february ’11 VOLUME 25, ISSUE 6 FREE Northwest Portland neighborhoo Serving ds since 1986 — celebrating our 25th year! Publicly polite, secretly back-stabbing Business leader Brian Owendoff saves his brickbats for his online persona By Allan Classen the Portland mayor. Shut up, Allan: No one takes you “Sam has no integrity,” When Brian Owendoff intro- seriously.” Owendoff wrote under a pseud- duced Mayor Sam Adams to Harsh online criticism is noth- onym on OregonLive Sept. 16. speak at a Portland Business Alli- ing new, and nastier comments “Sam has no fiscal responsibility. ance luncheon last month, he than these can be seen any day Sam will go down as a one-term offered the usual courtesies. on many electronic forums. The mayor and among the weakest Owendoff, who is area man- notable thing about Owendoff ’s leaders the Rose City has ever posting is that he is a prominent ager of C.B. Richard Ellis real seen. He will be pumping gas estate and hosts the PBA’s Public th business person with direct paths at the Chevron at 19 [sic] and to political influence. And he is Policy Committee, knows how to Burnside before 2011.” act in public. hammering people with whom He disparaged Adams’ call he has professional dealings, peo- He has also, apparently, for a 75-day study to consid- ple he could speak directly with learned when to keep his hard- er whether the city should join about his concerns had he the edged thoughts to himself … and the Joint Terrorism Task Force integrity to do so. the thousands of people reading as “more bureaucratic ‘analysis OregonLive and other blogs. When he took me out to paralysis’ at taxpayers’ expense.” breakfast a year ago, he was noth- Using the screen name Fores- Presumably unaware of ing but cordial and positive, giv- tHeightster (which was changed Owendoff ’s true feelings toward ing no hint of the contempt har- to Acta Non Verba or Action- him, Adams appointed him to a bored below the surface. NotWords after he learned the panel on the future of Memo- Why would someone act like Examiner was following his rial Coliseum. Owendoff ’s alter postings), the 42-year-old com- a lion under the cover of ano- ego did not seem to be grateful, nymity and a man of manners mercial real estate magnate has calling the process “a complete offered less charitable opinions of Hiding behind screen names in the light of day? Don’t look to PhOtO courtesy POrtLanD Business AlliancE Owendoff to provide the answer because he denies the electronic waste of time” and noting that if ulus programs (“Obama is no postings are from him. even one city commissioner “had reformer; he is a failure”), and to “I have no connection with the courage and political will to his way of thinking, the whole what appears to be an anony- champion the construction of a city of Portland is dominated mous poster providing opinions new ballpark, it would have hap- by people with wrong-headed on articles and op eds in The pened.” political views. Oregonian,” Owendoff wrote the Owendoff has opinions on This newspaper has often Examiner. “Who is the Fores- others in the news. He called Bob drawn his ire. tHeightster you are referring to, Sallinger of the Portland Audu- “The Northwest Examiner is and how do you believe it is bon Society an environmental worth what a reader pays for it: related to me?” extremist and one of the reasons absolutely nothing!” he wrote in Although the Examiner pro- for Oregon’s high unemployment reaction to a December Orego- vided Owendoff a list of the rates. He refers to 1000 Friends nian profile on Examiner Pub- parallels between himself and the of Oregon as “1000 Fiends.” lisher Allan Classen. “In addition anonymous poster, he offered no Owendoff tars Gov. John Kit- to being good bird-cage liners, explanation and insisted that no zhaber (“cohabitation is sin”), the Northwest Examiner is also more messages be sent to him. Brian Owendoff (left) hosted Mayor Sam Adams’ talk at a Portland President Barack Obama for his excellent for potty training pup- (See story on page 5.) Business Alliance Lunch with Leaders in January. health care and financial stim- pies and to wrap used fish parts. Do customers consider paid parking a joke? MIkE ryErson By Allan Classen inside “In our defense,” said Fiedler, her cus- tomers find the option of paying $3 an The president of the Nob Hill Busi- hour to park unreasonable. ness Association said private parking “When we say, yes you can park for lots along Northwest 23rd Avenue are $3 an hour, they just laugh in our faces,” so expensive she has stopped telling her she said. customers about them. Fiedler’s comments were made at the Pat Fielder, owner of Child’s Play Jan. 18 meeting of the Stakeholder Advi- and recently elected interim president of sory Committee to the Northwest Park- the business group, was responding to a ing Plan. The group is advising Mayor survey of Northwest 23rd Avenue mer- Sam Adams on a parking management chants printed in the January Northwest plan for the Northwest District. Ele- Examiner. The paper reported that only ments of the plan include a combination four of 18 businesses—all of whom were of metered on-street parking and permits provided with flyers listing seven off- for most of the district, promotion of street lots along the avenue—shared the transit alternatives and management of ‘Superior Donuts’ parking information with an anonymous off-street parking facilities. Why are people flocking too … “shopper.” PAGE 16 Love iS more than JuSt Skin deep ainy night Love a r the vaux – waLk Score of 94 nw portLand cottage turn-of-the-century 2335 NW Raleigh Street #A103 1623 NW 28th Avenue The Vaux: from the street—brick, metal trim and railing Rain patters on the roof and you are content in this sweet NW and windows. Inside the gate—deep earth tones in brick Portland cottage. Warm and cozy in the winter or open and cool and wood siding. In the interior of this cozy condo, the feel in the summer—the updated yet original cabin has details of 1907 and sound of the courtyard accents the rich and golden and the improvements of today. Open entertaining areas include comfort of granite, hardwoods, oversized double-hung refinished oak floors, a carved stairway banister, and a cozy wood- wood windows and the flicker of a gas fireplace. The patio burning fireplace and stove. The updated kitchen opens to the dining overlooks the courtyard filled with the sound of water room and the tranquil, fully fenced backyard and deck. Off-street flowing over stone, indigenous evergreen plants and organic parking and 638 square feet of finished lower level bonus space w/ materials: an oasis, winter or summer. full bath, laundry & outside access complete the picture. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,276 Sq. Ft., 1 secured garage parking 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2,398 total Sq. Ft. (approx.), 1 off-street space. $375,000. parking space. MLS #11038366 $535,000. Love SongS from a Secret garden Love, actuaLLy rowhouSe for urban Living a paSSion for the weLL-kept turn-of-the-century home 2004 SW 18th Avenue 839 NW 25th Avenue Arts and Crafts lovers: this quintessential Craftsman will Don’t miss the blooming of the glorious cherry tree in front steal your heart and satisfy the desire that we all harbor— of this quiet, yet centrally located cedar-sided rowhouse, the dream of living in a turn-of-the-century manse without just 2 blocks from NW 23rd Avenue. An open and spacious all of the “old house” fears. This well-maintained and floor plan culminates in French doors that open from the updated grand dame sparkles with TLC and shines with eat-in kitchen to the oasis of a deck and garden, scented by character. The master bedroom enjoys views of the natural honeysuckle, a tall magnolia, and evergreen clematis. Enjoy conservation greenspace and plenty of blue sky. This neighborhood views and spring color from the cathedral “forever after” home is located in Portland Heights with ceilinged master suite upstairs. The master bath with floor- great schools, easy access to downtown and nestled into to-ceiling slate and skylights and opulent fittings is like other like properties of quality and history. visiting a luxury spa: dreamy. Live in a walker’s paradise 4 bedrooms, 2½ baths, 3,382 Sq. Ft. MLS #11358195 with a walk score of 91. $779,000. 2 bedrooms, 2½ baths, 1,870 Sq. Ft, attached oversize garage parking. $525,000. The Dan Volkmer Team Dan Volkmer PrinciPal broker burDean barTlem, kishra oTT & anne Yoo, brokers WalTer anD TeD, Too. For your real estate needs in the Northwest neighborhood. Call us to find out your property’s top market value. 503-497-5158 www.danvolkmer.com Burdean, Kishra, Anne, Dan, Walter & Ted 2 northwest Examiner, febrUary 2011 Letters can be sent to By Allan Classen [email protected] or 2825 NW Upshur St., Ste. C, Portland, OR 97210. Editor’sEditor & Publisher Turn readerLetters should be 300 words or fewer; include areply name and a street of residence. Deadline third Saturday of the month. Urban renewal not needed I was astonished to read that Northwest 21st and Hoyt is to be considered an urban renewal area. It is currently one of the most successful urban neighborhoods in America. Must successful neighborhoods look like suburban malls? Surely there are other parts of the city that need help.