Historic Irvington Newsletter - 2016 Spring

8/17/2019 Historic Irvington Newsletter - 2016 Spring

1/8

SPRING 2016 FREE

HISTORIC

IRVINGTON ¶ NEWSLETTER ¶A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E I R V I N G T O N C O M M U N I T Y A S S O C I AT I O N

The 2016 Irvington Home Tour has a fish story. A true fish story. One of this year’s Tour homes was once home to a couple who had survived

the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and moved toPortland. Joseph Spencer became too ill to work, and it wasup to his wife, Evelene, to support the family. At first shemanaged the tea room at Olds, Wortman, and King, oneof the long-gone local department stores. Soon she beganlecturing on thrifty kitchen practices, a sort of early dayMartha Stewart without the matching luncheon plates andhefty, colorful standup mixers.

But Evelene’s niche was fiche—-I mean fish. An adver-tisement (google her name and you’ll see it) shows Evelenetouting the virtues of fish, looking more like a starchednurse and nothing like print-bloused, aproned Julia Child.Evelene tells folks to

Eat more Fish for your health’s sake.Get acquainted with cheaper kinds and use more of them.Use Smoked and Salt Fish for breakfast.Use Frozen Fish when Fresh Fish is scarce or out of season.Use more Shell-Fish—-America produces finest in the world.

She went on to suggest “Separate Fish from Friday”—Make Tuesday a Fish Day as well,” and in underlined capsEAT MORE FISH—-A REAL HEALTH FOOD. In tinyletters the reader is invited to “Ask us for a recipe book.”

No doubt it wasn’t the very large book she co-authored

in 1921 titled Fish Cookery/Six Hundred Recipes for thePreparation of Fish, Shellfish, and Other Aquatic Animals,including Fish Soups, Salads and Entrees, with AccompanyingSauces, Seasonings, Dressings and Forcemeats. Yes, this writerhad to look up that one. Forcemeats, says the dictionary,are meats chopped and seasoned for use as a stuffing or agarnish. Try to find that in a Martha Stewart recipe.

The book is, amazingly, still in print, listed on Amazonfor $21.00

Evelene worked for the Bureau of Fisheries, a forerunnerof the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She wrote a weekly arti-cle for The Oregonian. She traveled abroad as well as in theU.S., and everywhere she praised fish. And she was praisedin turn by President Harding as “The Fish Evangelist of theUnited States,” on her trip to Washington, D.C.

Evelene eventually swam away from her outreach posi-

tion with the Federal Government to work for the NationalFish Company. She created the “Spencer method,” a wayof oven frying fish and chips that is healthier than deep fry-ing. Her mathematical ratios calibrating the cooking timesfor fish based on the size and thickness of each species (yes,species, not pieces) were cited as a standard by gourmetchef and food writer James Beard, the “dean of Americancuisine.” Beard was from Portland, and perhaps he wasinfluenced by Evelene. Be sure to visit this special home onthe Irvington Home Tour, May 15th.

Tickets are $25. Purchase online at www.irvingtonhome-tour.com, or from local vendors Broadway Books, 1714NE Broadway; Caffe Destino, 1339 NE Fremont; and Architectural Heritage Center, 701 SE Grand Ave. BroadwayBooks and Caffe Destino take cash or check only.

To take the Tour free, volunteer as a Guide to spend 3hours in one of the homes, watching over belongings, col-lections, antiques, and answering Tour-goers questions. Onyour off-shift you can visit the other Tour homes. Go to www.irvingtonhometour.com or email volunteer@

irvingtonhometour.com to sign up and chose yourpreferred shift. You will receive a return email from KayMosely, volunteer committee.

We appreciate our Sponsors and hope readers willpatronize them: Billy Grippo, Windermere; HassonCompany, Realtors; Mimi Heil, REMAX/Equity Group;Pratt and Larson Tile and Stone; WILLCO. Also pleasevisit the advertisers in the Tour brochure. The brochureis your ticket to keep, given at the first home visited.EachTour home address is listed, along with a descriptionand highlights and an Irvington street map.

In addition to sharing the rich history and amazinghomes that make up in Irvington, the Tour raises funds forthe Irvington Community Association to donate to chari-table organizations which enhance the quality of life for theneighborhood. The ICA website, www.irvingtonpdx.com,lists the guidelines the ICA follows in selecting organiza-tions to fund. 2015 recipients were the Grant high schoolall-night graduation party and the Grant arts program,$1500 and $1000, respectively; Kinship House, $1500;

Loaves and Fishes Meals on Wheels program, $2000; CAThousing justice program, $1000; Irvington Preschool fortuition assistance, $1000; Metropolitan Family ServicesProject Linkage, $3000; Home Forward for foot careat Grace Peck and Dahlke Manors, $3000; NortheastChild Development Center for Imagination Yoga, $1000;Hancock preschool for tuition assistance, $800; BlueprintEnsemble Arts, $500; Beverly Clery/Fernwood campus andSabin school for arts, $500 each. In addition, the IrvingtonCommunity Association has provided neighborhoodimprovement such as the spray pool and playground equip-ment in Irving Park. A new project is in its planning stages,so stay tuned.

On Tour day be sure to buy a glass of lemonade fromyoung entrepreneurs on Irvington street corners. Forcoffee and a pick-me-up snack visit the Hancock StreetPreSchool’s cafe at the Irvington Tennis Club, NE 21st andThompson. From 9:30am-2:30pm the Irvington FarmersMarket, under new management, plans a test run for its2016 season with more vendor and artists booths. Checkit out at NE 16th Avenue between NE Broadway and NE Weidler to see what’s new.

Rain or shine, expect the 34th Irvington Home Tour tobe another great day where you will see exceptional homesand meet friends and neighbors.

Fish Evangelist’s Home on theIrvington Home Tour, May 15th


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OFFICERS

President: Steven Cole

[email protected] 503-754-7713

Vice President: William Archer


Treasurer: Jeff Jones


Secretary: Beverly Burn

[email protected]

Communications: Tiffanie Shakespeare

[email protected]

DIRECTORS

Jim Barta


Colin Burn

[email protected]

Ryan Carson

[email protected]

Barb Christopher


Christine Coers-Mitchell


Nathan Corser


Jon Eaton

[email protected]

Dean Gisvold


Susan [email protected] 503-281-5629

Pam Lindholm-Levy


Meryl Llogue

[email protected]

Michela McMahon


Sally McPherson

[email protected]

Jason Messer


Peter O’Neil


Tiffanie Shakespeare


Beverly Burn

[email protected]

COMMITTEE CHAIRSBeautification

Jason Messer • [email protected] Giving

Susan Hathaway-Marxer • [email protected]

Historic Preservation

Barb Christopher • [email protected] Tour

Brian Schaeperkoetter • [email protected] Use

Dean Gisvold • [email protected]

NECN Representatives

Steven Cole • [email protected]

Peter O’Neil • [email protected]

Steven Cole • [email protected] Advertising

Tiffanie Shakespeare • [email protected]

Jason Messer • [email protected]

Jeff Jones • [email protected] Website

Tiffanie Shakespeare • [email protected]

NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCES

Abandoned Vehicles (24-hour hotline) 503-823-7309

Abandoned Vehicles (daytime) 503-823-6814

Animal Control 503-988-3066

Bicycle Program 503-823-2925

Garbage Service Info/Problems 503-823-7202

Graffiti Cleanup (Info/assistance) 503-823-5860

Graffiti Hotline (Police) 503-823-4824

Landlord/Tenant Mediation 503-282-1964

NE Coalition of Neighborhoods 503-823-4575

NE Crime Prevention 503-823-4763

NE Precinct (Police) 503-823-2122

Neighborhood Mediation 503-823-3152

Noise Reporting & Control 503-823-7350

Office of Neighborhood Involvement 503-823-4519

Parking Enforcement 503-823-5195Rider Advocates 503-823-4223

Street Light Outages & Tree Trims 503-823-5216

Tree Planting Information 503-823-4489

Zoning/Code Enforcement 503-823-7526

LEGISLATORS

State Representatives

Lew Frederick


Barbara Smith Warner

[email protected] 503-986-1445State Senators

Michael Dembrow


Chip Shields


Page 2 HISTORIC IRVINGTON NEWSLETTER SPRING 2016

ica board members • 2015-2016

From thePRESIDENT

Steven Cole

This is my third and final year as president of the

Irvington Community Association. Come June,

the ICA will hold elections and a new president,

along with new board members and officers will be elected.

As such, this will be my final President’s Letter.

I did not accomplish all that I had hoped, but as a vol-

unteer run organization, we all find ourselves short on time.

One item I was able to accomplish, was to retain our historic

district designation. I hope some of the people who initially

expressed concerns are now seeing the benefits as homes

around our perimeter are being demolished.

Along those lines, one of the things that I enjoy as an

ICA board member is advocating for things which not only

improve the neighborhood, but improve the city of Portland,

as well as the region. Sometimes it is not a matter of our

advocating for something, rather we speak out against some-

thing we believe diminishes our neighborhood and city.

A recent example is, the ICA advocated for a bike gre-

enway on 7th ave. in order to address the fact that there are

currently 5500 cars per day utilizing 7th between Knott and

Broadway; a number far in excess of what the city would

like to see on a neighborhood street. In addition to utiliz-

ing the street beyond its capacity, the drivers often speed

and drive recklessly, sometimes going so far as to drive

over the curbs, and in one noted instance driving on the

sidewalk. This untenable situation is aggravated by the fact

that 7th has become a popular bikeway and is a crossing for

Irvington school.

Another example, is a new disaster preparedness commit-

tee was recently formed by resident, Erik Hovmiller. They

will have had their first meeting by the time this hits your

mailbox. It’s a great reminder that anyone, not only board

members, can form and join committees.

Because, we, as your neighborhood association, don’t do

nearly as much as we would like. Our volunteer board mem-

bers do our best and we try to be as transparent as we can.

But like many busy people today, we are all short on time.

So I encourage you, Irvington resident, to attend our next

meeting in June to become a board member or join a com-

mittee. If you have an issue you are passionate about, come

and get involved. Help us help you.

Finally, I would like to thank all of our tremendous

board members and committee members who give so much

of their time to help make Irvington and Portland a better

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SPRING 2016 HISTORIC IRVINGTON NEWSLETTER PAGE 3

The ICA meets on the second Thursday of every month (except July and August),

7 p.m. at the Irvington Elementary School, 1320 NE Brazee St.

Local issues are discussed and all Irvington residents are welcome to attend.

THEIRVINGTON

COMMUNITYASSOCIATION

P.O. BOX 1 2102, PO RTLA ND, OR EGON 97212

Are you looking for the minutes from our recent board meetings?

Minutes are posted in full on our Web site at www.irvingtonpdx.com.

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By Steve Cole

Good news for those who wanted to support the

Irvington Farmer’s Market but found it difficult to do so

under the previous ownership. Wendy Jo Downing has pur-

chased the farmer’s market and intends to make a numberof improvements which should make it a much greater asset

to our neighborhood. Wendy Jo sold vegetables for a small

family farm in Corbett before she worked for a pear and

apple orchardist in Hood River area. She currently works

for a metro food buying club and is a big advocate for local

foods. She and her husband live in Northeast Portland

and love the area. They are committed to remaining in the

neighborhood and raising their two children here. They

plan on the Irvington Farmers Market remaining a popular

fixture for the foreseeable future.

Wendy Jo wants the Irvington Farmers Market to

become a truly local market which is just the right size for

the surrounding neighborhoods. The market will remain

at the same location, NE 16th between Broadway and

Weidler, and will continue to operate on Sundays. But there will be new management and new content. If things go

well, a lot of new content.

There will be local music and live entertainment each

week with food demonstrations, family fun, health and

nutrition programming, and lots of neighborly community

content for all. Each Sunday the “Artisan Corner” will host

rotating local artists, crafts, handmade items, pet supplies,

and services. There will be many more vendors in the past

with a greater emphasi s on loca l produce.

Wendy Jo plans on introducing a new market mode l

which involves market “share” programs set up to intro-

duce, support, and promote urban farm produce, micro

businesses, and local products.

After an early appearance at Better Broadway, the mar-

ket will open June 5 and will run for five months with thefinal market and “wrap party” on October 30th. The mar-

ket will be open from 10 until 2:30 pm each Sunday, with

early shoppers welcome at 9:30 am.

The market, a non-profit, will implement a new token pro-

gram and will accept EBT, Oregon Trail Cards, credit/debit,

PayPal, Oregon farm direct vouchers, and WIC benefits.

For more information, or if you want to volunteer,

donate or sponsor, contact: Wendy Jo Downing at irving-

[email protected]. The website is: www.

irvingtonfarmersmarket.org. Facebook is: Facebook.com/

irvingtonFM.

Irvington Farmer’s MarketUnder New Ownership

I’ve lived in and loved Irvington for 23

years – you’ve probably seen me around

the neighborhood! I’d love to help you

buy or sell in Irvington and beyond!

JUDITH ROLFE

237 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232 50 3-287-89 89

503-516-8632 [email protected]

Each Office Independently Owned and Operated


4/8


Early in the evening of May 8th, for one week, a mile-

long section of Broadway, between 24th and 7th, will

undergo a dramatic transformation. While the transforma-

tion will be temporary, the hope is that it will be a catalyst

to creating a more vibrant, healthy, and livable Broadway

corridor where businesses will be reinvigorated; wherelocal and regional residents will be excited to shop, eat, get

their hair cut, hang out and enjoy the day; where travelers

to Portland will mark their map as a must-see destination

point in the city.

The northern-most travel lane will become the new

parking lane, while the The northern-most parking lane will

become, basically, an imagined extension of the sidewalk,

or “activated space” for businesses to program. The current

bike lane will remain a bike lane, with parked cars acting as

a buffer between the cyclists and the two west-bound traf-

fic. lanes.

This modal experiment will come about because of the

efforts of the Broadway/Weidler Alliance (BWA), the orga-

nization Better Block PDX, the Portland State University

(PSU) School of Urban Planning, and the assistance ofindividual business associations and neighborhoods, includ-

ing the Irvington Community Association.

The seeds of the project initially came to into being

when Keiel Johnson, a representative o f the Lloyd District

Community Association, and BWA board member, sug-

gested that the BWA reach out to Better Block PDX, an

organization which works with the Portland Bureau of

Transportation and PSU to find particular streets where

the street can be reimagined, sometimes in several different

ways. The BWA voted to pursue working with Better Block

to put forth a proposal to PSU to have their students take

a look at the Broadway corridor. The PSU students selected

the Broadway project over a number of other projects.

Better Block PDX has been tremendously successful in

working with various areas of the city. Last year Naito was

reconfigured during the Rose Festival. The north-bound

travel lane was blocked off for several blocks allowing pedes-

trians and cyclists to traverse the park without the risk of

being run-over by hurried drivers.

The group also implemented temporary changes on SW

3rd in Oldtown. The businesses in that stretch ultimately

decided to ask the city to make changes based on what

they learned from the Better Blocks demonstration project.

They are currently working on a Better Burnside, a project

whichthat wi ll take place in June after the completion of

the Better Broadway project.

Ryan Hashaegen, one of the core members of Better

Block, emphasizes that the aim of the group is not to pro-

mote a single mode of transportation over another mode.

The group’s goal is to create new environment and provide

something tangible that business owners, cyclists, pedestri-

ans, drivers, can visualize and interact with so that they can

see what works and what doesn’t.

The Broadway project will attempt to look at differ-

ent types of improvements to see if any are more attractive

to shoppers. One business may choose to have chairs andtables in front of the their business. Another may opt for a

bike corral next to a parklet.

Businesses on the south side of Broadway will be able

to temporarily change some of the parking spots in front

of their businesses into parklets, seating areas, bike corrals,

or whatever idea they can come up with. Or, they can leave

the parking spots.

PSU students will be gathering data with the assistance

of volunteers and business owners. We hope to see whether

there will be and adverse impact on car traffic movement

through the corridor, and if so, at what level is the impact.

They will be looking to see whether reducing the number

of travel lanes results in slower traffic and an increased abil-

ity on the part of pedestrians to cross the street. One of

the problems with Broadway is that, while cars are legallyrequired to stop for pedestrians at all crosswalks, when you

have three travel lanes cars in the outside lane don’t always

see the pedestrian. Even worse, a pedestrian may be crossing

after two lanes of traffic stop but may not realize a car in

the third lane is not stopping.

Businesses will be hoping to see if pedestrians are hap-

pier with an environment where there are not three lanes

of traffic blowing by at 35 to 40 mph. They are currently

working out a method to gather data (made more d ifficult

by the lack of sales tax) and maybe find out where the cus-

tomers arrived from and by what mode they arrived.

The entire project is anticipated to cost approximately

$10,000. In addition to the $500 the ICA donated to the

Broadway/Weidler Charrette, and $500 the ICA donated to

assist the BWA with implementing a website, the ICA hasproposed donating $1,500 to the Better Broadway project,

with that donation to be ratified at the May meeting.

The project appears to have already have energized

some of the businesses who have been participating in the

work sessions which tak ing place at various locations on

Broadway, including Aztec Willies, Pizza Schmizza, and

Blackwater Bar.

In 2015, Better Block PDX was awarded the Bicycle

Transportation Alliance Alice Award for “building momen-

tum for the next twenty-five years.” In 2015, the group

was awarded the Oregon Walks Weston Award for making

Portland streets safer.

Volunteer work parties – meetings – are open

to the public and kid-friendly. Contact Volunteer.

[email protected] if you want to hear updateson these or other projects. The organization can be reached

at [email protected].

Everyone is encouraged to visit Broadway during the

Better Broadway project on May 9th through the 15th. See

for yourself how the changes make the Broadway corridor

feel. Hangout, shop, grab a bite to eat, take advantage of

outdoor seating without having cars whiz by within feet of

your table. Let’s see what the future can hold and then work

to make something happen.

A Better Broadway is comingto a corridor near you


5/8


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PPS Looks toChange IrvingtonSchool . . . Again.

By Steve Cole

Portland Public Schools is once again changing its mind as to what should be the proper school configuration. This

time the district has decided that K-8s are problematic and that they now like K-5s better. In addition, they are once again

reworking boundaries. If you are not a fan of the new direction or the new boundaries, keep in mind that, if history is any

guide, they may change again in a few years.

Relevant to our neighborhood schools is the proposed plan to convert Irvington K-8 and Sabin K-8 to K-5s and

then have the students attend Tubman School in the Eliot neighborhood along with students from King and Boise-Eliot/

Humboldt.

The main concern expressed by current parents is that it is not a good idea to require elementary or middle-school aged

children to cross a busy thoroughfare in order to get to school. And, Martin Luther King is a really busy and very danger-

ous street to cross, especially if you are a small child who cannot be easily seen by drivers. Frankly, when there are neigh-

borhood options, it seems an odd choice to unnecessarily subject pre-teens to such danger.

From what has been conveyed to the ICA, the views on Irvington remaining K-8 are mixed, but with a majority being

in favor of the school remaining k-8. However, there appears to be much more unanimity on the issue of whether the

students should be required to cross MLK to attend a middle school, rather than convert Beverly Cleary back to a middle

school and have them attend that school. Not only is Beverly Cleary the historic middle school for Irvington, it is unim-

peded by dangerous street crossings.

If Sabin is going to be converted back to a K-5, it also seems to make more sense to have Sabin students attend the

closer Beaumont Middle School which also does not have an “MLK” acting as a barrier.

Some parents have also expressed concern that removing middle schoolers will result in a drop in enrollment and a sub-

sequent reduction in per student funds. However, a school board member that I spoke to stated that would not be the case.

In regard to sending Irvington students to a converted Beverly Cleary Middle School, the board member argued that

Beverly Cleary does not have the capacity to take in Irvington students. If that is indeed the case, that is a problem which

PPS created with its previous shut-downs and redrawing of boundaries. I recall the argument of PPS in 2007-08 that Rose

City Park had to be shut down and many of those students had to be added to Alameda or it would not have enough stu-

dents to keep it open. Within two years Alameda was bursting at the seams and PPS reworked the boundaries to remove

closer-in students who could walk to school while keeping students who lived far enough away that they felt compelled to

drive.

Under the current scenario, presumably, PPS could alter boundaries so that children living closest to that middle school

can actually attend that middle school, rather than creating boundaries which exclude close-in students but require stu-

dents to attend from such distances that it encourages driving.

The PPS board member I spoke to agreed that if students from Irvington were going to be required to attend Tubman

than crossing improvements should be made on MLK and possibly other streets. The problem in the past has been that

PPS has very little, if any, sway over PBOT and ODOT, the agencies who have control over MLK. The board member also

emphasized that Tubman actually has superior facilities to Beverly Cleary.

The current plan seems to be in a wait and see mode, with a potential decision arriving in late fall. Whatever PPSdecides, I was informed that Irvington students will continue to go to Grant High. The ICA is still taking in information

prior to determining whether what stand, if any, it wants to take on this issue. One would hope that PPS can come up

with a p lan that ensures a safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly commuting environment for the students and one

which will not encourage increased driving. If you have an opinion fee l free to let us, PPS, or the school board know. The

ICA will likely be discussing the matter again at our May meeting.


6/8


On May 14th, the same weekend that people will be

experiencing Broadway with one less travel lane and wider

“sidewalks,” the Broadway/Weidler Alliance will be sponsor-

ing a charrette to exam ways in which to make Broadway

better. The charrette will be held at Grace Episcopal Church

between NE 16th and 17th on Weidler.

Metro Councilor Bob Stacey will be the guest speaker

and will be discussing “Climate Smart Communities.”Following Councilor Stacey’s talk, the attendees will be

invited to visit various representatives, including Portland

Streetcar, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Trimet,

Oregon Walks, ALTA (bikes), and Better Block PDX.

Attendees will be able to move from table to tab le and

gather information from the various representatives.

At the end of the charrette, attendees will be invited to

head over to the Better Broadway demonstration and visit

the businesses, experiencing Broadway in a temporarily

improved state.

The BWA hopes to receive feedback from neighbors

and business owners about what potential improvements

they think will work best. They will also have an opportu-

nity to ask about various details of different mode options.Questions such as “what is a buffered bike lane?” or “how is

a streetcar paid for?” or “will the city allow for a reduction

in travel lanes?”

Many members on the BWA believe that removing a

lane of traffic will result in a better experience for shoppers

and customers. There is also wide agreement that more

marked crosswalks and signalized intersections needed as

well as an improved biking experience. However, we still

need to look at details such as how to improve the biking

experience. For example, is a protected bike lane something

we should be looking at and if so, what type of protected

bike lane.

Another potential oppor tunity for improving the cor-

ridor is the Portland Streetcar. If Broadway is chosen for thenext line, that is millions of dollars coming in from outside

sources, federal, state and city, which will be spent to revi-

talize Broadway. Dan Bower of Portland Streetcar will be

present along with some business owners who will discuss

the benefits of a streetcar.

The public is encouraged to attend.

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By William Archer and Steve Cole

It is that time of year again to do a bit of spring clean-

ing. Metro and the Ica will provide a place to dump that

stuff you no longer want and that doesn’t fit into your

curbside recycling bin or trash container. The ICA will

provide drop boxes to hall your stuff away as well as a place

to recycle other goods back into the community. This will

make for a cleaner neighborhood and city at large.

Due to health and safety concerns for the public and

Metro transfer station employees, Metro notified disposal

voucher applicants (the ICA cleanup team) of extra precau-

tions to take to make sure that construction debris is not

inadvertently included in the drop boxes. Asbestos , which

is used in numerous building materials, is well known as an

extremely hazardous material and direct contact with any

amount should be avoided. Thus, Metro transfer station

employees are prohibited from accepting asbestos-contain-

ing materials from any source based on a new ruling from

the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Those

materials should be dropped off at the Hazardous Waste

Station at the Central Transfer Station.

The ICA will be taking tires and mattresses. However,

televisions and electronics are prohibited. Those items can

be dropped off at any Goodwill for recycling.

In addition to the drop boxes, where items go to be

hauled away, we also set up a “too good to toss” area as we

always try to recycle as much as possible. This is a great

place to drop off the odd chair or no longer needed garden

tools, plant pots, or out-grown bicycles and toys. So, after

dropping off your junk, look to see if there is some item

you could use.

After expenses are paid, the money rai sed at the cleanup

goes to the ICA to be used for neighborhood projects, char-

ities, schools, and contributions to organizations working to

make Portland better.

The Irvington Community Association annual cleanup

is Saturday, May 7, 2016 (the day before Mother’s day).

9:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Holladay Park Church of

God, NE Tillamook and 21st avenue Please enter the park-

ing lot off of 21st avenue Donations will be accepted Feel

free to stay, add a hand, and meet your neighbors if you

have time.

The following is a list of prohibited materials which we

will NOT be able to accept: Hazardous waste (paint, oi l,

cleaning goods) Construction debris of any kind Kitchen

garbage Residential yard debris and trimmings Wastes

and recyclables which are normally collected curbside

Commercial landscaping waste Roofing material

By Dean Gisvold

2035 Comp Plan Amendment Package.

No amendments were filed by the Mayor or the Council

that would make the changes asked of them by the ICA

Board and Land Use Committee. However, such changes

are being considered in three component parts of the Comp

Plan work, which are discussed below.

1. Mixed Use Zoning Project.

Go to https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/index.

cfm?&c=63621 for more info this project. Please note that

testimony to the Planning and Sustainability Commission

(PSC) on the Proposed Draft is open until May 10,

2016. Excerpts from my submission to BPS staffer Bill

Cunningham, one of the authors of the Report, is copied

below:

“Corner lot at 15th and NE Brazee

The Comp Plan amendment makes this 15,000 sq foot

property CM 1, which is a new mixed use zone designation.

This means that the Property becomes a commercial zone

and the Property loses its nonconforming status. Similaramendments are being made elsewhere in the City as part

of the Comp Plan process, since the City does not like non-

conforming uses. All surrounding property retains the R-5

zoning designation, which predominates throughout most

of the Irvington Historic District.

The Report indicates that small commercial proper-

ties surrounded by single family zoning, will retain the

limitation on hours of use that such property enjoyed as a

nonconforming use, close by 11pm and no morning activ-

ity until 6 am. The limitation would only apply to sites of

7,500 sq. feet or less. The ICA proposes either the limita-

tion be increased to 15,000 sq feet or the zoning remain an

R-5 zone.

Broadway Strip from NE 16th to NE 28thThe Comp Plan changed the zoning on this portion of

the Broadway strip from its current zoning to CM-2, a new

mixed use zoning designation that carries with it an allowed

height of 45 feet as a base height, and possible bonus height

up to 55 feet, and a base FAR of 2.5 to 1, and possible

bonus FAR up to 4 to 1. The base height and FAR for

CM-2 is similar to the current zoning, but the bonuses are

not. The properties within the Irvington Historic District,

from NE 16th to NE 28th, would not be eligible for the

bonus height and bonus FAR.

7th and Hancock Area

The 2035 Comp Plan proposed to change this area to

CM-3, a new commercial zone designation, with a base

height of 65 feet and a base FAR of 3 to 1, plus a bonus

height of up to 75 feet and a bonus FAR of up to 5 to 1.

We objected to this new mixed use zoning designation.

The Report recommends that this property be designat-

ed EG 1 rather than CM-3. An EG 1 zone has a maximum

height of 45 feet and a maximum FAR of 3-to-1, with no

bonuses allowed. The primary differences between the EG1

zone and the various commercial/mixed use zones are in the

uses allowed in the zones, including prohibition of new resi-

dential uses in the EG zones. This is acceptable to the ICA.

2. Residential and Open Space Zoning Map Update.

The current zoning of RH in the District that is not

covered by the Central City Plan is found between NE 7th

and NE 15th and NE Schuyler and NE Hancock. The ICA

requested that this RH area be rezoned to R-1, which has a

height limit of 45 feet under the current code.

The changes will make the FAR and height limita-

tions in the Broadway area compatible with the Irvington

Historic District, and especially the criteria used to evaluate

new construction. These changes will assure that new con-struction will be compatible with the transition to the resi-

dential portion of the neighborhood. These changes should

also reduce conflicts between neighbors and developers, and

the developers will know what to expect in terms of mass,

scale, and size.

3. Central City Plan.

The ICA requested that the CCPlan show an FAR of

2 to 1 rather than the proposed 4 to 1; and a maximum

height of 50 feet rather than the proposed 75 feet as those

changes would make the FAR and height limitations in

the Broadway Strip compatible with the Irvington Historic

District and the criteria which govern new construction.

The current height for the Broadway Strip is a base zone of

50 feet with possible bonuses of 75 feet more for a total of125 feet. The CC plan proposes a 75 foot maximum height

with no potential for bonuses. The elimination of bonuses

is appropriate for the historic district, which we support.

However, to insure real compatibility with the historic dis-

trict criteria in the City Code, the base zone must be kept

at 50 feet and the FAR reduced to 2 to 1.

4. Middle Housing Proposal.

New amendments regarding “middle housing” were

proposed by the Mayor and appears in a report entitled

Alternative Housing Options, issued by the Stakeholder

Advisory Committee for the Residential Infill Project. I

believe this Proposal deserves the same consideration as the

Central City Plan, and the Mixed Use Project. We should

have time to determine what effect, if any, the Proposal will

have on the potential demolition of existing viable, older,

and relatively affordable homes in the affected neighbor-

hoods. The City should exercise caution. Regarding historic

districts, such as Irvington, does the Proposal build in safe

guards for historic compatibility. I know there is interest in

putting more duplexes and triplexes in Irvington, where we

already have some wonderful turn of the century duplexes,

and where duplexes are now allowed on corners. However,

mass, size, and scale matter, not only in historic districts,

but in most inner ring neighborhoods.

The Portland 2035 Comp Plan has been a five year

project and, in my opinion, has been the most complicated

land use effort in the City’s history, perhaps the State. The

size and complexity of the Plan made meaningful citizen

involvement almost impossible. Thus, your land use com-

mittee has focused on those segments with major impacton the Irvington Historic District, the largest historic dis-

trict in the Pacific Northwest. The ICA land use commit-

tee believes the proposed changes will make our Historic

District a success and still accommodate many changes in

the housing stock comprising the District.

Irvington Cleanup

Comprehensive Plan Update

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P R S R T S T D

U . S . P O S T A G E

P A I D

P E R M I T N O . 8 8

G R E S H A M , O R

I r v i n g t o n C o m m u n i t y A s s o c i a t i o n

P . O . B o x 1 2 1 0 2

P o r t l a n d , O R 9 7 2 1 2

S p r i n g 2 0 1 6

H I S T O R I c I R V I N G T O N

By Jim Heuer

Four sold-out historic Irvington walking

tours in 2015 have encouraged neighborhood

historian Robert Mercer to repeat the series in

2016 – 4 Saturdays this summer. The history

of Irvington is replete with lore of the build-

ers, early residents, and architects that helpedshape our neighborhood landscape. Historian

Robert Mercer, who has for the last 15 years

researched the histories of all the homes on

the Irvington Home Tour for each year’s bro-

chure, will share his knowledge in walking

tours scheduled each month from June through

September, 2016.

The tour makes for a great introduction

for newcomers to Irvington. They can learn

how the neighborhood was created through

the vision of pioneering developer Elizabeth

Irvington from the early days in the 1880s

through the boom years of the Streetcar Era

through the end of trolley car service in 1948.

Even long-time residents will learn a bit of the

lore and history that help make Irvington such

a special place that it qualified for the NationalRegister of Historic Places.

Each walking tour will begin at 10am and

last roughly 90 minutes on four Saturdays:

June 25

July 23

August 20

September 17

For those who took the tour last year and

want a somewhat different perspective on the

neighborhood, Mercer will be scheduling a spe-

cial tour focused on one of the premier architects

working in Irvington – to be announced. The

schedule will be posted on nextdoor.com and

on the Irvington neighborhood website, www.

irvingtonpdx.com, when the date is finalized.

There isn’t a specific charge for taking

the Tour, but attendees will be encouragedto make a suggested donation of $10 each to

the ICA’s Historic Preservation Committee,

which will use the funds for its programming.

Reservations for each tour are required. For

reservations or questions send an email to

Robert Mercer at Robert@househistorypdx.

com, being sure to indicate which date you’d

like to take the tour. The number of attendees

for each tour will be limited to the first 20 peo-

ple to request reservations.

The ICA’s Mary and Smith Piper Century

House Program: helps raise awareness for

neighborhood architectural history is a tribute

to Mary and Smith Piper - honoring the Pipers’

tireless efforts to create the Irvington Historic

District as well as their many years of service to

the Irvington Community shows support for the

preservation principle that the “greenest” build-

ing is the one that is already built gives you a

great excuse to hold a centennial birthday party.

The following 1916 houses are having their

centennial this year, and do not have a Century

House sign yet. If you would like to celebrate

with a sign, contact the ICA at: historicpreser-

[email protected].

Irvington Walking Tours Scheduledfor a Second Season

Would you like aCentury House sign for 2016?3007 NE 8th 3036 NE 20th

2536 NE 10th 3427 NE 20th

3221 NE 11th 3132 NE 22nd

2518 NE 12th 3416 NE 22nd

3017 NE 12th 2936 NE 24th

2813 NE 13th 2202 NE 25th

3008 NE 14th 2921 NE 26th

3124 NE 15th 2136 NE 27th

2110 NE 16th 2223 NE 28th

2625 NE 16th 2235 NE 28th

3006 NE 16th 2429 NE Brazee

3146 NE 16th 2228 NE Knott

3225 NE 17th 2008 NE Siskiyou

2326 NE 18th 2003 NE Stanton

2124 NE 19th 2732 NE Thompson

3446 NE 19th 2721 NE Tillamook

3003 NE 20th 2729 NE Tillamook

Historic Irvington Newsletter - 2016 Spring

Documents

Transcript of Historic Irvington Newsletter - 2016 Spring