 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
 |
MEMO BLOG | |
Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Meals on Wheels | Letters | Home |
LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
 |
| Bridget Bayer, who was hired recently to be revitalization manager for Historic Parkrose, has experience creating events for north and northeast Portland business associations. COURTESY BIRDGET BAYER |
She will help guide the work of the revival project. One of six such districts, it takes in Northeast Sandy Boulevard east of 99th to 122nd avenue, plus a narrow band of residential area to each side. It will operate as a miniature urban renewal district, collecting and dispensing $1.2 million over the next eight to ten years for promotional activities, business improvements and some modest public capitol improvements, all designed to upgrade the commercial area and encourage private investment there.
Bayer was one of 46 people who applied for the job. The Stakeholders Committee eventually whittled this pool down to two applicants. “It was really hard at the end because both of the applicants were so good,” Stakeholders Committee chair Joe Rossi told the Memo, “but I'm very happy with the person we chose.”
Formerly a restaurateur - her Bridges Café on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Knott Street is going strong under its third set of owners - Bayer has spend the last ten years helping neighborhood business associations do public events. She has worked with, among others, the Northeast Broadway Business Association, Lloyd District Community Association, the Beaumont Business Association, Overlook Business Association and the Historic Mississippi Business Association. The last stages the annual Mississippi Street Fair, attracting more than 30,000 people. She has worked through her own company, Business Association Management, and also in cooperation with others, such as Nancy Chapin's The Support Group.
“She's a highly skilled organizer who works well with people,” Chapin says of Bayer. “She and I have been attending Main Street meetings, studying ways to make business districts successful, for over ten years. They (Parkrose) should grow and prosper. They're lucky to have her.”
Bayer told the Memo that she was attracted to the job in part because “… it's a strong, historic community that's existed for a long time, with people who are loyal and caring.”
Regarding the NPI program she says, “This time the city got it right. It's less prescriptive, allowing local people to do what's best for their area. Through BAM, I'm pretty well known for event management. I wanted to do community development working in one small district. We need to get property owners, business owners and neighbors to pool their time, talent and money for visible projects that make a difference.” ?
 |
 |
 |
 |
MEMO Advertising | MEMO Archives | MEMO Web Neighbors | MEMO Staff | Home