Old Town/Chinatown News - Page 32

pdxtraveler · #**621** Posted **Apr 9, 2009, 2:18 PM**

Actually, I think it is a good compromise for as entrenched as both sides were. Everyone got some of what they wanted and the sign still looks good.

downtownpdx · #**622** Posted **Apr 9, 2009, 8:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okstate

I'm assuming the "Oregon" will just be flashing by itself now? That will seem awkward.

Haha! Yeah that would be pretty dumb-looking. Maybe letter-by-letter ... or just not at all.

I think the compromise looks pretty good. I like the 'Old Town Portland' at the bottom. The sign looks pretty much the same, (they wanted to put a big 'O' there originally right?)... and this sign has changed several times over the years anyway. I'm just glad the basic design is intact.

tworivers · #**623** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 12:08 AM**

Coupla pics from last Sunday. Both the Mercy Corps building and the new Market area look to be very nice. I like the glassy facade facing Naito -- exactly what was needed. And we can send thank you notes to the HLC for the stupid overhang.

scottyboi · #**624** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 12:13 AM**

What's wrong with the overhang...would have been nice if it wrapped around all sides to match the existing structure

zilfondel · #**625** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 1:15 AM**

thread title needs to be changed from 'proposed' to 'under construction'

downtownpdx · #**626** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 1:23 AM**

This isn't exactly on topic, but I'm excited to see the Saturday Market expansion with the revamped waterfront area. The fountain, and the extension of the boardwalk into the river will make this a much more inviting space.

holladay · #**627** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 5:38 AM**

Wow, the glass curtain wall looks nice.

tworivers · #**628** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 5:51 AM**

Quote:

What's wrong with the overhang...would have been nice if it wrapped around all sides to match the existing structure

I just think it looks glommed on to the structure. Knowing that the HLC pressured THA into adding it when they really didn't want to is, of course, influencing my feeling. It's just an aesthetic opinion, nothing personal, but I'm glad it doesn't wrap around the building. I think it would look like a frumpy addition to an otherwise sleek building. I think this building's strength will be cemented (positively, it seems, so far) by how it relates to its immediate neighbor: the combination of its adherence to a similar scale and bold contrast in style. Hopefully it will open the door to this approach in the future and the HLC will back off a bit.

tworivers · #**629** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 6:04 AM**

As an aside, every time I am down there I find myself thinking about how incredible it would have been if the fire station had been moved as planned and that site, next to the fountain, contained people living in apartments or condos or both, contributing to the surrounding neighborhood. Same with the Oak Tower. The short- and long-term catalyzing effect (even on projects like the proposed Market up by the Morrison Bridge) of those two projects on downtown *IMO* would have trumped all the financial risk and controversy around levels of public subsidy.

Who do we have to blame for both projects being canceled? The same guys (in the case of the fire station, Potter too) who are now hell-bent on a 12-lane Columbia Crossing and tearing down the MC... Randy and Sam. Ugh.

tworivers · #**630** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 6:29 AM**

Great news out of left field:

International House of Customs

Posted By Tim DuRoche on 04/07/2009
Portland Spaces/Burnside Blog

After what seem like months of school budget cuts, woe-filled stories about resource-strapped classrooms, and “right-sizing” staff positions at the district-level (including this week’s news that Portland Public Schools was eliminating their Arts specialist position ), it’s about time we heard something heartening about education and schools.

This just in:
The US Dept of Education has awarded Customs House Building at 220 NW 8th Avenue to The International School language immersion school — bringing more educational energy to the North Park Blocks. The site was acquired through the DOE Surplus Federal Real Property Program. The DOE awarded the building for the TIS Spanish, Chinese & Japanese full immersion program that currently educates 400 students in preschool through 5th grade over in the land of SoWa.

This would be the second K-5 in the neighborhood (Emerson Charter School is on the North Park Blocks at NW Couch). It’s a great addition to the burgeoning educational/cultural Davis Street corridor— and it will be a great locale for connecting TIS students with not only related multicultural resources like the Chinese Garden and the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, but to the Gerding Theater, Museum of Contemporary Craft, the Oregon Jewish Museum, Wieden+Kennedy, the Pearl Galleries, and more.

In TIS’ press release announcing the good news, Congressman David Wu, who helped move the deal through, was quoted as saying: “I am pleased that there will finally be a tenant for the beautiful, historic Customs House. . .the International School will help reinvigorate an area of our city with long-standing multicultural roots, furthering the exciting work already underway to revitalize Old Town/Chinatown.”

It’s early still, but present plans would allow TIS to increase the square-footage of its classrooms for project and inquiry-based learning, and to have a sizable multi-language library and media center, large art and music rooms, meeting and social areas, two indoor gym/play areas, science labs, and teacher work areas.

The 49,000+ sq. foot Customs House (on the historic register since 1974) is being conveyed to TIS at no cost through a Public Benefit Allowance. It is currently vacant. Early word on the street says to expect a major green historical renovation and substantial upgrades to deal with seismic and programming issues. The award is contingent with TIS relocating their entire school within three years of the property’s conveyance.

The bustling energy of 400+ kids and their families is surely to lend momentum and verve to the OTCT/Downtown core’s sense of “collective efficacy.”

Snowden352 · #**631** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 12:32 PM**

I like the bright blue paper. Can we keep that? It's pretty.

cab · #**632** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 2:17 PM**

Lot of concrete in the new plaza. Not going to age well. Must be the modernist theme, simple clean lines when finished, within in a year the design ages horribly. God forbid we use some nice pavers and details within the plaza.

pylon · #**633** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 2:47 PM**

Wow. They recently finished an expansion down there not that long ago. Here's the news at their website...

http://www.intlschool.org/parent/custom-house/

It'll be interesting to see how the kids will change the social dynamic in that area.

vjoe · #**634** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 4:38 PM**

Does anybody know what's going on at 4th and Burnside next to the chinatown gate? I went by on a bus last week and the old building at the corner was gone and it was just an empty lot surrounded by chain link fence. I checked google maps and I see there used to be a small 1 level building there.

Eagle rock · #**635** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 4:42 PM**

That was an Adult Bookstore the city tore down becuase it was blight or something.

It was just a crappy 1 story wood building, but hopefully that lot will be filled with something soon.

vjoe · #**636** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 4:48 PM**

Walked by the new plaza last week on the way to see the cherry blossoms and I thought wow, there is a lot of work left to do. They are suppose to be open for business in May 09 right? That's next month.

Also went by on the MAX close to midnight and holy moly there were tons of people under the bridge. kinda scary (from the economy stand point and also from wouldn't want to be walking around stand point.)

scottyboi · #**637** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 4:49 PM**

Actually...I happened to walk by after they first fenced it off (before demolition) and was told that the building was collapsing in on itself, so had to be torn down for safety. It's been an empty lot since then, I saw yesterday they had put down a layer of rock (smallish rock, like that used on rural driveways and such) over the entire lot...not sure what is going on other than that. I'm sure it will stay that way for years...much like the abandoned BK a few blocks west ;-)

brandonpdx · #**638** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 7:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tworivers

As an aside, every time I am down there I find myself thinking about how incredible it would have been if the fire station had been moved as planned and that site, next to the fountain, contained people living in apartments or condos or both, contributing to the surrounding neighborhood. Same with the Oak Tower. The short- and long-term catalyzing effect (even on projects like the proposed Market up by the Morrison Bridge) of those two projects on downtown *IMO* would have trumped all the financial risk and controversy around levels of public subsidy.

Who do we have to blame for both projects being canceled? The same guys (in the case of the fire station, Potter too) who are now hell-bent on a 12-lane Columbia Crossing and tearing down the MC... Randy and Sam. Ugh.

Agreed, Potter was the biggest waste of 4 years, he didn't do jack. And everyone got scared to take on a big project after the tram, so we're stuck with an ill placed fire station and decades more of not taking advantage of our waterfront.

I will say this about Adams, at least things are happening. Although, I haven't agreed with his decisions on some projects at least they're decisions that will get something done. We haven't seen that for over 4 years!

urbanlife · #**639** Posted **Apr 10, 2009, 8:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonpdx

Agreed, Potter was the biggest waste of 4 years, he didn't do jack. And everyone got scared to take on a big project after the tram, so we're stuck with an ill placed fire station and decades more of not taking advantage of our waterfront.

I will say this about Adams, at least things are happening. Although, I haven't agreed with his decisions on some projects at least they're decisions that will get something done. We haven't seen that for over 4 years!

I couldnt of said it better, I hope Adams stays in office, I may not always agree with him, but at least projects are happening....shame there is no hope for the fire station to move now. We would have to have a massive upswing in the economy to make that come close to even penciling out.

It is good to see renovations happening in that area, but having this new building going in will be a major improvement....now if only we can see some new development on the parking lots in Oldtown....and speaking of parking lots, any word on the height changes?

zilfondel · #**640** Posted **Apr 12, 2009, 10:16 AM**

In the paper a few months ago they reported that some guys were digging up archeological bits from the site, like old chinese pottery and stuff, so they fenced in the lot. I think they may have to sift through the site before they can do anything with it first. There may even be human remains down there...