Old Town/Chinatown News - Page 23

pylon · #**441** Posted: **Apr 6, 2009, 7:33 PM**

If anybody out there decides to "go by foot", here's a great resource for 50 hikes around the Portland area...

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=27574

tworivers · #**442** Posted: **Apr 6, 2009, 8:23 PM**

original here.

tworivers · #**443** Posted: **Apr 6, 2009, 8:29 PM**

Quote:

I think Daniel Deutsch is working on a "go by bike" sign for the Left Bank building on Broadway in conjunction with Sam Adams's office.

That's exciting. I hope it is big.

urbanlife · #**444** Posted: **Apr 7, 2009, 5:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tworivers

original here.

damn, that is funny...but realistically it should probably read "Stripclub Capitol."

tworivers · #**445** Posted: **Apr 8, 2009, 9:11 PM**

Straight from the blog of Commissioner Leonard, a compromise has apparently been reached:

holladay · #**446** Posted: **Apr 8, 2009, 11:31 PM**

Hrmmm, something about that just doesn't fully deliver... Anyone?

alexjon · #**447** Posted: **Apr 8, 2009, 11:36 PM**

I can see Randy kicking the sign over in frustration

urbanlife · #**448** Posted: **Apr 8, 2009, 11:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexjon

I can see Randy kicking the sign over in frustration

even better, I can see a big outline of Randy added towering over the sign trying to stop on it with one foot raised over the sign.

jaxg8r1 · #**449** Posted: **Apr 9, 2009, 12:19 AM**

Just not sure what that design accomplishes. It doesn't scream U of O to me (I suppose a case could be made for the coloring) and it disturbs the look of the Original.

MarkDaMan · #**450** Posted: **Apr 9, 2009, 12:22 AM**

I think he cut your link tworivers?

ripped from kgw.com

urbanlife · #**451** Posted: **Apr 9, 2009, 3:46 AM**

not sure why they cant just change the wording at the bottom of the sign, if they want to say they are apart of Oldtown, then it should read "Made in Oregon" then at the bottom read "Oldtown-UofO."

I would see that as reading that UofO is apart of Oldtown.

Okstate · #**452** Posted: **Apr 9, 2009, 6:29 AM**

I'm assuming the "Oregon" will just be flashing by itself now? That will seem awkward.

pdxtraveler · #**453** Posted: **Apr 9, 2009, 2:18 PM**

Actually, I think it is a good compromise for as entrenched as both sides were. Everyone got some of what they wanted and the sign still looks good.

downtownpdx · #**454** Posted: **Apr 9, 2009, 8:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okstate

I'm assuming the "Oregon" will just be flashing by itself now? That will seem awkward.

Haha! Yeah that would be pretty dumb-looking. Maybe letter-by-letter ... or just not at all.

I think the compromise looks pretty good. I like the 'Old Town Portland' at the bottom. The sign looks pretty much the same, (they wanted to put a big 'O' there originally right?)... and this sign has changed several times over the years anyway. I'm just glad the basic design is intact.

tworivers · #**455** Posted: **Apr 10, 2009, 6:29 AM**

Great news out of left field:

International House of Customs

Posted By Tim DuRoche on 04/07/2009
Portland Spaces/Burnside Blog

After what seem like months of school budget cuts, woe-filled stories about resource-strapped classrooms, and “right-sizing” staff positions at the district-level (including this week’s news that Portland Public Schools was eliminating their Arts specialist position ), it’s about time we heard something heartening about education and schools.

This just in:
The US Dept of Education has awarded Customs House Building at 220 NW 8th Avenue to The International School language immersion school — bringing more educational energy to the North Park Blocks. The site was acquired through the DOE Surplus Federal Real Property Program. The DOE awarded the building for the TIS Spanish, Chinese & Japanese full immersion program that currently educates 400 students in preschool through 5th grade over in the land of SoWa.

This would be the second K-5 in the neighborhood (Emerson Charter School is on the North Park Blocks at NW Couch). It’s a great addition to the burgeoning educational/cultural Davis Street corridor— and it will be a great locale for connecting TIS students with not only related multicultural resources like the Chinese Garden and the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, but to the Gerding Theater, Museum of Contemporary Craft, the Oregon Jewish Museum, Wieden+Kennedy, the Pearl Galleries, and more.

In TIS’ press release announcing the good news, Congressman David Wu, who helped move the deal through, was quoted as saying: “I am pleased that there will finally be a tenant for the beautiful, historic Customs House. . .the International School will help reinvigorate an area of our city with long-standing multicultural roots, furthering the exciting work already underway to revitalize Old Town/Chinatown.”

It’s early still, but present plans would allow TIS to increase the square-footage of its classrooms for project and inquiry-based learning, and to have a sizable multi-language library and media center, large art and music rooms, meeting and social areas, two indoor gym/play areas, science labs, and teacher work areas.

The 49,000+ sq. foot Customs House (on the historic register since 1974) is being conveyed to TIS at no cost through a Public Benefit Allowance. It is currently vacant. Early word on the street says to expect a major green historical renovation and substantial upgrades to deal with seismic and programming issues. The award is contingent with TIS relocating their entire school within three years of the property’s conveyance.

The bustling energy of 400+ kids and their families is surely to lend momentum and verve to the OTCT/Downtown core’s sense of “collective efficacy.”

pylon · #**456** Posted: **Apr 10, 2009, 2:47 PM**

Wow. They recently finished an expansion down there not that long ago. Here's the news at their website...

http://www.intlschool.org/parent/custom-house/

It'll be interesting to see how the kids will change the social dynamic in that area.

vjoe · #**457** Posted: **Apr 10, 2009, 4:38 PM**

Does anybody know what's going on at 4th and Burnside next to the chinatown gate? I went by on a bus last week and the old building at the corner was gone and it was just an empty lot surrounded by chain link fence. I checked google maps and I see there used to be a small 1 level building there.

Eagle rock · #**458** Posted: **Apr 10, 2009, 4:42 PM**

That was an Adult Bookstore the city tore down becuase it was blight or something.

It was just a crappy 1 story wood building, but hopefully that lot will be filled with something soon.

scottyboi · #**459** Posted: **Apr 10, 2009, 4:49 PM**

Actually...I happened to walk by after they first fenced it off (before demolition) and was told that the building was collapsing in on itself, so had to be torn down for safety. It's been an empty lot since then, I saw yesterday they had put down a layer of rock (smallish rock, like that used on rural driveways and such) over the entire lot...not sure what is going on other than that. I'm sure it will stay that way for years...much like the abandoned BK a few blocks west ;-)

zilfondel · #**460** Posted: **Apr 12, 2009, 10:16 AM**

In the paper a few months ago they reported that some guys were digging up archeological bits from the site, like old chinese pottery and stuff, so they fenced in the lot. I think they may have to sift through the site before they can do anything with it first. There may even be human remains down there...