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When planners discussed possible street improvements to aid pedestrian safety, both Barber and Postal Annex’s Bruce Altizer raised concerns. Altizer was concerned that the improvements might interfere with the street’s ability to carry traffic. Barber was concerned with the financial burden it might throw on local property owners, and with the growth of regulation. Both said the zoning was too restrictive. “The median income here has dropped 10 percent,” Barber said. “We need to draw in families. There are too many restrictions on this area at this time. It was booming in the ‘90s, but it’s bottomed out. This area could become another Rockwood.” Hazelwood chair Arlene Kimura had a different issue, calling for more porous surfaces in new developments and streets. “Where we had trees, now we have houses,” she said. “There will be an increase in the amount of asphalt. Compensation for that needs to be part and parcel, or we’ll all have higher sewer bills.” She agreed with Altizer and Barber about the commercial zoning, saying, “One size does not fit all.”
Two other business people, Paul and Donna Dionne of Mr. Peeps and The Love Boutique, questioned plans for new streets. New regulations for Gateway indicate places where land must be dedicated for new streets when large parcels are redeveloped. “There are too many too close together,” Donna Dionne said. “If I sell my property, the new owner will have to give up land for a big old road.”
“You want all these new roads, and you can’t even manage what you have now,” Paul Dionne said. Matt Arnold of the Bureau of Environmental Services said that the easements were an attempt to provide the sort of street access the district would need once it is built up. He added, “This would occur with redevelopment. All of them would be, at maximum, a local street. It could go down to a pedestrian path. It could be really narrow and slow, something you’d drive down if it was your neighborhood, but not if you were passing through because it would take twice as long.”
Metro Councillor Robert Liberty added, “Change is going to come here and we need to plan for it. The question is how we do it so it works for us.”
102nd Avenue Study
The latest group to review the proposed 102nd Avenue streetscape plan was the Portland Design Commission. Tentative plans for the street between Northeast Weidler and Southeast Washington streets call for four lanes of traffic, two bike lanes, little on-street parking, center pedestrian islands at selected locations, wide sidewalks with pedestrian amenities where space allows or with new development. Another feature is artwork at selected locations.
Project manager Dan Layden said that the on-street parking removal was “the most controversial part of the project. It could be restored as properties are redeveloped if owners are willing to deed street frontage to the city,” he said. “I would like to do it now, but the main purpose of the public right of way is not to store cars.”
One of the artworks is a stainless steel arch that will span the pedestrian right of way. “It actually functions as a guide to pedestrians, showing a safe place to cross the street,” commission chair Mike McCulloch said. His problem with this, and the rest of the artwork exhibited, was that it was not large or striking enough.
“It should be as visually powerful as you can possibly make it,” he said. “This is an opportunity to affect an otherwise undifferentiated one-way grid.”
“You’re driving by fast in a car,” commission member Tim Eddy said. “What you do should be bold and dramatic.”
Barn Bash ready to swing
It’s a good news bad news situation at the eighth annual Rossi Farms Barn Bash. The bad news is after three years of movie-making collaboration; Joe Rossi and Tom Mannen are going their separate ways. The good news is both ways lead to the Rossi Farms Barn Bash.
The bash begins at 6 p.m. and goes to midnight on Saturday, July 9 at Rossi Farms, 3839 N.E. 122nd Ave., and will feature most of the attractions that have made the event such a hit for the past seven years. Once again there will be all the barbecued chicken, baked beans, corn bread, green salad, potato salad and strawberry shortcake, all made with fresh ingredients and prepared by the Parkrose Lions Club that you can eat. Once again, you can also buy beer or wine donated by the Widmer Brothers Brewing Company. Once again, there’ll be live music by The Last Rodeo Band, dancing, and line dancing lessons. Once again, proceeds from the $12 admission will go to the Parkrose Youth Activities Fund, whose contribution becomes more critical with every new school budget shortfall.
Once again, also, Mannen and his gang at Turkey Creek Productions will stage a Wild West Show, with Wild West types shooting at each other amid western town sets, and with a little audience participation. And once again, Turkey Creek will have films to show. This is a 21 and over event.
This year though, the films will be a little more modest and will not include members of the Rossi Clan, as they have for the past three years.
Mannen does say there will be a “surprise” event this year. It will be hard to top last year, when Mannen staged his own western wedding to longtime sweetheart Jeannette Busch.
Mannen does plan to shoot another Parkrose western epic later this summer. “We’ll shoot this year for a showing next year,” he says. And will Joe (Parker Rose) Rossi be part of it? Rossi doesn’t rule it out. “Every year I say this is the last time, I’ve done this enough, but then I get excited all over again,” he says.
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