of a neighborhood because everybody eats.

Downtown is in rough shape, and the denial is shocking.

But hey, the old Safeway had a nickname which you can use as a way to deny that things aren't worse now.

Fine. Let's talk about the library. The library recently reopened after being closed for months, for a major renovation.

How'd the reopening go? Predictably, badly:



...continues at Oregon Live

Gee, I wonder if the library had a nickname too.

Come to the Plaid Pantry after the store closes tonight - or any night. No, really. I dare you. Come to the Plaid Pantry after it closes, on any night. Dudes set up shop under the lights in front of the store, dealing. The police don't even care.

Gee, I wonder if the Plaid Pantry had a nickname too.

I have been feeling like not chiming in on this because of the clap-backs I received with regard to my skeptical posts of late. Some of the clapping is deserved, but I agree with all of the thoughts on 'denial'. My friend is a photographer in town who did the piece for the NYT on Portland recently, and did a week of ride-alongs with PPD. He said that things are so bad that the cops have fully given up on that portion of downtown. There are few prospects for new patrol officers and there are threats (according to him) of mass resignations if they don't get more resources. Sounds a lot like the teachers, too, as an aside. I am not promoting that social collapse is nye, nor that come November things are going to devolve due to another ugly election cycle, but I am not going to deny that things are absolutely frightening in sectors of downtown. Like, really bad. I've raised my kids in inner NE and we have views of the city, but my daughters are coming to the age (12 and 14), where they're wanting to explore their environs, but they have ZERO desire to cross the bridge, not due to my partner and my urging, but by their own common sense. I have waxed nostalgically about the '2018 30+ Crane' days, but honsetly, I don't care if we get another 460 footer, just so long as the city can get their sh*t together enought to elect hard-hitters who can get stuff done and get the working parts of government/law enforcement to take action. The fact that I can't provide the same experience of safe bus riding and MAX for my kids to venture to downtown makes me feel like my whole generation has some explaining to do and some amends to make. I love this town, but things need to change in a hurry. My fear is that it's gotten so bad that people leave en masse. There are a lot of dissatisfied taxpayers and people want their city back. Sorry if that was a ramble. I have a lot of fears, and my faith in governance is being tried on an unprecedented and somewhat embarrassing level.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by M Kass

I have been feeling like not chiming in on this because of the clap-backs I received with regard to my skeptical posts of late. Some of the clapping is deserved, but I agree with all of the thoughts on 'denial'. My friend is a photographer in town who did the piece for the NYT on Portland recently, and did a week of ride-alongs with PPD. He said that things are so bad that the cops have fully given up on that portion of downtown. There are few prospects for new patrol officers and there are threats (according to him) of mass resignations if they don't get more resources. Sounds a lot like the teachers, too, as an aside. I am not promoting that social collapse is nye, nor that come November things are going to devolve due to another ugly election cycle, but I am not going to deny that things are absolutely frightening in sectors of downtown. Like, really bad. I've raised my kids in inner NE and we have views of the city, but my daughters are coming to the age (12 and 14), where they're wanting to explore their environs, but they have ZERO desire to cross the bridge, not due to my partner and my urging, but by their own common sense. I have waxed nostalgically about the '2018 30+ Crane' days, but honsetly, I don't care if we get another 460 footer, just so long as the city can get their sh*t together enought to elect hard-hitters who can get stuff done and get the working parts of government/law enforcement to take action. The fact that I can't provide the same experience of safe bus riding and MAX for my kids to venture to downtown makes me feel like my whole generation has some explaining to do and some amends to make. I love this town, but things need to change in a hurry. My fear is that it's gotten so bad that people leave en masse. There are a lot of dissatisfied taxpayers and people want their city back. Sorry if that was a ramble. I have a lot of fears, and my faith in governance is being tried on an unprecedented and somewhat embarrassing level.

I would love nothing more than to see the city as vibrant, safe, clean, and comfortable as it was, not-so-long ago.

[sopdx]

Originally Posted by M Kass

I have been feeling like not chiming in on this because of the clap-backs I received with regard to my skeptical posts of late. Some of the clapping is deserved, but I agree with all of the thoughts on 'denial'. My friend is a photographer in town who did the piece for the NYT on Portland recently, and did a week of ride-alongs with PPD. He said that things are so bad that the cops have fully given up on that portion of downtown. There are few prospects for new patrol officers and there are threats (according to him) of mass resignations if they don't get more resources. Sounds a lot like the teachers, too, as an aside. I am not promoting that social collapse is nye, nor that come November things are going to devolve due to another ugly election cycle, but I am not going to deny that things are absolutely frightening in sectors of downtown. Like, really bad. I've raised my kids in inner NE and we have views of the city, but my daughters are coming to the age (12 and 14), where they're wanting to explore their environs, but they have ZERO desire to cross the bridge, not due to my partner and my urging, but by their own common sense. I have waxed nostalgically about the '2018 30+ Crane' days, but honsetly, I don't care if we get another 460 footer, just so long as the city can get their sh*t together enought to elect hard-hitters who can get stuff done and get the working parts of government/law enforcement to take action. The fact that I can't provide the same experience of safe bus riding and MAX for my kids to venture to downtown makes me feel like my whole generation has some explaining to do and some amends to make. I love this town, but things need to change in a hurry. My fear is that it's gotten so bad that people leave en masse. There are a lot of dissatisfied taxpayers and people want their city back. Sorry if that was a ramble. I have a lot of fears, and my faith in governance is being tried on an unprecedented and somewhat embarrassing level.

Some days that part of downtown is horrible and others it is not. I guess it has to do with where the dealers are. I have a friend who works across from the Multnomah County library and says there are so many drugged-out people on certain days it's astounding. That being said, I'm downtown often and in general, it is immeasurable better than it was even a year ago.

One thing you wrote alarmed me, is what your friend said about the police "giving up" on the area. I certainly hope that is not the case regardless of their numbers. That sends a message to all the residents and businesses that they have no protection. If that is the case, it needs to be made public - that's their job.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

P.S. If I need to explain how a grocery store is the heart of a neighborhood, not to mention a lifeline for a neighborhood, let me know. If a concept that basic needs to be explained, no, really, let me know, because there is no shortage of studies documenting it.

I'm not trying to pick a fight here, but I am done with denial about the state of downtown.

Your neighborhood is not the reality for all of downtown. Nobody is denying that there are still areas that need a lot of help to recover. What is absolutely undeniable, is that progress IS being made around DT. They are focusing on the areas with more transient traffic/use than your specific neighborhood. I know it sucks, but again, your neighborhood was ROUGH long before COVID. This also isn't just happening in Portland. It's a sad reality, but it's true.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

What is absolutely undeniable, is that progress IS being made around DT.

In the touristy parts of downtown.

I'm talking about the part of downtown most downtowners live in.

If it requires a fleet of security guards on duty at Safeway just for the store to be able to open, then it is absolutely undeniable that progress IS NOT being made around the part of downtown where most downtowners live.

And when I said FIVE security guards were on duty early on a Wednesday afternoon (2 outside the entrance, 3 inside the entrance), that was just what I saw as I was trying to leave the store. There may have been more of them on duty elsewhere throughout the store. How is that sustainable? That's not a rhetorical question.

It's not sustainable.

How bad does the situation have to get before the police do... well... anything?

I strongly agree with the comment about the Portland police giving up on huge parts of downtown, including the entire area south of Pioneer Square & west of the transit mall.

[sopdx]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

In the touristy parts of downtown.

I'm talking about the part of downtown most downtowners live in.

If it requires a fleet of security guards on duty at Safeway just for the store to be able to open, then it is absolutely undeniable that progress IS NOT being made around the part of downtown where most downtowners live.

And when I said FIVE security guards were on duty early on a Wednesday afternoon (2 outside the entrance, 3 inside the entrance), that was just what I saw as I was trying to leave the store. There may have been more of them on duty elsewhere throughout the store. How is that sustainable? That's not a rhetorical question.

It's not sustainable.

How bad does the situation have to get before the police do... well... anything?

I strongly agree with the comment about the Portland police giving up on huge parts of downtown, including the entire area south of Pioneer Square & west of the transit mall.

Is that where you live?

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by sopdx

Is that where you live?

Yeah, I live downtown.