Downtown Portland News

[maccoinnich]

McMenamins Buys Long-Vacant Taft Home in Portland’s West End
The Taft until 2021 was home for 70 low-income seniors.



More than two years ago, 70 low-income and disabled seniors were told they had to leave their low-income apartments at the Taft Home, a Southwest Portland building next to the McMenamins Crystal Ballroom music venue. State regulators had given the facility’s operators a long list of required fixes, and the nonprofit operator chose to shutter the home rather than comply.

One of the longtime Taft Home tenants, Josephine Allen, pitched a tent across the street and spent the winter warming her hands by lighting fires in aluminum cans with rubbing alcohol. Other Taft tenants were scattered to care homes across the state, while others were taken in by relatives.

For the next two and a half years, the Taft Home stood vacant. Reach CDC, the nonprofit developer that owned it, said renovations to rehab the building would cost between $25 million and $30 million. So Reach looked for a buyer instead.

...continues at the Willamette Week.

[downtownpdx]

Just saw that - it’s sad they closed (yet another) affordable housing bldg, but I’m happy to see McMenamins step in to revitalize the building. I wonder what happens to Cassidys.. that’s been there forever. Had a few holiday work parties there over the years, great old bar.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by downtownpdx

Just saw that - it’s sad they closed (yet another) affordable housing bldg, but I’m happy to see McMenamins step in to revitalize the building. I wonder what happens to Cassidys.. that’s been there forever. Had a few holiday work parties there over the years, great old bar.

I agree, Cassidy's is like walking into really Old Portland for a beer and food. Such a great classic bar

[downtownpdx]

So great to finally see this building get finished -- this will be a fun spot although I wish there were a daytime presence like the Greek Cuisina.

Long-vacant Greek Cusina in downtown Portland to become art and music venue

building-at-4th-and-washignton-downtown-portland-2 by Ryan Miller, on Flickr

By Malia Spencer – Portland Inno, Portland Business Journal
Aug 22, 2024
Updated Aug 22, 2024 2:14pm PDT

Plans to turn the long-vacant former home of Greek Cusina into a music venue and jazz club are rolling ahead.

The building at Southwest Fourth and Washington in downtown Portland has been vacant since 2010 when the restaurant closed after its owners fought with the city over a raft of code enforcements. Since then, the building, built in the 1890s, has undergone extensive renovations with new beams, earthquake retrofitting, electrical and HVAC work, said Christopher Pfeifer, managing partner of 404 Entertainment, which is leasing the main floor and the basement of building.

Pfeifer is planning a music venue on the main floor that could hold around 200 people. It is called 400, in a nod to the building address 404-418 S.W. Washington. In the basement he is planning a jazz club with a speakeasy vibe that could seat between 80 to 125 people depending on final layout design. That club is called Corbitt & Macleay, a nod to the original builder and the first grocer in town to import alcohol, said Pfeifer.

(continues)https://www.bizjournals.com/portland...ek-cusina.html

[sopdx]

OMG, 14 years vacant. Great news.

[PhillyPDX]

What a terrible blow to downtown. Wow. I was suspecting a year or so ago based on a friend, but it went away so figured it was just gossip. Nope.

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2024...outputType=amp

[UofOalum]

Ohh this is a big blow I don’t see how the Portland is doing fine crowd can spin this.. yikes

[tablemtn]

The pink building is simply not in a great area. The city refuses to clean up the surrounding streets, or even to solve murders committed nearby (there was a fatal shooting at 3rd & Ankeny on September 3rd, for example, one of several unsolved cases within just a few blocks' radius from Burnside/Oak and 5th or 6th). So, it's not very desirable for corporate clients with any sort of cash to throw around. The city could, in theory, try to fix this. But it does not seem interested in doing so.

[2oh1]

Hopefully, the city will start to prioritize safety when the next mayor & city council are sworn in. Some things are getting better, albeit slowly. Other things aren't. When stores close, their storefronts and parking lots still become open air drug markets. Street racing is becoming more common at night in the heart of the city. The police do nothing. Change is needed.

Big Pink is in a tough spot. I can't imagine why any company would want to have offices there these days.

That being said... Portland has such great bones, and our problems are solvable. I mean, really, our city has a history of being a place where great people accomplish great things. Tom McCall, Bud Clark, Vera Katz... whose name will be next among the change makers here? I'm very excited about the future, though I don't know enough about the local candidates yet.

The Wheeler era is ending as expected, with a whimper and more bad news. But I can't help thinking better days are on the way. Election day can't come soon enough.

[2oh1]

Originally Posted by tablemtn

The pink building is simply not in a great area. The city refuses to clean up the surrounding streets, or even to solve murders committed nearby (there was a fatal shooting at 3rd & Ankeny on September 3rd, for example, one of several unsolved cases within just a few blocks' radius from Burnside/Oak and 5th or 6th). So, it's not very desirable for corporate clients with any sort of cash to throw around. The city could, in theory, try to fix this. But it does not seem interested in doing so.

That area has such amazing potential.

Over the next 20 to 50 years, I have to assume that part of downtown, and south along and around 2nd, etc, will fill in with housing and shops. There's just too much potential to prevent it from happening, eventually. And the entire Old Town area, going north all the way through the old Post Office site, will blossom too. Again, it's just a matter of time. There's just too much potential to prevent it from happening. The sooner the better.

It's inevitable. But in the meantime, it's easy to be impatient. I sure am.

I'm still bummed about the loss of the Tug Boat. God, that place was a gem, especially on Mondays (IYKYK).

[subterranean]

Originally Posted by tablemtn

The pink building is simply not in a great area. The city refuses to clean up the surrounding streets, or even to solve murders committed nearby (there was a fatal shooting at 3rd & Ankeny on September 3rd, for example, one of several unsolved cases within just a few blocks' radius from Burnside/Oak and 5th or 6th). So, it's not very desirable for corporate clients with any sort of cash to throw around. The city could, in theory, try to fix this. But it does not seem interested in doing so.

Agreed. Not only are there societal issues, the streets themselves are not welcoming in any way. Even with the MAX aright there, The combo of it being on Burnside, the massing of the buildings and lack of fine-grain retail, no comfort to pedestrians likely due to a desire to keep homeless people away, it feels vacuous and auto-dominated. It's not a place where you want to stick around, just something you go by from time to time on the way to somewhere else. Reminds me of the way the RenCen in Detroit used to be, although admittedly this has more potential given that it is actually integrated into the downtown proper and could be reimagined.

[Socinus]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

I'm still bummed about the loss of the Tug Boat. God, that place was a gem, especially on Mondays (IYKYK).

The loss of both Tug Boat and Bailey's Tap Room were colossal blows to the downtown beer community. I feel like something that captures that cozy, high quality, and adult drinking environment needs to happen around the Burnside & Broadway intersection before we see real improvement.

[DMH]

Originally Posted by 2oh1

Hopefully, the city will start to prioritize safety when the next mayor & city council are sworn in. Some things are getting better, albeit slowly. Other things aren't. When stores close, their storefronts and parking lots still become open air drug markets. Street racing is becoming more common at night in the heart of the city. The police do nothing. Change is needed.

Big Pink is in a tough spot. I can't imagine why any company would want to have offices there these days.

That being said... Portland has such great bones, and our problems are solvable. I mean, really, our city has a history of being a place where great people accomplish great things. Tom McCall, Bud Clark, Vera Katz... whose name will be next among the change makers here? I'm very excited about the future, though I don't know enough about the local candidates yet.

The Wheeler era is ending as expected, with a whimper and more bad news. But I can't
help thinking better days are on the way. Election day can't come soon enough.

I agree that there is reason to be optimistic if we elect in November a more effective city council and mayor, as well as some new folks on the county commission. Furthermore, as of September 1st, Measure 110 is no more. In NW Portland, Portland Police on bikes have been arresting drug dealers and cuffing drug users nearly every day this past week. But as one officer told me, with the police at around 790 sworn officers (though funded at +/- 880) Portland Police is merely a triage force, inadequately staffed. In 2005, Portland had nearly 1050 police officers. Clearly Portland must add officers in order to manage public safety in the city and create the conditions for Portland's return to civic and economic health in Downtown as we transition our central city to a mixed use neighborhood that finds new uses for all of its office spaces.

[maccoinnich]

Echoing what others are saying, Big Pink definitely suffers to unique degree due its proximity to Old Town. I don't think anyone would say the downtown office market is doing well, but there are leases happening (I just heard yesterday about a number of leases signed at a prominent building in a different part of downtown).

With new TIF districts likely to be approved in the next year, I think one thing the city could do that would have a big impact on the area to the east of Big Pink would be to invest in public realm improvements on and around Ankeny. The Ankeny Alley and the painted plaza that was created ten (?) years ago have the potential to be so much more than they are now.

[DMH]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Echoing what others are saying, Big Pink definitely suffers to unique degree due its proximity to Old Town. I don't think anyone would say the downtown office market is doing well, but there are leases happening (I just heard yesterday about a number of leases signed at a prominent building in a different part of downtown).

With new TIF districts likely to be approved in the next year, I think one thing the city could do that would have a big impact on the area to the east of Big Pink would be to invest in public realm improvements on and around Ankeny. The Ankeny Alley and the painted plaza that was created ten (?) years ago have the potential to be so much more than they are now.

Hallelujah and Ditto! I have been advocating for complete pedestrianization and streetscape enhancements around Ankeny Alley and other small-street opportunities in Downtown since Sam Adams was mayor. Such zones of people-activity will bring folks back to Downtown and differentiate it from newer hubs like the Pearl and Conway/Slabtown.

[maccoinnich]

Food cart pod coming to Portland State University area



Brothers Maher and Nader Makboul are bringing a new food cart pod to downtown Portland on property that has been in the family for decades.

Currently, they own and operate Mak’s Mini Mart at 616 S.W. College St. on the edge of the Portland State University Campus. The property includes a nearly 30-space parking lot that the brothers have renovated to accommodate food carts, said Maher Makboul.

So far, 10 carts have committed to the site and there is space for two to three more, said Makboul. The pod meets all the new requirements of the city on food carts. This means electrical, water, sewer and natural gas hook-ups and plumbing to the sewer with grease traps.

The family has invested close to $3 million in this project, which included buying the mini mart property and the parking lot from the private equity firm that owned the sites. The development of the pod has cost about $500,000.

...continues at the Portland Business Journal ($).

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

...continues at the Portland Business Journal ($).

I wonder if this will effectively replace the pod on 4th having all the legal/cost issues regarding new grey water rules?

[downtownpdx]

Great news! These always bring a nice dose of street life to the respective neighborhood.

[DMH]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Echoing what others are saying, Big Pink definitely suffers to unique degree due its proximity to Old Town. I don't think anyone would say the downtown office market is doing well, but there are leases happening (I just heard yesterday about a number of leases signed at a prominent building in a different part of downtown).

With new TIF districts likely to be approved in the next year, I think one thing the city could do that would have a big impact on the area to the east of Big Pink would be to invest in public realm improvements on and around Ankeny. The Ankeny Alley and the painted plaza that was created ten (?) years ago have the potential to be so much more than they are now.

Originally Posted by downtownpdx

Great news! These always bring a nice dose of street life to the respective neighborhood.

Whether or not this food cart pod replaces the one on SW 4th, this new location is closer to the heart of PSU, so it should be a popular and busy pod.

[downtownpdx]

Originally Posted by DMH

Whether or not this food cart pod replaces the one on SW 4th, this new location is closer to the heart of PSU, so it should be a popular and busy pod.

And very close to the upcoming Art /Design school.