ELIOT NEWS

A Publication of Eliot Neighborhood Association Volume 28 · Number 1 Winter 2019 Carried Away on a Bird ARTchives Could Be a Game By Mike Warwick Changer for Documenting Portland’s Black Diaspora

By Bruce Poinsette and a small house in the back which was rented out as well. Davis believes that his grandmother’s property was targeted because her purchase of the property in 1982 reset the date for which the City could demolish and ultimately take control of the land. Though the family worked to finish the renovations started by the previ- ous owners, the city required a $50,000 bond to continue work, which the family could not meet. The ortland’s history (and pre- renovation work turned to salvage, P sent) is riddled with stories of and when the demolition permit ran housing discrimination. However, out, the city showed up with bulldoz- when we discuss the history of clear- ers, a bill, and a lien against the prop- ing out predominantly Black neigh- erty. An appeal led only to keeping borhoods to make way for things like the small rental house in the back, the I5 Freeway, Memorial Coliseum, which the city tried to condemn based Mike Warwick’s scooter partner Montse Shepherd enjoying a fall day and Emanuel Hospital, or the system- on charges that drugs were allegedly on a Bird. Photo credit Mike Warwick ic practice of redlining, it’s often being sold there. While these charges through the prism of broader narra- were ultimately dismissed, the situa- eing a senior citizen leads My partner and I planned to grab two tives and statistics. As a result, many tion still matched a larger narrative me to avoid risky behavior. of the Bird scooters that seem to roost of the individual stories get lost. during the ‘80s and ‘90s where Black I was never a skateboarder near her house every night. Alas, on residents of NE Portland were har- B and my few attempts at rol- the day of our ride they had flown the Longtime resident and artist Cleo Da- assed by representatives of the City lerblading ended in scrapes and torn coop. The nearest flock was 12 vis hopes to not just put a face on one and other white-owned interests to trousers. The idea of balancing on a blocks away (15 for me). Walking a of those stories, but create a space sell their homes. This included charg- narrow, two-wheeled platform that mile to find a scooter doesn’t make where others can do the same with a es of not just drug and gang activity, moved seemed insane. However, the much sense, but that argues for more new project called the “ARTchives.” but also the targeting of Black-owned recent favorable report about Port- scooters, rather than their removal. In partnership with the City of Port- homes for supposedly having land’s scooter trial (URL here) forced Prior to our ride, we had to download land Archives and Portland State Uni- “blight.” According to a 1962 official me to accept a neighbor’s invitation to the Bird app, follow the instructions it versity, he is looking to convert a document from the Portland Bureau test drive one. Like many residents, I provides on both Portland scooter family property that was once wrong- of Buildings, blight could include begrudge riders on sidewalks, scoot- rules and how to operate the thing. fully targeted by the City of Portland roof leaks, loose steps, doors that ers blocking sidewalks, and worse, Operating wasn’t intuitive, even with for condemnation into an archive for “stick,” uncovered trash, and even blocking curb cuts for strollers and the tutorial. And, the app requires a the Black diaspora in Portland. vaguely worded charges such as wheelchairs. However, the report in- photo of your driver’s license, so you “needs paint” and “needs clean up.” dicated users surveyed believe these need to take that with you. A word of “It will be an extraction and extension could address the “last mile” problem advice, you may need to present that of the narrative story and artwork of keeping more city residents from us- to the police if you violate the traffic the oppressed, exploited, and innova- ing mass transit or their personal vehi- code or get into an accident. So, don’t tive history of Blacks in Portland,” cle. So, time to put myself at risk to leave home without it. says Davis. determine the truth for myself. (See BIRD, page 6) The idea for the ARTchives originat- ed from Davis’s research into Port- land’s forfeiture laws, which he is doing as part of an artist residency with the Portland Archives. Beyond simply telling stories and creating beautiful visuals, he emphasizes that 7 unit apartment building on the the goal of his art is to create real im- pact and change. In many ways, the Davis family’s property (236 NE ARTchives is just the latest evolution Sacramento) red tagged for dem- of his years of public art projects, olition back in the 1980s. Photo which includes the recent, highly ac- credit Portland City archives claimed Historic Black Williams Pro- ject, a collaboration with wife Kayin Talton-Davis, that details the history Through a public art display, Davis of Williams Avenue. hopes to illustrate the process in which predominantly Black-owned Creating the ARTchives at his grand- homes were targeted using the levers mother’s property on NE Sacramento of local government and seemingly St. that was purchased in the 1980s colorblind campaigns against

during the height of the city’s use of “blight.” By converting the space into property forfeiture is personal for Da- an archive that doesn’t just capture vis. She had purchased the property the history of Blacks who lived in the as a source of income: there was a area, but of all the Black people who seven-unit apartment building under- have also stopped through and/or going renovation in the front of the lot (See ARTCHIVES, page 10)

Eliot Neighborhood Association Neighborhood Eliot Portland, OR 97212 OR Portland,

Eliot Neighborhood Association Letter from the Editor The Eliot Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose members are the residents and business owners of the Eliot Neighborhood. Its purpose is to inform By Sue Stringer Eliot residents about issues affecting the neighborhood through meetings, newsletters and other activities. Members of the neighborhood association must be over 14 years old hings are happening in Eliot. It anyone on the board with your and live, own property, have a business, or represent a nonprofit within the seems that there’s no shortage thoughts. Or, better yet, write a letter neighborhood. The Eliot Neighborhood Association was founded in 1969. It is recognized of change in our neighborhood to the Editor and email it to by the City of Portland, is a member of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, Inc., T and its members represent Eliot on other committees. and a lot of it is revolving around eq- [email protected] or mail uity. Equity in housing options, prop- it to Eliot Neighborhood Association, Eliot Board erty tax assessment, and the ability to 4815 NE 7th Ave, Portland, OR Chair - Jere Fitterman – [email protected] 503-504-9308 communicate with our City Council 97211. about important issues. These are just Recorder - Maggie Gardner - [email protected] 503-913-4404 a few of the topics discussed in this So, Happy New Year and may your Treasurer - Jim Hlava – [email protected] 503-998-3406 issue. 2019 hold up to your expectations. News Editor - Sue Stringer – [email protected] 971-255-0697 We hope to see you at an event or Community Outreach-Jimmy Wilson – [email protected] 503-740-5923 Plus, there’s exciting news for the neighborhood association meeting relocation of the Martin Mayo House soon. We’d love to meet you!  Shireen Hasan - [email protected] that we featured back in our summer TABLE OF CONTENTS  Patricia Montgomery - [email protected] 503-758-1263 issue. That move along with some hard work put in by one artist, who is Carried Away on a Bird 1  Brad Baker - [email protected] 415-385-0875 also an Eliot resident, will allow us to ARTchives 1  Johnny Engleheart Noel - [email protected] research the history of some of the lost stories of Black families who Letter from the Editor 2  Darren Holcomb - [email protected] 503-926-1458 lived in our neighborhood. (Check Letter from the Chair 3  Julio Mendoza - [email protected] 503-710-2334 out the article on page one) Adopt a Block Update 3  Jonathan Konkol - [email protected] 503-315-7795 I am always amazed at how each of Area Parking Permit Update 3 Land Use and Transportation Committee the issues of the Eliot News come Al Forthan Scholarship 3 together. It seems like we are all LUTC Chair - Brad Baker – [email protected] 415-385-0875 thinking about the same themes, espe- Game Knight Lounge 4 LUTC Vice Chair - Jonathan Konkol – [email protected] 503-315-7795 cially change and community build- Sewer and Stormwater Update 5  Allan Rudwick – [email protected] 503-703-3910 ing. We curate a fair number of arti- Within and Beyond: Eliot Board 5 cles, but then some articles come to  Phil Conti – [email protected] 503-281-1378 us by way of organizations and indi- Taxed to Death 6  Clint Lundmark – [email protected] 503-552-8678 viduals that just have some topic they Letter from LUTC Chair 7 want to share. They speak to the dedi- Adopt a Storm Drain 7 Committees: cation and enthusiasm that our resi- BMX Museum 7 Webmaster - Clint Lundmark – [email protected] 503-552-8678 dents have to the neighborhood they live in and the city that we are a part Breadwinner Cycles and Café 7 NECN Rep - Jere Fitterman— [email protected] 503-504-9308 of. Sloan’s Tavern 8 Livability Team Chair—Karla Gostnell - [email protected] Eliot Monthly Meetings We welcome involvement on any More Homes All Shapes & Sizes 9 level and are always wanting to know Legacy Garden Design Award 9 Meetings of the Eliot Neighborhood Association are held on the third Monday of what you, as residents and businesses Boise Eliot Native Grove Update 10 each month at 6:30 pm St. Philip the Deacon Church, 120 NE Knott Street of Eliot, are thinking, are concerned (unless noted otherwise). It’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, stay about, would like to see change or Martin Mayo House Move 10 informed, help build a stronger community, and have input into city decisions stay the same. Please know that you Municipal Election Results 11 that may effect you. can always feel free to email me or In and Around Portland 12 All meetings are open to the public. All meetings are held at St Philip the Deacon Church 120 NE Knott Street. Building is ADA accessible. Land Use Meeting - January 14, 7:00-8:30pm Neighborhood Meeting - January 21, 6:30-8:30pm Land Use Meeting - February 11, 7:00-8:30pm Neighborhood Meeting – February 18, 6:30-8:30pm Land Use Meeting - March 11, 7:00-8:30pm Neighborhood Meeting - March 18, 6:30-8:30pm For agendas and more information, see www.eliotneighborhood.org Active Listings Bed Bath Sq Ft Price Directions: St. Philip the Deacon Church - southeast of the Matt Dishman Community Center on the corner of NE Rodney Avenue and NE Knott Street 2126 NE Rodney 3 1.1 1904 $439,000 Eliot News 2338 NE 7th 3 2 2985 $689,900 Eliot News is published four times a year by the Eliot Neighborhood Association. 124 NE Ivy 3 3.1 2100 $700,00 It is mailed free of charge to every address in the neighborhood. It does not 12 NE Fremont 3 2 1664 $1,070,000 have an ISBN or ISSN. ●Editor and Layout -Sue Stringer - [email protected] 971-255-0697 Pending Listings ●Business Bulk Delivery – Susan Bailey [email protected] 503-284-7010 Rights to articles are retained by the author. Opinions of the authors do not 606 NE Tillamook 3 1.1 1620 $475,000 necessarily reflect the official positions of the Eliot Neighborhood Association. Sold Listings Letters to the editor, suggestions or comments: [email protected] 616 NE Russell 3 2 1685 $539,000 ELIOT NEWS AD RATES 2438 NE 7th 3 1 3078 $618,000 The Eliot News is a quarterly with circulation of about 3,100 and is mailed 3118 NE 7th 2 2 1440 $650,000 to all of the homes and businesses in the Eliot neighborhood. Ad deadlines are 3/8, 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8. Contact Sue Stringer at [email protected] or 971-255-0697 Category Size 1x 2x 3x 4x 1/16 Page 4.9” W x 1.8” H $40 $73 $99 $120 1/8 Page 4.9” W x 3.8” H $81 $148 $201 $244 1/4 Page 4.9” W x 7.8” H $161 $293 $399 $484 1/2 Page 10” W x 7.8” H $338 $615 $838 $1,016 Full Page 10” W x 15.8” H $676 $1,229 $1,676 $2,032 Printed on recycled paper Website: eliotneighborhoood.org ◊ :@EliotNeighborhd : Eliot Neighborhood ◊ : eliotneighborhood

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Letter from the Chair— Goodbye Area Permit Parking Update— to 2018 and Welcome to 2019 Ballots are Due January 11 By Brad Baker By Jere Fitterman he Area Parking Permit for the ble to fill it out and send it back! Re- “Change is the only constant in the right side of this page) and had southern part of Eliot continues turned ballots must be received by life” (Heraclitus, c. 535 BC – 475 eight new directors join the Board (4 T to move forward. As a refresh- January 11th, so if you can, send it in BC) new members in 2018; 4 new mem- er, this program is designed to make a few days before then. bers for 2019). Your ENA Board is parking easier for residents. The area e are changing, it’s a fact. also representing the neighborhood in for the permit would be between N If you accidentally throw out or lose We always have been efforts to stem air pollution and at Williams and NE MLK and between your ballot, I have extra copies. Email W changing. Our neighbor- NECN, our Northeast Coalition of NE Sacramento and NE Hancock. me and I can get an extra copy to you. hood is one of the six fastest growing Neighborhoods organization in all My email is neighborhoods in Portland and we they do (see necoalition.org). Also, In November, the Portland Bureau of [email protected]. continue to evolve demographically our hard working LUTC, Land Use Transportation presented at the neigh- as well as architecturally. A quick and Transportation Committee, has borhood association to answer ques- search on the web will enlighten all new energy and leadership. tions on parking permits. our new Eliot residents. (Check out (eliotneighborhood.org/association/ the list of web pages at the end of this land-use-and-transportation- The next step is for PBOT to send letter) committee) ballots to all addresses in the area, one ballot per address. The ballot should How Eliot looks in now and in the In January, the ENA Board will set be returned by whoever lives at the future can be influenced by ourselves. priorities for 2019. Contact me or any address, even if you’re not the owner, There are many forces for change Board member to voice your input. so if you receive a ballot you’re eligi- which seem to overwhelm. Besides Or, better yet, come join us at the the quote above by Heraclitus, my monthly meeting at 120 NE Knott, St other favorite quote is from Margaret Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church, Mead, a great anthropologist and 6:30-8:30 pm on the third Monday of Adopt a Block Update studier of human systems: "Never each month. April and October meet- doubt that a small group of thought- ings are General meetings where any By Lauren Mullen ful, committed citizens can change neighbor can make motions and vote dopt-A-Block’s first quarter nates the $100 gift certificates from the world. (®) Indeed, it is the only on any issue presented. We will have winner of the $100 gift certif- New Seasons. thing that ever has." speakers at those meetings, too. Find A icate to New Seasons for us at eliotneighborhood.org or on Fa- 2019 is Jane Beauchamp! Jane has Here are numbers you can call if you What is your Eliot Neighborhood cebook at Eliot Neighborhood and adopted Hancock from MLK to see large items Illegally dumped, or Board doing? spread the word because change is 2nd. Thanks Jane for all you do! code violations such as areas strewn In 2018 the Eliot Neighborhood As- inevitable and welcomed. with trash and debris: sociation (ENA) was busy. We ex- If you are interested in adopting your panded the Adopt-a-Block to 24 Web pages to check out: street please contact Lauren Bureau of Development Services En- neighbors picking up their blocks; oregonlive.com/expo/news/erry- at [email protected]. forcement Hot Line: 503-823-2633 contributed to community gardens 2018/08/52a39bc40a6303/portland- Regional Illegal Dumping Patrol: covering membership fees through neighborhoods-ranked.html We are so fortunate to be supported 503-234-3000 small grants; supported tree plantings; eliotneighborhood.org/?s=history by SOLVE and Central City Concern supported BPI and Dawson Park Con- volgagermansportland.info/a-short- as well as the Eliot Neighborhood Thank you Adopters! Give or take certs which included a domino tour- history-of-albina.html Association which generously do- we are 24 strong. nament; held another successful An- blackpast.org/aaw/albina-portland- nual Cleanup event; initiated an Area 1870 Parking Permit zone process (see arti- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ cle Area Parking Permit Update on Albina,_Oregon Volunteers of America Offers Annual Al Forthan Scholarship

By Alex Rice very year in the spring Vol- Oregon high school senior who came unteers of America (VOA) from a family impacted by addiction. offers a scholarship to high This scholarship was created to help E school seniors. The purpose break the cycle of addiction within of the scholarship is threefold: to hon- families by supporting students to or Al Forthan, award scholarships to achieve their dreams of attending col- students from families impacted by lege and furthering their education. addiction and poverty, and encourage The students are extremely resilient students to explore how addiction has which is shown through their effort in impacted our community and the so- school and service work. What started lutions to this complex problem. as a $500 scholarship has grown im- mensely over the years. In 2018 VOA Al Forthan was a man that was heavi- was able to award $75,500 to 57 Ore- ly involved in the drug and criminal gon high school seniors. Since 2006, lifestyle in Portland until 1991 when VOA awarded $493,000 in scholar- he entered Volunteers of America ship assistance. They hope to contin- Men’s Residential Center (MRC) and ue supporting these incredible stu- he turned his life around. After gradu- dents in their future goals, and break- ating the treatment program he en- ing down the cycle of addiction with- rolled in the Portland Community in families with the help of those in College Alcohol & Drug Counselor our community. Program to become a Certified Alco- hol and Drug Counselor. In 1992, he The 2019 Scholarship is due became the first alumnus to work at February 4th, 2019. the MRC. He worked from his heart and brought love, wisdom, integrity, Have questions about the scholar- humility, and a deep passion and ship? commitment to recovery. During the Contact Alex Rice ten years at MRC, Al touched the [email protected] or 503-802-0299 lives of hundreds of men and was the www.alforthanscholarship.com ultimate role model of recovery.

After Al Forthan passed away in 2006, Greg Stone, the Program Direc- tor of MRC, created this scholarship in Al’s honor. He took $500 dollars out of his own pocket to award to an

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Historic Rinehart Building Still Bringing Community Together at Game Knight Lounge

By Sue Stringer

the application to list the building in the National Historic Register, the f the walls could speak, the his- building had been boarded up so I toric Rinehart Building, which long that preservation officials spec- sits at the corner of Williams and ulated that the plywood boards cov- Monroe, would have so many stories ering windows were included as part to tell. Its history includes tenants of the historic fabric of the building. from a variety of different businesses That meant the boards could not be and has been frequented by people removed. The developers had to from many different walks of life. trace the boards back to their origi- There are even tales of tunnels under nal manufacturers which prompted a the building connecting to nearby cross-country search that involved churches to allow people to outrun the identifying the mill’s stamp on the law during raids in the prohibition era. boards before removing them. The building gained it’s listing in the Na- One of the current commercial tenants tional Historic Register and the is Game Knight Lounge. The board Browns reopened the building in game pub is carrying on the tradition 2013. Urban Nest Realty and Wine of bringing the community together in Up, a wine club and jazz venue, our Eliot neighborhood. Before we leased spaces on the ground floor get to the story of the Game Knight and the top floor was leased apart- Lounge, let’s review a little history of ments. Wine Up closed down in this historic building. 2015.

Listed in the National Register of His- Now onto the story of Game Knight toric Buildings, this two-story brick Lounge. Christian Wright and An- building was constructed in 1910 be- drew Pitt were introduced by a mutual side an important streetcar line and friend over 12 years ago. They have originally housed a grocery store fo- been friends, roommates and now cusing on fresh produce run by T. H business partners. Crowley who also lived upstairs in a large apartment. Before opening the pub, Wright and Pitt knew they wanted to open up a Around 1920 Elijah Rogers Confec- business to bring the community to- tionery and Fruit Company took over gether where drinking was not the the space making candy in the rear of sole or main focus. Both had grown the building. Later, in 1934, the build- up with families that played a lot of ing was purchased by Robert and board games. Pitt’s family even John Menefee, owners of real estate played some games so often they kept and insurance companies who set up wearing out the game boards. Pitt’s shop in the Rinehart Building. grandfather took matters into his own hands and crafted a two-sided wooden In the 1940s, Rudy’s Tavern & Bil- game board with Sorry and Monopoly Christian Wright and Andrew Pitt, owners of Game Knight Lounge, liards occupied the corner space etched into the wood. surrounded by the 700+ games available to play with your friends. which was operated by African- Americans and was a popular gather- After exploring several options for when you arrive. many tables for twice as much fun. ing place. Carrying on the tradition of businesses they settled on the idea of community building, in 1952 Cleo a game board focused business. They There is a $5 cover charge per person Looking back, even though setting up Hampton and her sister opened the tested out the idea by leading meetups to play the games but you can stay as the business was tough, the biggest Cleo Social Club when the Williams twice a week at the Lucky Labrador long as you want. Guests can enjoy surprise has been the people coming area was home to most of the city’s pub. The meetups continued to gain drinks from a full bar, food from their from near and far (some even doing African-American families. In 1956 popularity so the two decided to find a small but mighty kitchen and a place research so they can set up their own they moved the club to the Rinehart permanent space. Luckily for Eliot to focus on community and getting to game lounge in other states) and the building. The club was then known as residents, the space in the Rinehart know your friends better or making variety of patrons - regulars and new Cleo-Lillian’s Social Club and the Building was available to lease. new ones. Minors can visit the pub patrons. They also have enjoyed club owners brought African- from open until 8:00 pm. watching all age levels learn to play American musicians such as B.B. Having never started a business be- new games and introducing some to King to play there. It also doubled as fore, the biggest challenge was figur- Game Knight Lounge offers unique board games for the first time. a space for community activism, and ing out what to do between the writ- events like Orcs, Orcs, Orcs the Hamptons used it to raise money ing of the business plan and opening (dungeons and dragon type game) And that Pitt family heirloom, the for African-American social causes. the doors. Wright and Pitt found lots which is a ticketed event complete wooden game board? Stop by and Unfortunately, by the late 1990s, new of literature on how to write a busi- with themed food. LBGTQ night, you can see it for yourself as it is part homeowners nearby complained that ness plan and what to do after you Introduction to Board Games and of the décor on the wall above the the club was noisy and a nuisance. opened the doors, but nothing on the Meetup Knight are some of the other game tables. So even though many After a long, hard-fought battle with process of ramping up and setting up regular events. Also, every Wednes- businesses and social establishments the city, it was ultimately closed in the physical business, payroll, and day is Neighborhood Knight. If you have come and gone at the Rinehart 2001. staffing. However, they persevered show your ID or a piece of mail with Building, at least there is now Game and in March 2016 Game Knight your Eliot neighborhood address your Knight Lounge to continue to bring Portland Trailblazer Damon Stou- Lounge opened for business. cover charge is waived. Private our community together, and even damire owned the building for a brief events can also be held at the pub. learn a new game or two or 700! period hoping, as the Portland Busi- They had been gathering dozens and ness Journal reported, “to restore the dozens of games, and with their initial Game Knight Lounge has seen such Game Knight Lounge social club (which was) historically an 400 games, the doors to Game Knight success that they are in the process of 3037 N Williams Ave anchor of North Portland’s African Lounge opened. Upon entering the expanding to include a new area in 503-236-3377 American community. He switched pub, guests are greeted with shelf up- the basement. There will be twice as pdxgameknight.com gears and contemplated selling office on shelf of almost floor to ceiling space to medical firms, which led to it bookcases full of games. They now being added to the Oregon register of offer over 700 games to choose from! historic places to help with a needed Many of the games most people have rezoning. That project never came to heard of but there are so many more fruition.” to explore. Wright and Pitt are happy to help guests find a game to play, Tim and Brandon Brown bought the explain the rules of the game and then building from Stoudamire in 2011. also find similar games to try with The historic listing presented the increasing levels of skill or difficulty. Browns with a major obstacle to re- On their website, you can find the making the building into commercial rules for many of the games if you office space and apartments. During want to have an idea of what to play

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Within and Beyond the Borders of Eliot: Meet Your New Eliot Neighborhood Association Board for 2019

By Sue Stringer This column usually features businesses, Sue Stringer ty. For most of his career, he has Deacon, at NE Rodney and Knott in Eliot and just beyond our neighbor- worked in tech. For the past few where we also hold our board meet- hood’s borders to help our residents Sue has lived in the months, he’s decided to try something ings. When she is not working at her learn what exciting businesses and op- neighborhood since 2012 a little different and has started work- job as a parking enforcement officer portunities are located in and around our ing at a wood shop in town. When or volunteering at her church, Patricia amazing neighborhood. However, in this but has lived in Portland issue, we focus on the people that make on and off for 22 he’s not woodworking he loves play- loves to swim, play tennis and also up the Eliot Neighborhood Association years. Sue joined the ing and listening to music. basketball. One of the reasons she Board. board as the Eliot News Editor in volunteers on the board is so that her 2014. She joined the board because church would have a voice in the Patricia she wanted to get more connected Montgomery community and also because she lives in the neighborhood and wants to stay ur Eliot Neighborhood Asso- with the neighborhood and meet new informed and be a part of the chang- ciation board is made up of 12 neighbors. Working on the newslet- Patricia is a native ing community. O members this year. Most live ter, with a team of equally enthusias- Oregonian and has in Eliot but some just work in Eliot tic collaborators, she looks forward to lived in Eliot for 29 and live in other neighborhoods. We learning about the history of Eliot, years. She has been on the board for Jim Hlava have included most of them here so what it now has to offer and share seven years. Her favorite things about you can get to know them better. Al- those stories with the community at the neighborhood are the accessibility Jim has been a Port- so, you can always stop by a neigh- large. During the week Susan works to the city, the diversity of the neigh- land resident for the borhood association meeting and as a business manager for a family borhood and the sense of a caring last 35 years and has come meet us in person! run business selling swallowing reha- community. Patricia works in the of- lived in the Hollywood bilitation products. When she’s not fice for a local cab company. She vol- working she likes to garden, read, unteers at her church, St. Philip the (See BOARD, page 11) Jere Fitterman hike, bike and go camping. Susan sees the future Eliot as a more con- Sewer & Stormwater Project Update Jere has lived in nected neighborhood with a larger Eliot since January number of neighbors participating in By Matthew Gough events like the neighborhood clean- 2009. She has been he City of Portland Bureau of of public sewer pipes in the southern on the board for up, and music events at Dawson Park. Environmental Services has part of the Eliot Neighborhood. These three years. Again T nearly completed upsizing and pipes are deteriorating due to age or this year she is the Chair. Jere wanted Shireen Hasan repairing sewer pipe on Rodney Ave- are undersized for the sewer and to join the board because she wanted nue between Sacramento and San Ra- stormwater flows in this area. The to get to know more neighbors and Shireen has lived in Eliot at two dif- fael streets, and on Sacramento, oldest pipe being replaced is 115 get involved in local issues and ferent times—once was when she was Thompson, Tillamook, and San Ra- years old. These improvements will events. Something you might not younger while she was growing up fael streets between Rodney Avenue help protect public health, property know about Jere is that she was very and recently for the past 10+ years. and Martin Luther King Jr. Boule- and our environment by reducing the active in student government and the She has been a board member for 2 vard. In January, February, and possibility of sewage releases into newspaper in high school, where she years and is a reporter for the news- March crews will focus on mainline streets, homes and businesses. learned a lot about organizing and letter. She is interested in building sewer construction east of Martin Lu- working together. Eliot Neighbor- diverse communities. She also wants ther King Boulevard between Brazee The project also includes constructing hood Association feels a lot like that to participate in creating and building and Thompson Streets. Night work eight green street planters in the right- time to her. She really enjoys working an educational institution for African will be required to connect the new of-way on public streets in key loca- with neighbors. Also, she is retired American Children and their families sewer to manholes in Martin Luther tions. These green street planters will from teaching science in a Portland to eliminate the systemic racism that King Jr. Boulevard. To view the most divert 1.9 million gallons of storm- Public School District middle school. they are continually subjected to in current map that shows where crews water annually from the sewer sys- Jere likes to keep fit walking and bik- the current educational systems. She will be working, go to tem, which helps prevent overflows ing. She leads active events in two also focuses a lot of her time on www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/eliot. into the river, basement backups, and Meetup groups. She is also interested homeschooling her son. street flooding during periods of in active travel. She has led walks Please be aware that schedules are heavy rains. across England and Ireland. Brad Baker subject to change due to a variety of factors, such as conditions under- To learn more about the project, what Maggie Brad has lived in Eliot ground, weather, traffic impacts, and to expect during construction, or to Gardner for a little more than a subcontractor and materials availabil- sign up for email updates, visit year. Before living in ity. For the remainder of the project, www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/Eliot. Maggie has lived in Eliot, he lived in when additional crews are availa- You may also contact Matt Gough, Eliot for 13 years. Goose Hollow. Brad ble, work will occur on Saturdays Community Outreach for City of This year she is our has been on the board and in additional locations. This Portland Environmental Services at Recorder and is in- for one year. He is project is expected to be complete in (503) 823-5352 or Matthew.Gough terested in exploring also on the Land Use and Transporta- summer 2019. @portlandoregon.gov. what might unite and engage our tion Committee where he serves as community. Something people might Chair and is work on the Area Park- Background Thank you for your patience while we not know about Maggie is that she ing Permit installation in South Eliot. Environmental Services is upsizing or complete this important work. has a new passion for creating anima- He is interested in helping Eliot be as repairing approximately 10,000 feet tion, thanks to Open Signal (check wonderful as it can potentially be. To 'em out, opensignalpdx.org !) When him, that means a diverse, safe, af- she’s not learning animation she is a fordable, sustainable, and welcoming Creative Director who spends as community. Some issues that he’s much time as possible outdoors. interested in are affordable housing, transportation, parking, and air quali-

Come worship with us “You are invited and welcome” Sunday services at 10:00am A Historic African-American and Diverse Community Celebrating 100 Years of Ministry

120 NE Knott Street (corner of Knott and Rodney) 503-281-5802 www.stphilipthedeacon.org [email protected]

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Taxed to Death? Part 1 of 2 By Mike Warwick Introduction Take a Ride on the Way- Additional funding was needed. increase the value from the Measure back Machine While there was general agreement 50 “cap” to current market value, so continued escalation in property value the “savings” would be significantly

and tax collections presented a hard- reduced. In addition, the discussion Funding local government and ship to homeowners, and an unneeded assumed only “average” market value t’s winter, a time for holiday schools using property taxes, which windfall to schools and governments, increases. Properties in Inner N/NE cards and, less welcome, proper- are set at the county level, puts con- I it was expected the Legislature would aren’t valued for their homes, but for ty tax bills. This time next year you trol over those expenses in the hands supplement any lost revenue with the land under them. That $100,000 may look back fondly at your tax bill of local taxpayers rather than the more progressive (read “income”) property is probably worth $450,000, as the Governor, Speaker of the State (as is the case in Washington). taxes. The Legislature was unable to $200,000 for the house and $250,000 House, and legislators from Beaver- Historically, this was done by tying agree on a new basis to fund schools for the land. If the market value is ton and Hood River have all indicated property taxes to “market” value as and governments due to gridlock and $450,000, the “uncapped” taxes they want to revisit our property tax determined by each county tax asses- the threat of additional anti-tax initia- would be closer to $7,000 and system. Their public justification is sor. When market value increased, so tives. Instead, it (and Portland City “gentrification savings” over $4,000. that “gentrification” has resulted in did taxable value and tax collections. Council) voted for a series of annual Another thing, actual property tax “those homeowners” not “paying The budget for local governments and supplemental funds for non-property bills include tax-based fees outside their fair share.” Of course, schools established a baseline for cal- tax sources. The property tax issue the limits of Measure 50, including “gentrification” is a code word for culating tax rates. Projected budgets returned to the voters as Measure 47 bonds for schools, parks, housing, homeowners in inner N/NE Portland; were divided by the “tax base” or in 1996. That measure was also and economic development. Alt- namely, us. To see how this might market value of all properties and flawed, and the Legislature referred hough those add to the tax bill, were affect you and your neighbors, look at each property was assessed a propor- fixes to the voters as Measure 50 in not the focus of Measure 50, in fact, the difference between the “assessed tionate share. If projected budgets 1997. It limited property tax increas- they were specifically exempted. It value” and “market value” of your didn’t change, but property values es to 3% of assessed value based on isn’t clear how a “fix” to Measure 50 home. “Reform” will likely reset as- increased, tax rates would go down. Measure 5’s initial rate cap. These would affect those fees. For example, sessed value to market value so the During recessions, property values laws are the basis for our current a bond tax goes toward repayment of difference (currently about 4 times for tended to decrease and so did taxes property tax system. a fixed cost. If the tax rate is in- an older Eliot home), is how much (and funds for schools and govern- creased, more taxes are collected and taxes could increase; 400%! ment). So long as market values the bond is simply repaid sooner. changed slowly this process was gen- Today’s Reality vs History

The reason the Governor and Demo- erally acceptable to the public. An crats are interested in changes to the exception was in rural counties, espe- Essentially, property taxes for exist- Policy Issues property tax system is to increase cially in Southern Oregon, hard hit by ing properties are based on an as- funding for schools, mostly to pay for the shrinking forest products industry sessed value dating to the 1990s, and The comparison of “gentrification pension costs which now consume and falling farm prices. may only increase 3% per year over savings” to a West Hills home was about a third of school funds and soon that rate. In other words, if you live provided to indicate how “tax reform” will demand about half their budget. The 1980s saw a rapid increase in in a house that hasn’t been improved will affect homes outside Inner N/NE Providing more money for teachers, property values and taxes. Anticipat- since 1995, your property taxes are in ways legislators lusting after addi- technology, and buildings requires ing more taxes to spend, government based on its value in 1995 plus 3% tional tax revenue may not fully ap- more taxes. Historically, the primary and school budgets increased to ab- per year since. For a house with a preciate. In addition, the reasons for source of school funding was from sorb the new funds. Unfortunately, market value of $100,000 in 1995, Measure 5’s tax rate limits are still local property taxes. Paying a “fair back to back recessions hit Oregon’s taxes after Measure 50 would have applicable to residents who have lived share,” especially to fund more teach- economy particularly hard, squeezing been $1,500. Today, twenty years in their homes for many years, and ers, is a reasonable policy. Readjust- household incomes. The newly in- later, the rate would be around that includes many N/NE residents; ment of assessed values to market creased property tax rates forced $2,900. If your home value increased homeowners and renters alike. As rates seems logical; however, the cur- some homeowners out of their homes. at our long-term average of 5% a noted, increasing taxes to current rent rates are where they are for a rea- A rise in anti-tax politicians resulted year, it would be valued today at market values will increase taxes on son, so a little history is necessary. in a ballot initiative, Measure 5, to $280,000 and Measure 50 taxes, with- many Eliot homes by thousands of “cut and cap” property tax rates. out the original cap on value, would dollars. Many long-time residents This article is expected to be the first Measure 5 was adopted by voters in be $4,200. The difference of $1,300 may be unable to pay that additional of two. It will try to explain how 1990 as an amendment to the State is the “gentrification savings” legisla- amount, once again forcing people on property taxes are set and why so pro- Constitution, so it can only be tors are concerned about. This isn’t a limited or fixed incomes out of their posed reforms are more understanda- changed by voters, not the Legisla- huge amount, and these “savings” homes. It is no secret that the City ble. The next article will try to evalu- ture. Measure 5 cut the maximum tax apply to all homes, including those Council would like to see Eliot and ate whatever the Legislature propos- rate to $15 per $1,000 dollars of prop- that cost far more than $100,000 in other Inner N/NE neighborhoods con- es, once it is known. If the Legisla- erty value. (In the metro area that 1995. For example, using the same verted from single family to dense, ture does reform our property tax sys- resulted in a tax cut of roughly 50%, calculations, a home in the West Hills multi-family neighborhoods. Increas- tem, it will need to do so before it forms a rate of $31.) It also split that (or even Beaverton) valued at ing property taxes serves their pur- ends this summer, so the new system amount into two pots, one specifically $500,000 in 1995 would realize a pose by forcing existing property won’t be known until then. I suspect for schools ($5/$1,000) the other for “savings” of $7,500! In other words, owners to sell to developers and reap- whatever it adopts will be challenged governments. Ballot measures tend those legislators are wrong to blame ing much higher taxes on those new either in court or by ballot because to be simplistic solutions to complex our neighborhood (and buildings. The unfortunate side effect the Democratic majority in the Legis- problems, and Measure 5 is an exam- “gentrification”) for the current ineq- will be to displace existing residents lature doesn’t need Republican votes ple. uity in property taxes! with limited or fixed incomes, adding to pass tax measures. Republicans to the current housing crisis. It will are more focused on public pension One of the major flaws in Measure 5 It's Complicated be interesting to see how the Legisla- reform to free up already available was the tax rate cap was a maximum ture, especially our local representa- taxes. If the Legislature doesn’t re- of $15/$100,00. The Metro area’s tax The previous discussion has been tives, trades off new housing units form both, Republicans will challenge rate at the time was over $30/$1,000 simplified. For one thing, if there against further displacement of estab- all tax measures. We will see. so the “cut” forces a 50% reduction in were any improvements requiring lished residents. That trade-off is al- tax revenues and pushed Metro area permits to your house since 1995, that most certain to be a topic in the sec- school budgets against the “cap.” would allow the County Assessor to ond installment of this article.

(BIRD, from page 1) fic protection for a much more pleas- streets unnerving. We used lighted who are curious, I recommend taking ant ride. crossings at MLK and prayed to cross a scooter for a spin with some friends Fremont and Knott. Whenever possi- some weekend on one of Portland’s Instructed and empowered, we Our 4-mile, 36-minute loop left us ble, we rolled through Stop signs in bike lanes or greenways. For those donned our helmets (as required by with “sea legs” when we dismounted. violation of City rules. Maybe with who are comfortable with this tech- City rules, and in case I fell off or It cost $6.40; not exactly a bargain, more experience, we could do both, nology, this seems like a viable transit collided with a pole). Our mounts especially after walking a mile to bag but it doesn’t seem a two-wheeled option. Their success will depend on were parked in the middle of the side- our Birds. Although our confidence skateboard will lend itself to either ready access; walking a mile to drive walk on MLK. Starting our experi- increased as we rode, we both felt behavior. Moreover, it is unrealistic two miles downtown isn’t reasonable, ment on a busy street seemed suicidal, they wobble too much to go very far to expect a first-time user to do so. especially in less than ideal weather. so we rode down the sidewalk to the and my scooter slowed considerably This presents a risk to both those rid- That recommends a lot more, rather corner in violation of City rules. Our hauling my 200 pounds up even the ers and anyone else on the roadway than fewer, scooters and riders. Alt- initial reaction was that scooters wob- slight hills north of Fremont on Wil- they may encounter. hough I favor competition, having to ble a lot! That was especially true on liams. Wobbling kept our hand on maintain multiple apps to increase the uneven pavement characteristic of the handles and thumbs on the accel- For us, scooting was mostly a fun ex- access to whatever scooter is handy is Portland roadways, so we headed to erator leaving none free to for hand perience, but unlikely to be a routine insane. Scooter providers need to the Williams bikeway and up to a signals, which we did not do. You one. Nevertheless, it seemed well find a way to share a common plat- northern greenway. This provided have to push off to start from a dead within the range of utilitarian form, ideally one that works with the both a smoother road surface and traf- stop, which makes crossing busy transport and not just a toy. For those HOP card.

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Letter from the LUTC Chair— Adopt a Storm Drain Call Out for New Members By Portland Bureau of Transportation Communications By Brad Baker ⚬ If possible, clear the drain before it starts raining. he Land Use and Transpor- input or feedback. LUTC then voices ⚬ Clear about 10 feet on both sides of tation Committee is looking our opinions on what can lead to the the drain. for more neighbors to join proposed project having the largest ⚬ Clear from the sidewalk, not the T our group. Anyone who positive impact on the neighborhood. street. Wear reflective clothing so ve- works or lives in the neighborhood is hicles can see you. welcome to join. Whether you’ve If this sounds interesting we’d love to ⚬ Always wear gloves and be careful been in the neighborhood for a week have you. If you’re worried that you of sharp objects! or thirty years, regardless of if you’re don’t have the right “background,” ⚬ Use a rake, shovel, or broom - not an urban planner or are just curious to don’t let that stop you from joining. ith rain in the forecast your hands. know about upcoming projects in the We’d be happy to train you and get and many Portlanders ⚬ Watch out for traffic. Don’t clear neighborhood, we’d love to have you you up to speed on things so that you headed out of town, be drains that are in the middle of a join. The time commitment is fairly can be a contributing member. sure clear out your street. light with only one two-hour meeting W storm drain before hitting the road or ⚬ Be careful of standing water to a month. So if you’re interested in helping snuggling in for a long weekend. Port- avoid slipping or stepping on sharp shape the direction our neighborhood land’s storm drains help drain storm objects. The Land Use and Transportation and city grows, please consider join- water quickly and efficiently and keep ⚬ If children are helping, make sure Committee or LUTC is a group that ing. Our meetings are open to every- our streets safe. But when drains get adults are supervising. participates in neighborhood review one, so if you’re interested in check- clogged with fallen leaves and other ⚬ Don’t try to lift storm drain grates. of land use, zoning, building and ing them out to see if you want to get debris, it can lead to ponding water in They are very heavy. transportation regulation and plan- involved, they’re the second Monday our streets and at our intersections. ⚬ Let our crews handle garbage or ning. What that essentially boils down of the month at 7pm at 120 NE Knott. That makes it harder to drive, walk, any hazards in the catch basin. Clear to is when a new project or policy is The meeting on January 14th should bike and roll around town. Portland surface debris only. proposed that will affect the neighbor- be really interesting where we’ll learn Bureau of Transportation crews work hood, the group proposing the change about the proposed I-5 expansion hard to keep the drains clear. But with If the drain is still clogged after with come to LUTC and ask for our through our neighborhood. over 58,000 drains in the city, they you’ve removed the surface debris, can’t get to all of them. That’s why please call our Maintenance Dispatch- we’re asking Portlanders to adopt ers at 503-823-1700 or email Eliot Houses the BMX Museum storm drains in their neighborhoods [email protected] to re- By Ruth Eddy and help to keep them free and clear port it. of leaves. When clearing a storm ary Sansom doesn’t have to version. drain, please keep these tips in mind: Thank you for helping keep Port- go far to visit a museum. land’s streets clear and safe! He has one of the world’s What’s valuable to Gary is often per- G largest collections of BMX sonal. His favorite color is red, and it bikes in his house. There are bikes in shows in the collection. In the mass of Breadwinner Cycles and Café the kitchen and bikes in the dining bikes he points out tiny details, like room - which really isn’t a dining specialized welding techniques or a By Tony Pereira room at all, just a room in the middle custom sticker. It is a room overflow- of the house with custom shelving ing with details. units built to display different bike parts from different eras. Gary doesn't just like to look at bikes, though, he likes to ride too. “I get The museum began as a website, grumpy when I don’t ride,” he said. BMXmuseum.com, in 1998 to collect Other bike enthusiasts are excited to data on every BMX bike ever made. see what he’s riding around town or at The site has over 57,000 bikes cata- a park, but says for the most part peo- logued and a worldwide audience. He ple act put-off to see an adult riding a also has a massive personal collec- low bike. ey Eliot friends! I'm one of whether you are into bikes or not, so tion, which has become the physical the owners of Breadwinner please think of us next time you are manifestation of the site. Gary’s collection is somewhere in H Cycles and Café on Williams looking for a treat close by. Thanks! between a proper museum and a per- at Page St (one block south of Rus- Although there are bikes all over the sonal collection. Although there are sell). We have been making custom Breadwinner Cycles and Café house, the basement is the real treas- no regular hours, he likes to share his bicycles for many years, and about a 2323 N Williams Ave. ure trove. “I should have a camera to collection and knowledge with people year ago opened a cafe adjacent to our 503-206-5917 capture people’s faces when they see who are interested. Visitors from all shop. I'm reaching out to just let you Breadwinnercycles.com this,” he jokes, turning the corner at across the world have found them- all know that we are here. We're not the bottom of the stairs. In front of selves admiring a rare titanium frame, in the thick of the busy retail part of him is a narrow path lined on either a signature Evil Knievel bike or Williams and we have parking, mak- side with hundreds of bikes, a library something else no longer in produc- ing it a convenient place to stop, but of two-wheeled trick machines, each tion. also easy to miss. Our menu has with its own story. breakfast and lunch items, coffee and BMX Museum espresso from Water Ave, and beer Gary got his first bike in 1969. Like 437 NE Thompson St and wine, all with a view of our little many kids of the time, he wanted a 503-284-7044 bike "factory." We'd love to have bike like his dad’s motorcycle. Origi- Bmxmuseum.com more neighborhood friends stop by, (Photo credit Breadwinner Cycles) nal BMX bikes were designed to ride Email from website to set up a tour low and usually had big wheels, mim- icking the cool style of their motored

Only some of the bike frames and gears at the BMX Museum. Photo credit Micah Kranz, Niiro Circus

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Sloan’s Tavern Still Open After Dining and Drinking in Eliot All These Years - Check it Out Breakfast/Coffee/Cafés By Alexandra Weinstein Breadwinner Café 2323 N Williams (503)206-5917 Bridges Café 2716 NE MLK Jr. (503) 288-4169 aking your way down Van- 2013, Shirley and her adult children couver, you may have seen continue to run the tavern and the Compass Coffee Roasting 3290 N Vancouver (888) 723-2007 M and wondered about Sloan’s body shop next door. Sloan’s Tavern Eliot E-Mat Café 2808 NE MLK Jr. (503) 280-8889 Tavern, the business at the corner of prides itself on its fresh, delicious Goldrush Coffee Bar 2601 NE MLK Jr. (503) 331-5955 Vancouver and N. Russell that has a food; most of the food on the menu is semi-truck cab jutting from its side. homemade, from the tavern’s famed Little Gotham Coffee 722 N Page St Curious myself, I wandered into fish-n-chips that are made in a beer Pine State Biscuits 125 NE Schuyler (503) 719-5357 Sloan’s Tavern to get the scoop. batter of Shirley’s own recipe with a Tiny’s Café 2031 NE MLK Jr. (503) 467-4199 side of hand-cut fries, to the dressing In 1959, the Sloan family first came atop the salads. The tavern is beloved TwentySix Café 2723 NE 7th (503) 284-6033 to Eliot to rent a space for their body by a host of regulars, many who have shop, Sloan’s Custom Body and Paint, Bars/Taverns been coming several times a week which still does business today. The since the tavern’s opening. Shirley 820 820 N Russell (503) 284-5518 body shop stood next to the Gay Paree smiles as she says that getting to know tavern, which itself had been in busi- Bill Ray’s Dive 2210 NE MLK Jr. (503) 287-7254 many of these regulars has been one of ness for almost 30 years and had been the best parts of owning the tavern. Bunk Bar 128 NE Russell (503) 327-8234 an anchor of the then-bustling Russell Street. When Gay Paree came up for The space feels homey and welcom- Ex Novo 2326 N Flint (503) 894-8251 sale, Shirley and Bob Sloan decided to ing, with soothing gold tones and soft Game Knight Lounge 3037 N Williams (503) 236-3377 purchase the space and grow their lighting. Tucked above the tavern’s La Brewatory 670 N Russell (971) 271-8151 family business. After an extensive jukebox is an old-time Chicago Coin remodeling project, Sloan’s Tavern Band-Box, where inserting $0.25 re- Reverend Nat's Taproom 1813 NE 2nd (503) 567-2221 opened for business in 1979. sults in figurines dancing, blowing Secret Society 116 NE Russell (503) 493-3600 horns, and clashing cymbals in time to Shirley Sloan notes that Sloan’s décor the jukebox’s music. This Chicago Sloan’s Tavern 36 N Russell (503) 287-2262 is “definitely ‘70’s”, and that little has Coin Band-Box is one of the last re- changed to the interior of the tavern Waypost 3120 N Williams (503) 367-3182 maining on location in the country. since 1979. A final touch to the re- White Eagle Saloon 836 N Russell (503) 282-6810 The tavern also has a pool table and model was the addition of the semi- poker machines. Widmer Gasthaus 929 N Rusell (503) 281-3333 truck cab, which Bob Sloan had sitting in the auto-body shop. He thought that The winter is upon us, and if you are Groceries and Markets adding it to the exterior of Sloan’s looking for a place to spend time with Tavern might pique the curiosity of friends, perhaps playing a game of Awash Ethiopian Market 2322 NE MLK Jr. (503) 281-0844 passer-by. Shirley notes that Bob’s pool or gathering before a Blazers Cathay Market 2858 N Williams (503) 288-0330 hunch was right; people regularly game, Sloan’s Tavern is the spot. Chuck’s Market, J&S Grocery 2415 N Williams (503) 281-6269 come into the tavern to see if they can Sloan’s Tavern, at 36 N. Russell St., is sit inside the cab (no spoilers here-- Knott St Grocery 2709 N 7th (503) 284-7490 open from 11am-10pm Mon-Thursday, find out for yourself!), and end up and 11am-12am on Friday’s. The tav- Merkato Ethiopian Food Store 2605 NE MLK Jr. (503) 331-9283 staying for a drink or a bite to eat. ern is closed on the weekends and on New Seasons Market 3445 N Williams (503) 528-2888 Sloan’s Tavern is truly a family busi- holidays. Lunch specials are served Super Market 2322 NE MLK Jr. (503) 281-0844 ness. While Bob Sloan passed away in daily. Lunch/Dinner

Broder Nord 2240 N Interstate (503) 282-5555 Izakaya Kichinto 102 NE Russell (971) 255-0169 Mint 816 N Russell (503) 284-5518 OX 2225 NE MLK Jr. (503) 284-3366 Pizza A Go Go 3240 N Williams (503) 335-0300 Popeye’s 3120 NE MLK Jr. (503) 281-8455 The People’s Pig 3217 N Williams (503) 347-2357 Queen of Sheba 2413 NE MLK Jr. (503) 287-6302 Russell St Bar-B-Que 325 NE Russell (503) 528-8224 Sizzle Pie 125 NE Schuyler (503) 234-7437 Pocket Pub 2719 NE 7th Ave (503) 287-3645 Sparky’s Pizza 2434 NE MLK Jr. (503) 282-3000 Tamale Boy 668 N Russell (503) 477-6706 Toro Bravo 120 NE Russell (503) 281-4464

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“More homes. All shapes and Legacy Receives Highest Honor sizes. For all our neighbors.” for Therapeutic Garden Design By Vicki Guinn By Monique Gaskins t the Healthcare Design investigator Serene Perkins, M.D., his is the mantra encouraged issues. Eliot previously thrived as a Expo & Conference in FACS, Director of Surgical and Clin- by a Seattle based research historically Black neighborhood, lo- Phoenix, Arizona, Novem- ical Research for Legacy Research group studying solutions to cated within walking distance of A ber 12, representatives of Institute. “In short, taking work increase livability in their downtown, and close to job opportu- Legacy Health and landscape ar- breaks in the Legacy Emanuel garden T chitect Quatrefoil, Inc., received significantly reduced burnout in nurs- city. Portlanders find ourselves in a nities. Now, Eliot faces the similar similar situation; we need more hous- housing shortages as the rest of Port- The Center for Health Design’s es working in high-stress environ- ing options. 40% of people in the land. Also, similar to other areas in Evidence-Based Design Touchstone ments.” Portland-Hillsboro-Vancouver MSA Portland, construction is providing Award Platinum – the highest level rent their homes. At the same time, new houses and more neighbors for us – for the Evidence-Based Design The takeaway according to a study by the National to meet. (EBD) and Evaluation of the sec- Nature presents us with a very real Low Income Housing Coalition, the ond-floor terrace garden at Legacy means to address workplace burnout. average rent for 1-bedroom apart- I recently had the opportunity to tour Emanuel Medical Center. In this study, once daily, nurses spent ments is no longer affordable for peo- two new apartment buildings that are a brief break, which lasted approxi- ple earning the mean renter wage. For accepting new neighbors in Eliot. The award recognizes the use of an mately 20 minutes, in a hospital gar- families that make less than half of Both Brio Flats and Cadence are EBD process in the pursuit of in- den; and a positive effect was noted the median family income (Portland’s quickly filling up. Located at 2405 N. creasing value, improving outcomes after just 6 weeks. Meaningful green median family income is around Vancouver Ave, Brio Flats provides and engaging stakeholders. Awards spaces represent an achievable means $83,000 per year), there is an afforda- 54 apartments and 60 bike parking were presented to projects that to help tackle burnout - and not just ble housing shortage. In Multnomah spots. Brio’s website proudly boasts showed exemplary achievement in hospitals, but in all kinds of work- County, the estimated wait time for it’s 94 walkability and 97 bikeability through collaboration, evaluation and places. housing assistance is 14.5 years. If scores; encouraging new residents to sharing: the touchstones of the EBD you were to get on the waitlist when ditch their car and join a community process. Roger Ulrich, Ph.D., EDAC, co- your child is a baby, you’d be waiting in the center of town. The Cadence project investigator and a pioneer in for housing assistance until your child also encourages residents to bike and “The natural environment can foster landscape design, said “There is a was a high schooler. take public transit. The Cadence pro- well-being and enhance people’s abil- pattern of evidence that suggests that vides residents access to community ity to function,” said Teresia Hazen, well designed gardens can reduce Houses in dense, central neighbor- areas, a gym, and a building grill. It is Med, HTR, QMHP, coordinator, stress, lower blood pressure and relax hoods like Eliot are able to complete located at 2005 N Williams Ave and Therapeutic Garden Program at Lega- people.” Dr. Ulrich is a guest profes- more car-free trips and spend less offers studios, 1 and 2 bedroom units. cy Health. “The garden is such a sor of architecture at Chalmers Uni- money on car expenses. This frees up Both buildings are dog and cat- peaceful place and the perfect anti- versity of Technology, Gothenburg, financial resources that would be friendly; so don’t be surprised if you dote from the stress in a hospital en- Sweden and Emeritus Professor at spent on cars for other necessities like see more four-legged friends enjoying vironment.” Texas A&M University. housing. Because of Eliot’s central Eliot’s streets. location, as we add housing within Located near the hospital’s Family According to Dr. Ulrich, anything our limits, we can help decrease over- New residents may also draw in new Birth Center and Cardiovascular In- that can be done to improve staff mo- all urban congestion by enabling new businesses and more transit options to tensive Care Unit, the 6,800-square- rale and help nurses cope with intense residents to settle in a neighborhood the neighborhood. As we gain more foot open-terrace garden is accessible job demands and stresses can poten- accessible by public transit, foot, and people in Eliot, we can expect to see round-the-clock to all hospital pa- tially help hospitals and other health bike. In short, by welcoming new res- more coffee shops, restaurants, and tients, visitors and employees. Called care providers deliver better quality idents to central locations, we are ena- stores to support our growth. We’ll “A Nature Place,” the garden incor- care. bling residents to live close to jobs also have more people to ride buses, porates the elements of portal, path, and decrease their reliance on cars. bicycles, and scooters. With our con- destination and surround. The power of philanthropy venient location, and friendly neigh- The in-depth study of the restorative New study out: micro-doses of na- Black families are less likely to own bors, it’s not a surprise that we’re benefits of therapeutic healing gar- ture reduce symptoms of nurse homes, and among the most vulnera- adding housing--and this benefits all dens was funded by a $560,000 Open burnout ble to rising rents. Over 60% of black of us. Spaces Sacred Places grant from The Legacy Emanuel garden was also families in the Portland region spend the TKF Foundation, which sup- the setting for an in-depth research more than a third of their income on Sources: ported a cluster of studies at Legacy investigation on nature to combat rent, and 40% of black families spend https://nlihc.org/oor/oregon Emanuel, including the one described stress and burnout among nurses. The over half of their income on rent. here. groundbreaking study was pub- These families don’t have a buffer for https://www.deptofnumbers.com/ “Philanthropy is a vital spark for in- lished in the November 2018 Amer- unexpected expenses; they are at risk income/oregon/portland/ novation and scientific break- ican Journal of Critical Care and is of experiencing houselessness if a throughs. Taking findings and trans- available to download and read in financial crisis were to occur. Be- https://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/ forming them directly to improve full: Impact of Nurses Taking Daily you-are-here-snapshot-greater- medical care. . . that’s what Legacy tween 2006 and 2015, Metro reports Work Breaks in Hospital Garden on portlands-need-affordable-housing Research does best,” said Joe Frascel- that rents rose more than 60% in Port- Burnout (http://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/ la, Ph.D., vice president of Legacy land. Black residents started moving content/27/6/508). https://www.theatlantic.com/ Research Institute. out of Eliot earlier than this; their per- notes/2016/08/albina/493793/ centage of residents reached its peak “To our knowledge, this is the first Why this research matters in the 1960s and 1970s. controlled study to investigate the https://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/ A recent Gallup survey found that influence of taking work breaks in a In Eliot, we find ourselves at the in- you-are-here-snapshot-portland-area- burnout impacts as many as two- garden on nurse burnout,” said co- tersection of many of these livability housing-costs (See AWARD, page 10)

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What a Great Difference a Year Moving News about Martin Mayo Makes House By Andrine de la Rocha By Sue Stringer n under a year, Boise Eliot Native t’s not often that a house is in the Grove has transformed a grassy news multiple times over the I dumping ground into a thriving I course of 122 years, but it’s no native pollinator habitat and educa- wonder when one specific house has tion space. Located on N. Ivy St. had 4 different physical addresses. north of the Fremont Bridge ramp, the Grove is now planted with over 500 The Martin Mayo House has been the plants representing 40+ species of topic of many articles in the Eliot native plants and 9 species of trees, News - most recently in the summer along with logs, stumps, snags, boul- School, and 80+ adult volunteers issue of the Eliot News (“Historic ders, educational species signs & in- from the neighborhood, schools, busi- House Slated for Demolition” and terpretive signs featuring English, nesses, and SOLVE volunteer pro- “Help Stop the Demolition of 206 NE Latin & Chinuk Wawa plant names. gram. Sacramento and Its Urban Forest”).

They are currently working with The Since being built in 1896 by Martin ReBuilding Center Community Out- Mayo, this home has been moved reach Program to design a six-sided from its original location on the north- bench to be built by neighbors from west corner of Union Avenue (now various groups in the area, from Self- called MLK Jr Blvd) at NE Sacramen- Enhancement, Inc, to Oregon Trades- to Street. In 1912 it moved around the women, to The Q Center. Watch for corner on Sacramento to make way Martin Mayo House at its current the Earth Day Party in April 2019, for an apartment building commis- location at 206 NE Sacramento. when the bench will be unveiled in sioned by Mayo to be built on Union Photo credit Sue Stringer Community members Andrine de la the Oak Meadow. Visit their web- Avenue. That building was called the Rocha and Howard Patterson are Boi- site www.NativeGrovePDX.org or Mayo Apartments for years and is still grade to put a couple of apartments in se-Eliot neighbors who designed and follow them on Facebook and Insta- standing currently called the Union the basement and then house the implemented the Native Grove pro- gram for regular updates. Meanwhile, Manor Building. “ARTchives” in the main house. ject. Working with PBOT, Bureau of come take a walk and learn about the Environmental Services, East little native ecosystem in your neigh- In 1930 it was moved to its current Eliot residents who took the time to Multnomah Soil & Water Conserva- borhood. location at 206 NE Sacramento when sign petitions, attend design review tion, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Union Avenue was widened by 10 meetings and email city planners will Conservation, & others, they have feet and all buildings were subse- be happy that the house is being organized over 1300 hours of volun- quently moved back. The Martin moved. Less fortunate are the urban teer labor to sheet mulch, apply com- Mayo House has resided there for the forest and farm including a very old post, install rocks & logs, plant seeds, last 38 years but around the end of black walnut tree that is unable to be trees and plants, weave a willow December 2018 it is slated to not be saved from removal. Developers tried structure, water, and design & install demolished but moved yet again to to save the walnut tree but, according signage. Volunteer hours include Volunteers at the Boise Eliot Na- 236 NE Sacramento closer to its origi- to arborists working on the develop- 170+ from students at Boise-Eliot/ tive Grove walking along stump pavers. All photo credits for the nal location. This site is the one dis- ment, in moving the house the tree Humboldt School and The Ivy grove —Andrine de la Rocha cussed in the article on the front page would have to be trimmed so severely of this issue, “ARTchives Could Be a that it would cause it too much stress. Game Changer for Documenting Port- We’ve been promised that a mature land’s Black Diaspora”. tree will be planted in its place.

Cleo and Kayin Davis have purchased So, we can celebrate the success of a the Martin Mayo House and, by the house moving for an incredible third time this issue is in your mailbox it time appreciating it’s being able to will be well underway to moving to represent Eliot’s rich past and hopeful 236 NE Sacramento. He plans to the future for many more years to come. set the house about 4-5 feet above

(ARTCHIVES, from page 1) archivable material, as well as a place to do research and art from that mate- made contributions to the community, rial,” says Davis. “We want to have Davis hopes to encourage others to do this as an extension of all the other their own research. archivable resources already located in Oregon, not just Portland.” “It would be that social presence with

(AWARD, from page 9) year.

thirds of American full-time workers “Heart of the Hospital” film fea- to some degree, with 23 percent re- tures Legacy Emanuel Terrace Gar- porting feeling burned out often. den Among nurses, a third are believed to The short film, “Heart of the Hospi- experience high levels of burnout. It is tal,” (https://vimeo.com/261748013) a pressing problem that cuts across explores the design and healing role of occupations of all kinds, industries the therapeutic garden at Legacy and settings. For workers, it can eat Emanuel to improve patient care and away at their mental and physical outcomes. It was selected by health in a myriad of ways and can the SHIFT Festival film committee to even shorten lifespans. An estimated screen at their October 2018 confer- $125 - $190 billion in health care ence. spending is attributed to burnout each Stay tuned for the next issue of the Eliot News…

 Meyer Memorial Trust building rendition and timeline  Murals take two  Women owned businesses in Eliot  Location and history of the houses on the cover of the Eliot News and how to research your house  In the mean time join Nextdoor.com to keep up with events and announcements—we post there between issues

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(BOARD from page 5) owns the food cart pod on Fremont uting his energies and ideas to for the last 25 years, he has only lived and Vancouver. those of other members of our in Eliot since April 2017. However, District for 28 years. Jim has been a neighborhood to address matters at Jonathan is not new to our neighbor- board member since 2008 and has Julio Mendoza hand. He has done a fair amount of hood association. He has been on the been our Treasurer for the last two public speaking so can help us Land Use and Transportation Com- year and will continue on with that Julio is a new resident to spread the word about solutions to mittee for the last year and this year position this year. His connection to Eliot having lived in the has taken on the position of Vice the Eliot neighborhood is through his our neighborhood issues. Darren Chair. The LUTC is lucky because he neighborhood for only has been an in-home care assistant employment as a social worker with one year but he is look- is credentialed as a planner and cur- Cascadia Behavioral HealthCare, Inc. ing forward to being on for the last 10 years. In his spare rently works as an architect at Axis Cascadia owns the building at 3034 our neighborhood association board. time, he likes to explore history Design Group. He believes it’s his NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, He owns one of the food carts, Pepe and space science. civic duty to serve on the board of the which is the home of the Garlington Chile Taqueria, located at the food community he lives in. He is passion- Center and the new Garlington Place cart pod at Fremont and N Vancouver Jonathan ate about encouraging context- Apartments. He has worked for Cas- (which Jimmy Wilson, another of our sensitive development and infill, and cadia for 31 years and currently is the board members, owns). Julio also is a Konkol preservation of historic buildings. In VP of Housing. Jim likes the Eliot contractor by trade. As you can tell, his spare time when the weather is neighborhood because of its rich his- Julio likes to build things and also Though Jonathan has bad, Jonathan blogs about urban form, tory and has joined the board to stay cook taking both of his passions and lived in various Port- but likes to go hiking when the weath- connected with the neighborhood turning them into an amazing busi- land neighborhoods er allows. where he works. In his free time, Jim ness. Since he has not been on our likes to spend time with his family, board before and being new to the Municipal Elections Results– How bicycle, walk with his dog, garden and neighborhood, Julio hopes to be more read. He has a vision for Eliot to have connected with his community. So They Will Affect Eliot Residents more outreach to the neighbors in or- stop by Pepe Chile Taqueria and say der to get more people involved with hello to one of our newest board By Thursday Bram activities, events, and issues in Eliot. members as you pick up a taco or two. he 2018 election may be Elected Representatives for Eliot Jimmy Wilson Darren over, but we’ve barely begun to feel the impact of newly  Congressional Representa- Jimmy does not live in Holcomb T passed measures and newly tive: Earl Blumenauer elected representatives. For those offi- the Eliot neighborhood 503-231-2300 but has worked here for Darren is a Portland cials who weren’t incumbents, many 10 years. He is starting native who has lived are just taking office this month. Their @repblumenauer work has the potential to support the his second year on our in Eliot for the last  State Representative Tawna board and will be responsible for four years. He lived in the neighbor- Eliot neighborhood in a whole host of Sanchez Community Outreach. He wanted to hood next to Eliot for the four years different ways. join the board to change how people prior to that so he knows his way 503-986-1443 around our streets. This is Darren’s We reelected State Representative communicate with each other. He Rep.TawnaSanchez@oregon thinks that the most important thing is first year as a board member and he Tawna Sanchez to represent us in the having a board that will work together looks forward to gaining some expe- Oregon State Legislature. (We’re also legislature.gov represented by State Senator Lew and supports each other and the pro- rience in civic and community in-  State Senator Lew Frederick jects that the neighborhood wants to volvement in an official capacity Frederick, though 2018 wasn’t an work on. According to Jimmy, he has while learning the processes and election year for Frederick). Her ini- 503-986-1722 tial election to the state legislature a strong will and is results driven. He procedures of being on a working Sen.LewFrederick@ore gon is also a real people person. Jimmy was the first time Portlanders chose a board. Darren wants to contrib- Native American representative (and legislature.gov only the second time Oregonians elected a Native American legislator). She’s a long-term resident of the Humboldt neighborhood, just a few Given the housing crisis here in Port- blocks north of us here in the Eliot land, the 2018 election’s focus on neighborhood, and as such, Sanchez housing wasn’t surprising. Two ballot has prioritized issues that are high measures focusing on funding afford- priorities for local residents, such as able housing passed: state measure the Portland Superfund site along the 102 and metro measure 26-199. In Willamette River. short, passing 102 means that local governments in Oregon can partner The election of Jo Ann Hardesty with non-governmental organizations marked an additional milestone: for to build affordable housing projects. the first time ever, Portland’s city Prior to this election, municipal gov- commission includes a woman of col- ernments were required to retain full or. Our city commissioners are elected ownership of any housing projects at large, meaning that they don’t rep- they helped fund with government resent just one part of the city. Hard- bond money. Basically, 102 simplifies esty has committed to making sure the process of building affordable our local government works for all housing in Oregon. parts of Portland (especially those parts east of the Willamette River). Metro measure 26-199 also looks at One of Hardesty’s planned initiatives funding affordable housing. Passing is to hold city commission meetings both 102 and 26-199 at the same time all over the city, at times that are more means that 12,000 people may gain accessible for attendees. Right now access to affordable housing in the those meetings are always in South- Portland metro area. If 26-199 had west Portland during the work day, so passed but 102 had failed, 26-199 Hardesty’s proposal may make a real would have only funded housing for difference for our ability to participate about 7,500 people. Stacking these in the governance of our own city. two successful initiatives will pay off for the Eliot neighborhood in the long Certain races fly under the radar in run, creating more homes for mem- most elections; a county auditor elec- bers of our community. tion usually doesn’t make the sort of news that a Congressional race will. What does all this mean for 2020? The election of Jennifer McGuirk has The next election isn’t as far off as it the potential to drive major changes in feels. From discussions on which Ore- Multnomah County. McGuirk’s plat- gonians might make a presidential bid form includes using audits to not only to announcements of campaigns for improve financial governance in the Portland’s mayoral race, members of county but also to discover abuses and our community are already working inequities in local government. One of on next year’s election. We’ll be vot- her top priorities is an audit of the ing for state representative again, as county jail system, focused on the well as for state senator. These races, misuse of force. McGuirk also plans especially the local races, will impact to audit homeless and housing ser- all of us here in the Eliot neighbor- vices in the county. hood.

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Some Things to Do In and Around Portland

By Shireen Hasan re you looking for places to African Americans with home gar- erated by ‘Boss with the Sauce’ who 6) Private Kemetic Homeschool go or activities to do in and dens - building better communities. was mentored by The Horn of Afri- Network for ages preschool and around Portland? Here are Email to irisekemeticgardening ca’s king. ‘Boss with the Sauce’ of- older. I Rise Kemetic Homeschool A a few ideas: @gmail.com to sign up. fers catering for small up to large and Education Resource Center is a groups. Choose from 4 grilled, hot, new program for parents who want to barbecue and honey wing dishes for homeschool their own children, but 1) MudBone Grown LLC farms, an 3) Kee’s “Loaded” Food Cart, any occasion. Southern side dishes want a culturally centered education African-American run farm growing where you can enjoy real soul food of include macaroni and cheese, red alternative and learning option. This food for the community, is located at a prestigious restaurant type quality! beans and rice, or customized veggie, program is specifically for families 7900 NE 33rd Dr., in Portland. Vol- Various changing menu items Thurs- chicken, steak, or shrimp jambalaya. who identify as Black, African- unteers of all ages are encouraged to day through Sunday, such as mouth- 2-3 days advance notice preferred. American, etc. If you are interested participate. Children, elders, youth, watering fried chicken, ‘fall off the Email: [email protected]. in more information, please contact and families can help with planting bone’ beef brisket, succulent sausage Community Outreach Coordinators and general farming for the next up- and more! Delicious homemade des- Sah’Rah or Shireen. coming season working with Shantae sert and drink are included. This is the 5) Writing in Medu Ntr - Learn Email: irisekemetichomeschool Johnson and Arthur Shavers - the place to visit. It is rumored that folks how to read and write the beginning @gmail.com king and queen of this operation. from all over town and out of town basics of Kemetic language where all Contact the Oregon Food Bank email come to take advantage of this oppor- writings originated from - hieroglyph- [email protected] to tunity to indulge. Servings that are so ic readings and writings of Ancestors. 7) Village Home Education Re- sign up. large they will last you a few days or Come and join the ongoing fun! source Center - Homeschooling and Visit www.mudbonegrown.com. have you rolling over like Santa if McCoy Village Apartments Commu- alternative education. Choose from a you eat it all in one sitting! Kiauna nity Center at 4430 NE MLK JR. variety of classes. For children of all Nelson is the queen of this ‘throne’. BLVD (corner of NE Prescott & ages. Visit www.villiagehome.org or 2) Growing food at home - Local Located at 3625 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. MLK), in Portland. Ages 3 years and call 503-597-9100. community gardening co-op looking Instagram keesloadedkitchen. Do not up. Contact Community Outreach to work with at least 50 African waste another minute. Go Eat! Coordinators Sah’Rah or Shireen. Americans and families who are Email: irisekemetichomeschool maintaining and growing food in their @gmail.com own yards to buy and sell from other 4) RiptzCity Wings owned and op-

Community Events Entertainment/Events White Eagle 836 N Russell St

mcmenamins.com/WhiteEagle Land Use and Transportation Commit- Civilian Studios 503-282-6810 tee (LUTC) Meeting 2210 N Lewis Ave

St. Philip the Deacon Church, 120 NE 503-476-2716 Wonder Ballroom Knott St 128 NE Russell St Fisk Gallery wonderballroom.com, 503-284-8686 7:00pm Mondays—January 14, February 3613 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd 11, March 11 661-733-3521 By Appointment fiskgallery.com Recurring Events Neighborhood Association Meeting Game Knight Lounge St. Philip the Deacon Church, 120 NE 3037 N Williams Ave Knott St 503-236-3377 Tuesdays - 7pm Trivia at The Waypost Pdxgameknight.com - 7pm Trivia at Reverend Nat’s 6:30pm Mondays— January 21, February 18, March 18 Lloydean Presents Art Gallery 2728 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Wednesday - Karaoke at The Waypost lloydeanpresents.com, 503-951-8234 - Neighborhood Knight at Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods Game Knight Lounge (no 4815 NE 7th Ave Matt Dishman Community Center cover charge for residents of www.necoalition.org, 503.388.5004 77 NE Knott St, 503-823-3673 Eliot) https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/ Meetings: Monday through Friday—7am and 6pm  Safety and Livability Meeting— Open Signal 6:30pm, 3rd Monday of month 2766 NE MLK Jr Blvd Tai Chi at Shellmire Unlimited 3311 NE opensignalpdx.org, 503-288-1515 MLK Jr. Blvd. Ste. 104

 NECN Board Meetings—6:30pm, 3rd Tuesday of month Portland Winter Light Festival February 7-9 Sundays—12:00-1:30pm Refuge in the Park at Dawson Park 2926 N Williams (no  Community Police Relations Commit- Omsi and other locations around Portland tee—5:30pm, 3rd Wednesday of pdxwlf.com service on December 30) month @refugeportland on Facebook PICA 15 NE Hancock St  NECN Land Use Transportation Com- Did we miss something? Email mittee—7:00pm, 4th Wednesday of pica.org, 503-242-1419 [email protected] to month submit something for the next edition Secret Society Ballroom and Lounge 116 NE Russell St secretsociety.net, 503-493-3600

The Waypost 3120 N Williams Ave thewaypost.com, 503-367-3182

Union Knott Gallery 2726 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd 971-207-1231 By Appointment

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