Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Concordia University Unveils Community Mural and Opens Bookstore to Community

Posted on by Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News

On Saturday, August 23, Concordia University unveiled a community mural on the side of the building at NE Ainsworth and NE 30th Streets in Portland, Oregon. The unveiling also marks the grand opening of the new location of the university’s bookstore, “The Bookmark” at that same location.

The mural was created by Concordia University students under the direction of Larry Gross, chair of the art department and Greg Lewis, of Greg Lewis Studios and current adjunct faculty member in the art department. The students were supported in their work by community leaders Ken and Marta Thrasher, who donated the necessary funds to make the mural a reality, and the Regional Arts & Culture Council, which was involved through their public art group.

The mural, which took 18 months from conception to finality, was painted by six Concordia University students over 5 weekends. The mural was intended to communicate integrity and community and to accentuate Concordia University’s expanding outreach into the north and northeast neighborhoods. The location of the mural, where the campus meets the community is a “perfect fit.”

“The mural is symbolic of Concordia University’s relationship with the community and how powerful that relationship can be when the campus and the community come together to embrace their respective cultures and values,” said Concordia Executive Vice President, Gary Withers.

Collaborate to Create a Safe and Sane Last Thursday Event

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By Eve Connell

Each month, people – thousands in the summer – flock to our neighborhood to join in what has become one of the most popular events in Portland: Last Thursday Art Walk on Alberta Street. The informal arts-related festival began with just a few businesses and artists in 1997, and has expanded to reach not only the entire stretch of businesses on Alberta (roughly 20 blocks), but entices street vendors, performers, and other organic attractions to participate as well. Galleries, studios, restaurants, and other art venues on Alberta Street open their doors for a celebratory evening of art, usually from 5 to 9:30 P.M. Street vendors and performers (and enthusiastic participant-observers), usually stay much later (again, primarily in the summer months).

People in our neighborhood seem to have a love-hate relationship with this event. Many look forward to the night of festivity and fun, while others dread trying to make it home on time to secure their street parking.

The positive elements of this event include some peaks in business, attention to the Alberta Arts District, a general focus on art, and a night of casual fun for all.

However, negative elements do exist, and are not limited to the obvious: lack of parking, excess trash and noise, and rowdy visitors to the neighborhood. More serious issues include safety (e.g., excessive and potentially dangerous traffic, public drunkenness) and event exclusivity (e.g., longtime neighborhood residents do not feel welcome to participate).

Some people took it upon themselves this summer to monitor the event on their own – one robust yet informal group even attempted unofficial street closure in June, which illustrates further that Last Thursday is reaching a tipping point.

Open discussion began a few weeks ago to address the issues that top the list of concerns. The City of Portland has been fabulously cooperative with business owners, street vendors, and the public. Because there’s nothing official about Last Thursday, the City could choose to shut it down, but they choose to cooperate with neighbors, business owners, vendors, and other participants. With swelling crowds this summer (July’s Last Thursday event brought over 8000 people — and 75+ open container warnings as well as eight tickets for the same offense), just how to proceed is being discussed with City officials from Sam Adams’ office, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, the Police, Alberta Business Association, Art On Alberta, and concerned neighbors, both for and against the event.

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Next Colwood Strategy Meeting, Tuesday, August 12th

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

The next Colwood strategy meeting is Tuesday, August 12th from 7pm to 8:30pm at Central Northeast Neighbors, 4415 NE 87th Avenue. Please join us!

Colwood is scheduled to go before City Council on Wednesday, September 17th. To ensure success at the Council we need to make new connections, maintain connections, and reconnect where needed with individuals and organizations who support keeping Colwood green. We need a critical mass of testimony and support being provided to the Mayor and Commissioners. If you support keeping Colwood green, be sure to contact them!

What’s new?

  • The Port of Portland has tabled its plans for a third runway for the foreseeable future. This removes much of the Port’s drive for supporting the rezoning.
  • The Sierra Club has taken an official stand opposing the rezoning. They join a long list of organizations and individuals opposed to the rezoning of Colwood.
  • The City of Portland continues to meet with the land owners to discussion purchasing Colwood as a permanent public space. Despite what some proponents of the rezone have stated publicly, the City has always had and continues to express a strong interest in this property.

Any questions? Contact Bill Barber at Central Northeast Neighbors – 503-823-2883, billb@cnncoalition.org, or Tony Fuentes, Co-Chair, Concordia Neighborhood Association, 971-570-6930.

Keep Colwood Green – Update

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As we’ve reported previously, the current property owners of the Colwood National Golf Course want to rezone 116 acres of the site from Open Space (OS) to General Industrial 2 (IG2). On May 15, 2008, Greg Frank, BDS Hearings Officer, made a recommendation to deny the applicants’ requested zone change. However the proposal must go to the Portland City Council for final determination.

The location of this open space is along the Columbia and Whitaker sloughs. These areas are sensitive wildlife areas that include fragile riparian zones and important buffers to these zones. A significant amount of riparian habitat in this area has already been lost. Losing even more of this habitat is not supported by the Comprehensive Plan’s goals for the local environment, Metro’s goal for the area, or local neighborhood plans.

The transition of this open space and habitat area to industrial use would also have a pronounced effect on local health. North and Northeast Portland already suffer from the long-term effects of environmental injustice resulting from existing and historic industrial uses in the area. The significant impact of new air and water pollution sources on the health of local residents in addition to the effects on local wildlife should not be discounted.

The CNA passed a formal resolution in opposition to the rezoning in March and remains strongly opposed to the rezoning of Colwood. CNA opposition is powerful, but we also need to participate as individuals to make our voices heard.

The Portland City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on September 17, 2008, 6 pm at 1221 SW 4th, prior to making a final recommendation. You can show your support to Keep Colwood Green by speaking at the hearing or submitting written testimony to the Council before September 17th. Write to Portland Council Council, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204 or Fax: 503-823-3588.

You can find more information, including email contact info for all the Portland Council members, at keepcolwoodgreen.com.

Free Shopping Bags

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Coming soon, some of you will get a free cloth shopping bag, compliments of the Green Team, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement. Les Schwab Tire Center on 122nd and Division is purchasing advertising for some of our bags. They want to work with kids, so the SUN School program at Faubion School will have a contest for an environmental drawing for the outside of the bag. Alberta Cooperative Grocery Store will be sponsoring some bags for the kids contest, too. They’re also purchasing advertising for their business on another batch of bags. We are projecting delivery of the bags to start sometime between the first and middle of July. There will also be something special” in the bags for you. We will be knocking on your door to give you a bag, but if you’re not home we’ll hang it on your doorknob. Join us at a Green Team meeting, always the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Community Room at the Kennedy School. We always have room for more people committed to our environment.

Click on the link below to read another story from the Green Team about the effect cows and their methane output have on climate change.

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Wading Pool Fun & Volunteer Opportunity

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Events, Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking for volunteers to supervise the Fernhill Park Wading Pool again this summer. It is super easy…all you need to do is attend a half hour training, complete a background check, and commit to a two-hour shift of helping at the Fernhill Park Wading Pool. You are welcome to help as often as you would like, but we are so happy even when you can only help one time. When we work together, we can provide so much more for the children. The plan is to have the wading pool open on Tuesday and Thursdays, 12:00 to 4:00, July 1 through August 21st. If we get a lot of volunteers, we can keep the pool open longer on Tuesday and Thursday or possible add other days. Please give me a call if you have any questions or to put you on the volunteer schedule.

Contact: Melody Winn, 503.282.6574

Also, we have a few dollars left from the playground fund that we are going to use to purchase water toys. We always welcome donations of water toys or other things (soccer balls, hula hoops) children can use in the park. I am looking for someone to donate a badminton/volleyball net and all the supplies. Our volunteers can put them up on Tuesday and Thursday during the pool hours. There is arranged storage for all the items when they aren’t in use.

Summer Concerts in Fernhill Park 2008

Posted on by Posted in CNA, Events

The Concordia Neighborhood Association, in conjunction with Portland Parks and Recreation, is very excited to bring you another year of FREE concerts this summer. The community sponsorship and neighborhood attendance has been greater than we could have ever imagined.

Concerts are on Fridays, starting July 11th through August 1st from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., and conclude with a special Neighbors Night Out on Tuesday, August 5th. Concerts are free to attend and you are welcome to bring your food and drink, but note there will also be food vendors, Aladdin’s Café and Hot Dog Ernie’s, at the events. We will pass the “watering can” during intermission for you to donate any amount to ensure we can continue this event in the future.

Follow the link below for a complete schedule of dates and performers:
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