CONCORDIA NEWS A free publication of the Concordia Neighborhood Association | ConcordiaPDX.org May 2016 IN THIS ISSUE Chair’s Corner 2 Community & Association 3 2nd annual spring alley Clean Up Land Use & Real Estate 6 Business 8 Health & Wellness 9 and revitalization in the ‘bag’ Gardening 10 History & Culture 11 oncordia’s Local Events 12 alleys are an Cunderuti- lized community Concordia News asset according to is a free monthly publication of Garlynn Wood- the Concordia Neighborhood song, Chair, CNA Association. Newspapers are By Carl Jameson Land Use & Trans- delivered to all residences and many CNA Media Team portation Com- community locations in the Concordia mittee (LUTC), Neighborhood. and cleaning them up is the first step toward their revitalization. To that end, Mission Statement 30 volunteers, mostly Concordia Univer- To connect Concordia residents sity students, fanned out over the 120 al- and businesses - inform, educate leys in the Concordia neighborhood and and report on activities, issues and picked up trash and other debris on Sat- opportunities of the neighborhood. urday, April 16. What they found wasn’t surprising. The alleys were littered with cardboard, Website paper, plastics and the occasional tire. www.ConcordiaPDX.org Some of the alleys were blocked with Concordia University and other local students clean up an alleyway during CNA’s recent mud, blackberry vines and laurel bushes Alley Clean Up event. Photo by Carl Jameson making passage impossible. Concordia Neighborhood Association “Once we pick up these alleys peo- P.O. Box 1194 ple will see this sort of neglected space Portland, OR 97211 where they can walk their dog, or go for CNA spring Clean Up May 14 a walk with their kids, or maybe imagine Concordia News is printed on 40% post- planting some flowers and improving the consumer or better paper, manufactured at 8 AM - 12:30 PM muddy surface with permeable pavers or a local mill. just new load of gravel,” said Woodsong. See page 5 for details Alleys are a public right-of-way, but, like sidewalks, their maintenance is the responsibility of adjacent private- property owners. Many were once used for car access to the garages in back of homes, but have since been abandoned. Woodsong said, “What we are really try- ing to do is inspire the adjacent private property owners to band together and start maintaining or improving this ne- glected public right-of-way.” Concordia residents interested in al- leys or any land use and transportation issue are invited to attend the Concordia Neighborhood Association Land Use and Transportation Committee (CNA LUTC) meetings at 7p.m. on the third Wednes- day of the month, in the Community Room at McMenamins Kennedy School. Carl Jameson is a writer/director/ videographer at Craftmaster Produc- tions, a full service creative production company. He’s lived and worked in the Concordia neighborhood since 2001. The CNA neighborhood Clean Up always nets plenty of trash, and leaves neighborhood Reach him by emailing carlj@craftmas- homes many pounds lighter. Concorida residents help out. L-R: David McKenzie, Paul terpro.com. Wilkins and Jim Johnson TRIBUTE & FUNDRAISER MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING FORGE OPENS ON ALBERTA For Melody Winn, key figure in Ferhill Portland is lacking in this important infill Former Halibut’s location sports new Park playground project, on May 22 development solution. restaurant from Enzo’s owner. See page 5 See page 6 See page 7 Page • 2 | May 2016 Board News Concordia Neighborhood Association Meetings & Updates CNA continues efforts to Board Meeting May 10 @ 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM connect community, help Second Tuesday of the Month those in need McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room General Membership Meeting May 10 @ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM ISAAC QUINTERO Second Tuesday Bi-Monthly Chair CHAIR’S CORNER McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room Concordia Neighborhood Assoc. Social Committee If you would like to volunteer to help organize the CNA Greetings Neighbor - by the enormous task in front of them when close Neighborhood Clean-Up &/or unload vehicles and direct to retirement and looking forward to the “Golden hanks for checking back in with me. As traffic the day of the event, or volunteer to help with the Years.” I am the grandparent of a 4 year-old and you may have already noticed, the Con- Fernhill Concerts in the Park, please email Katie Ugolini 2 year-old and I help out with them occasionally. I cordia newspaper has been transformed at [email protected] or call (503) 449-9690. T have to tell you, it is one tough job, even when part- visually to rival any other Portland newsletter now time — I can’t imagine going alone on this. in publication. As CNA Chair, it has been a priority Finance Committee Ironically, I was asked to attend a grandparents to help us connect with one another, and Concordia support group (Ties That Bind) by Betty Harris to Policies/Procedures visit our website or email: Treasurer@ News is by far the best mechanism to do so. see if CNA might assist in getting the word out and/ ConcordiaPDX.org Fortunately my goals have been supported by or to provide ideas for grandparents or others who like-minded believers in the First Amendment. find themselves desperate for help in figuring out Media Team CNEWS has always been available to readers who how to raise a child in today’s environment. This May 17 @ 6:00 PM wish to dig deeper into community issues. But like situation is cause for alarm, as some children are 3rd Tuesday of the Month. Location changes monthly. so many books on library shelves that don’t get read truly at risk. We can, and should, help as we are unless the cover is attractive, CNEWS was in need Join the Media Team to volunteer on the newspaper, one of the resources that can bring a personal touch of a makeover. Website or Social Media. For more info & meeting of support as neighbors. I have asked Ties that Bind We believe the improvement in the paper’s read- location contact Susan Trabucco at [email protected] or representatives to submit a regular column in the ability will make it more enjoyable for everyone. It call (503) 440-7732 Concordia News, so watch for upcoming articles to is not our intention, however, to make the publica- see how you might help, and certainly to see if there tion just a pretty face — we also aspire to produce a Land Use & Transportation Committee is information that can help you with your grand- publication with more muscle and content. May 18 at 7:00 PM kids. In our push for journalistic quality, we did cre- Third Wednesday of the Month ate a bit of a monster. Over the last four months Reaching out to Concordia McMenamin’s Kennedy School Community Room CNEWS has risen to a high level of professionalism [email protected] guided by volunteers. These folks did so with the University on land use issues I recently had the opportunity to meet with Con- hopes that other volunteers would step in to con- CNA Chair cordia University Administration to discuss work- tinue these efforts. But in the process we realized ing together to develop a strategy for influencing Isaac Quintero that a professional paper was going to need a pro- design for new student housing construction while (503) 352-4585 | [email protected] fessional staff, so the CNA board is carefully con- being sensitive to neighborhood character. The sidering pay for several key positions. meeting was initiated as a result of some neighbors’ CNA Vice Chair The decision to do this is based on the realiza- concerns about preliminary plans and a desire to Chris Lopez | [email protected] tion that if we do not, CNEWS will go back to being have input into final design.. The meeting was ini- at best a newsletter – with limited opportunity for tiated as a result of some neighbors’concerns about CNA Secretary growth and improvement. We will keep you up to preliminary design plans and a desire to have input speed on the paper’s progress. We welcome your Ali Novak| [email protected] into final design. feedback and input, and also invite you to take pen University administration and I were in agree- in hand and write about that which you are most CNA Treasurer ment on the necessity of early communication of passionate. Robert Bowles planned activities so that we are part of the process We are also fortunate to have Sean Duffy join (503)490-5153 | [email protected] and not at the end critiquing something that could the board. He will be representing the Northwest have been avoided up front. 2 district of CNA. More about Sean in the next is- Concordia Community Room The University, like any one individual or busi- sue of Concordia News but for now, let me just say Rental | [email protected] ness in our community, is a vital part of the fabric it is was great to see a person under 30 who stood that binds us together and I believe it is important up to join with us in making our community one Crime Prevention Officer for all of us to promote each other’s progress and in which we can be proud. Our board now has an Mary Tompkins well-being. amazing level of diversity regarding age and inter- (503)823-4764, [email protected] It is for that reason I am going to encourage ests; and it’s critical that we recognize the impor- each institution and business to provide a liaison to tance of diversity to our future.