Portland State Perspective Productions

Portland State University PDXScholar University Archives: Campus Publications & Portland State Perspective Productions 1-1-1984 Portland State Perspective; Spring 1984 Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/perspective Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Portland State University, "Portland State Perspective; Spring 1984" (1984). Portland State Perspective. 25. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/perspective/25 This Article is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Portland State Perspective by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Portland State University Alumni News Downtown visions Portland State University Alumni News Spring 1984 Portland: Carl Abbott, Urban Studies Urban historian keeps finding things to write about this 'lively city' by Clarence Hein of Denver incl uded a course on the the fact that Portland "has remained a history of Colorado, I had to do a lot lively city at the same time that it has "Writing a book about a city is a of reading really fast. Once I had all grown into a successful metropolis." great way to learn about it. " that material pulled together, I ended Abbott began an intensive study of Carl Abbott, professor of urban up writing a book." the evolution of the city, which studies, is in hi s Francis Manor office The book, Colorado: A History of resfJlted in Portland: Planning, On the inside at PSU 's School of Urban and Public the Centennial State, was not cast Politics, and Growth in a Twentieth Affairs, explaining how a historian - from the mold of traditional state Century City, a book about the Milwaukie Storefront Project / 3 born, raised and educated in the histories. "I wrote the book because I development of Portland from the turn City, county and university ;o;n to save major cities of the midwest - landed saw a vacuum, a lack of the kind of of the century to today. downlown M ilwaukie at PSU teaching urban affairs courses history book I felt was needed." Portland provides an excellent Remembering Tennessee Williams / 5 and writing books about Portland. What kind was that? Awess Barbara Baxley brings 36 years of object lesson in the importance of chealer to PSU slUden!> and slage "My training is in American history " First, readable," Abbott says with political leadership and public Dave Opoien ('83) / 6 and I've always been interested in the a laugh, hastening to add, "That is, support in comprehensive urban Fresh out of school, marketing grad se/ls safety classic study of American pioneers, something written for a general planning, Abbott says. "We did not for a living covered wagons, and all of that," aud ience which also could be used as have (such) planning in Portland until Carolyn Davidson ('71) / 7 Abbott says. " But, at the same time, a text. Second, I felt there needed to the last 15 to 20 years." The Nike " swoosh" was her big break I've been fascinated by the role the be a book giving the emphasis to the Biological brothers / 8·9 In the book, published last year, Alums Peter and Paul Paquet use the" biology cities have played in the development role of Denver in the history of Abbott says, "I use the development degrees 10 save fish and wolves of the west. " Colorado which it deserved. " of planning, the planning Foundation News / 10 Portland was not the first western Arriving at Portland State in 1978, commission, and planning activities Alumni News / 11 city to capture Abbott's interest. His Abbott found himself living and as a framework . I wanted to see how Campus New. / 13, 14 first stop after earning degrees at working in the middle of what he these decisions impacted the kind of Calendar / 15 Swarthmore and the University of considers one of the best and most city that we live in ; how they shaped On the cover: Downtown Portland Viewed Chicago was on the slopes of the exciting case studies in urban our everyday lives." through bubble Windows on the Professional Rocky Mountains. "When my first planning and development in the Schools Bu ilding. teaching assignment at the Un iversi ty country. His interest was spurred by Continued on p. 2 Abbott can't stop writing, learning about Portland Continued from p. 1 Abbott devotes a good deal of his "You have to improve numerous articles and scholarly fascinating. Whatever it is, you're book to the evolution of the major transportation and rehabilitate older papers concerned with urban history. convinced that every detail is of planning decisions of the past two buildings while redeveloping And he has more to write about immense value." Those feelings can't decades, such as the South downtown. You have to keep up the Portland. While the ink sti ll is drying be indulged in a popular book, he Auditorium Urban Renewal Project, older parts of the city, maintain them on Portland, he has begun work on noted. the revitalization and expansion of the physically and SOcially to make them another book, this one a popular The book. Portland: Gateway to the downtown core, development of the serve another generation." history of the city to be published by Northwest, will be completed nexl city's waterfront, the transit mall, and "That's what we did here during Windsor Press under the auspices of year. The subject - the city Abbott neighborhood preservation. the 1970s," he says.'''We made sure the PSU Foundation. calls home - may never cease to What he di scovered, he said, is that that downtown Portland and the older "This will be an entertaining, coffee hold his interest. "You know, one of "if you don't have political support, neighborhoods would be useful and table type book," he says. " U's an Portland's problems always has been planning doesn't mean anything." attractive for anolher generation, for exercise for me in writing for a more that it hasn't thought big enough. II 'S Portland has been fortunate at some people during the 19805 and 19905, general audience and it will have to as if Portlanders don't believe that this critical times to have both public and But, we'll have 10 do it again, and be concise, more focused Ihan a is a major city ... but it is. " A major political support for key decisions. again. Each generation, I think, has to text." city which, the urban historian says A current example, one that Abbott look at what is needed to keep the "Of course every professor thinks with a laugh, he finds "endlessly believes will help further revitalize city alive." that his subject is endlessly faSCinating. " downtown, is the Pioneer Square The "we" in his discussion of development. "This is an example of Portland is conspicuous. Abbott a real public-private effort. There are admits that he and his (amily now are Writer wanted Editor's note people who have questions about the "confirmed Portlanders." And it is design or about the entire project, but with obvious pride Ihal he speaks of Perspective is looking for a the square is completed and I believe Portland's "extraordinarily successful creative. reliable writer, preferably a Perspective now it will be used." downtown." graduate of Portland Siale. to take He pointed out that Pioneer Square He is simi larly enthusiastic about assignments as well as to generate taking ads organizers are being careful to the place and potential of Portland origina l ideas for stories. We offer a schedule a lot of public events in the State " There aren't many schools like competitive per-word rate, but no one Beginning with this issue, PSU space early in its existe nce. "People PSU ," he says. " This is the kind of gets rich on a quarterly, so the job Perspective opens its columns on a will get into the habit of using that school that I think is on the frontier of would be partly a labor of love. limited basis to outside advertisers. By space, particularly as the weather gets American higher education. This is Please contact editor Cynthia Stowell presenting tasteful and interesting better, and it will be a real addition to where educational change is likely to at News and Information Services, advertisements, we hope to provide a the area." occur." Portland State University, P.O. Box service to alumni while defraying part The Pioneer Square development is Portland State's stTength lies in its 75 1, Portland, Oregon 97207; (503) of our publication costs. one kind of effort which every city ability 10 "serve the various clienteles 229-371 1, Perspective has carried ads for the must make, Abbott says. "A city can of the city with the kind of flexibility University's Alumni Office and other live indefinitely if it does two things: you don't have at more traditional University programs featuring trips, If it maintains a diversified economy; campuses," believes Abbott. classes and programs specifically for and if it keeps recycling and A tireless, energetic scholar and a alumni. Now, community businesses reinvesting its older sections." He prolific writer, Carl Abbott already are also invited to advertise. And. to feels Portland is doing both. has produced half a dozen books and further serve our alumni, Perspective will offer a 10 percent discount on ad costs to businesses owned or operated by PSU alumni. For a Perspective advertising rale card. call or write: News and Information Services, PSU , P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, (503) A joy to receive news "Headmistress comes late to French, 229·3711.

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