Winter 2018 Bridging Central Eastside News Covering Important Issues, Trends, and Developments in the Close-in eastside Commercial Areas About this Newsletter and Me… Enhanced Services District Greetings and thank you for taking the time (ESD) to read, peruse, skim, study, scan or even just glance at this mostly well researched and ener- for the Central Eastside? getically written newsletter about all that is go- ing on in the close in eastside. I have been put- To many, it is a golden time in the further exacerbated by the Central ting this together every year for 6 years as a way to dive a bit deeper into issues, developments, Central Eastside, with over 2000 Eastside being the popular kid in projects, topics and also challenges in one of the new apartments either completed, the class. But for residents, busi- most dynamic and rapidly shifting commercial under construction or planned; nesses and property owners and neighborhoods on the West Coast: The Central Eastside. Sandwiched between the river and 500,000 sf of offices being built or people who work and care about some of the most classic and picturesque resi- coming; Multiple new and exciting the Central Eastside, the question dential neighborhoods to the east, this area has businesses have or will be locat- is “How do we best work together been a eclectic and dynamic business and em- ployment engine for the city of Portland for over ing in the district with two large to try to shape and address these 150 years. It is a neighborhood that has such technology companies in Simple challenges and problems to main- a compelling collage of businesses, buildings, and Autodesk leasing big chunks tain and improve livability, safety people, uses and potential that is undergoing amazing growth and expansion at a swift pace. of space and bringing hundreds and economic prosperity in the This newsletter is a way to promulgate, inform of new workers; property values Central Eastside?” A follow up and educate those who work, live and own busi- steadily rising and three large query to that is, “Do we continue nesses and properties in the district about all this is going on as well as to show those looking multi-parcel development sites at to be passive and reactive to the in from the outside what a unique and exciting OMSI, the ODOT Blocks and the issues and depend on city resourc- area this is. Clinton Triangle coming to market es that are constantly stretched I welcome your questions, input, corrections, in the next year, or so. Others think thin and leaders that don’t always criticisms and if appropriate..accolades regard- however, that there is some “fools understand the unique needs ing all that is in here. And I apologize as to its gold” in much of this increased de- and challenges of each individual length and size as I have been trying for a couple velopment and growth as conges- neighborhood?” These questions years to pare this down but have not been all that successful (much to my designer/printers tion is steadily increasing: parking have been at the forefront of many chagrin) but there is so much happening it has is becoming scare and problem- of us in the district who want the been hard to leave anything out. Having success- atic; rents and property pricing is Central Eastside to be the best it fully represented a variety of property owners, businesses, organizations, tenants, developers, becoming unaffordble and chronic can be. There is a potential proven the city and more with their space, facility and problems like homelessness, crime, tool (I will not say solution yet) property requirements for over 25 years in the trash and graffiti are increasing. that is moving forward to allow Central Eastside, I also welcome your questions or need for assistance as it relates to: property These opposing views are not new our district to bring more control valuations; development ideas, opportunities and are being played out in other and resources to equitably and and trends; selling/buying properties; finding parts of Portland and in cities thoughtfully address our issues. It space; leasing; redevelopment; financing; con- struction; land use and more. I may not be an throughout the United States that is often referred to as a Business expert in all of these topics but I have the con- are experiencing similar “growing Improvement District (BID) in other nections and resources to usually get your ques- pains” But what is true and inevi- cities and in Portland it is called an tions answered and your needs addressed if I am not the best match for the assignment. table is that growth, investment Enhanced Services District (ESD). and development are here and These type of organizations have will continue and though many been around for decades and if positives are the result, there are you Google the term you will find some challenges and issues that various forms of these community are new, most have been with us and neighborhood based organiza- for decades, but now have become tions in cities Todd DeNeffe 503-705-6380 (continued on page 2) [email protected] across the US but also all over the City Concern is also a big partner world in the last 50 years. I will which we know has helped us out use a brief description from one in the Central Eastside where they of my favorite sources of research employ formerly homeless people Wikipedia: “A business improve- who work to keep the central city ment district (BID) is a defined clean by removing tons of garbage area within which businesses are (and yes many needles) every required to pay an additional fee The program now known as Clean year and help remove and prevent or levy in order to fund projects and Safe has been in operation graffiti. Downtown because of its within the district’s boundar- under the auspices of the Portland heavy preponderance of retail ies. These districts typically fund Business Alliance and it has be- and tourist oriented businesses, services which are perceived by come a very effective and targeted also uses a good chunk of their many in the district as being in- organization and has completely funds to help market downtown adequately performed by govern- reversed the degradation and and its businesses to shoppers ment with its existing tax revenues blight that was occurring and has and diners such as funding certain and resources, such as cleaning generally made downtown Port- pop-up shops and food options to streets, providing security, making land much more livable, vibrant, showcase local makers and food capital improvements, construc- safe and clean. Is it perfect? No. purveyors as well as to create art tion of pedestrian and streetscape But many point to what could have installations and other creative improvements, or marketing the been a very different downtown events that attract thousands of area.” The first BID was in Toronto without these resources and this Portlanders and out of towners Canada in 1970 with the first one effort. I talked with Lynnae Berg to spend time and money in the in the US in New Orleans in 1974 who heads up the downtown Clean area. Berg even mention that their and there are now 1200 across the and Safe program and she was board elected to give a handsome country and with similar organiza- quite proud and effusive about the amount of money to Janus youth tions in over 30 more countries. responsiveness, positive feedback programs which does outreach to We have two very successful ex- and impact they have made to homeless youth which is a big issue amples here in Portland that have keep Downtown Portland a better downtown when they recently lost been in place for over 20 years place “We really have built a great their funding. As you can see each with one downtown (known more organization with many partners to BID or Enhanced Services District as Clean and Safe) and one in the really be focused on the issues that (ESD) can with an engaged board Lloyd District (Go Lloyd). Clean and matter to keep downtown Portland and stakeholder input be very flex- Safe is the best known model and vibrant, accessible, safe and pro- ible and creative in how best was started by various property ductive.” She says. Because of the to invest in finding the most owners and city leaders downtown nature of downtown, much of their economical and impactful solutions when they saw that the city really budget goes to security where they to each neighborhood’s problems. could not address or keep up with contract with over a dozen private The Central Eastside through the addressing various problems in the security officers with a private Central Eastside Industrial Council downtown area that was affecting firm, Portland Patrol, along with (CEIC) is in the middle stages of businesses and property owners paying the salaries of four Portland analyzing and developing a ESD for such as safety, cleanliness, vagran- Police officers. “We really have de- the district by using the experienc- cy, panhandling, graffiti, and more. veloped some great partnerships es of both downtown and also the They rallied business and property with Portland Police and a private Lloyd District to craft an effective owners in 213 downtown blocks to firm where we can be very respon- organization and response to our assess a fee on themselves to pool sive to any safety or security issues own individual problems. funds to supplement and enhance downtown. We get almost immedi- city services and more importantly ate response to any safety con- Juliana Lukasik the Interim Execu- give stakeholders direct input and cerns because of our resources and tive Director of the CEIC along with control over resources to address organization” Berg adds.