Category Archives: Local Businesses

We’re holding 2 Open Houses in the Witham & Dickey Conference Room to present the progress in design planning for the Village Building Convergence Alberta Crossing Intersection project (NE 42^nd Ave & Alberta Count).  You can attend one or both meetings, as they are intended to give you 2 options for the best date that works for you:

Witham & Dickey Conference Room
4824 NE 42nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97218

Saturday, March 26 at 10:30am to noon.
Monday, March 28 at 3:15pm to 5 PM.

It’s essential that the project have considerable input from all of you as neighborhood and community stakeholders, and so your presence at one of these meetings is greatly valued. We want to develop a “master plan” that illustrates the long-term development goal for the intersection.

The design elements discussed include:

• Seating area space on the four corners, with an coordinated design theme, shelter cover and landscaping where possible.
• A structure design that incorporates metal and wood, and fits the architectural style of the corner buildings.
• NE corner (US Bank corner) designed as tribute “Weather Station” seating area in honor of Eddie Morgan.
• Wall murals on the north side of the Spare Room and south side of Doggy Business, with a design theme that links the two, and creates a visual flow between the two.
• Painted sidewalks on the four corners of the intersection
• Coordinated lighting on the four corners, that could also accommodate cross-street banners

Additional design elements for further enhancement and consideration:

• Changes to the surface of the west wall of the Witham and Dickey buildingDe-paving of the concrete in front of Wilshire Dental
• “Kiosk” created on the south side of the Doggie Business (in the closed-off doorway)

Priority sequence of development:

• Creation of a Master Plan design for the corner, including structure and landscaping design, wall mural design and sidewalk corner painting design.
• Wall murals (as a part of the VBC)
• Painting of the sidewalk corners—if the City requirements can be met in time for the VBC
• One corner landscaping and structure—to reflect the Master Plan.

Much discussion has already happened around design concepts.  We hope to be able to give you examples of some of these concepts at the Open House.

On June 18th, Mayor Sam Adams named Alberta Street one of the first three Portland Main Street Districts, which will be the first urban Green Main Street program in the country. The Main Street program is closely tied to the Portland Economic Development Strategy, which calls out 20-minute neighborhoods, vibrant commercial corridors and healthy neighborhood businesses as a key objective.

The holistic nature of the Main Street approach is what prompted the Alberta Street Business Association to apply for the program on behalf our community. will bring together residents, business owners, commercial property owners, non-profit & faith-based leaders to create and implement intentional development in our community. The Alberta program area includes parts of Concordia, King and Vernon neighborhoods.

Sara Wittenberg started as the Executive Director on September 6, 2010 and has been working with the Board to get the word out about opportunities for community involvement. Sara’s mantra is, “Alberta Main Street will only be as strong as the community investment in it! We need your help.”
That is where you come in; needs your investment of time, talents & resources.
Contribute Your Time

Monday, November 1, 2010 – 6:30 – 7:30PM @ The Alberta Rose Theatre
Alberta Main Street Community Meeting and Q & A – Find out the latest about Alberta Main Street, learn about the Main Street Committees, and find out more about the Community Visioning Session.

Monday, November 29, 2010 – 5 – 9 PM @ The Alberta Rose Theatre
Alberta Main Street Community Visioning Session – the Community Visioning Session will provide you the opportunity to contribute your ideas and energy into the vision for our community. Diverse community-wide participation is critical to the success of the program. Register online at: http://www.albertastreetfair.com/main-street/community-visioning-session/ and please extend this invitation to others with a stake in the future of the community!

Contribute Your Talents

PARTICIPATE ON A MAIN STREET COMMITTEE: The four Main Street committees include Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. Find out more about these committees online at:
http://www.albertastreetfair.com/main-street/four-point-approach/. You can also learn more about these opportunities at the November 1st Community Meeting.

Contribute Your Resources

SUPPORT: Healthy commercial districts create opportunities for locally based businesses to succeed, for residents to shop and eat locally and for the preservation of historic structures and an increased tax base. Everybody wins; it will also take everyone’s support. Ranging from $20 – $5000, 101 residents, neighborhood associations, school groups, non-profit & faith-based organizations, business owners and commercial property owners have contributed over to our community. needs your help too. If you haven’t already, please contribute today: http://www.albertastreetfair.com/main-street/contribute/

STAY UP TO DATE: Visit facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alberta-Main-Street/164339070242860 for the latest news and information about the program. A new website is currently under development.

For additional information about Alberta Main Street contact Sara Wittenberg at sarawittenberg@me.com. Information about the Portland Main Street Program can be found at http://www.pdc.us/bus_serv/business_support/mainstreet.asp.