Outer NE
A very cool map of North and Northeast Portland
Check out this great map from the Swan Island Business Association! From their website:
Living close to where you work is one sweet deal.Historic North/Northeast Portland offers great opportunities in a dozen re-energized communities, all just mapminutes from the region’s highest concentration of well paying jobs, from ship building to shoe design to steel production.
Add schools on the upswing, four (soon to be five) public libraries, three colleges and universities, great parks and green spaces, and the question becomes “Why not live close to where you work?”
Discuss: A very cool map of North and Northeast Portland
» August 13, 2008 - 0 comments - Front Page News, Inner NE, Karol's Blog, North Portland, Outer NE
Low-Car Diet Update - Week 3
A few things I've learned on the car-less trail:
1) I love walking at least five miles a day. I'm so much nicer.
2) Commuting to work without a car is easy, and I plan to keep commuting by bus/train. I might even give up my PARKING SPOT.
3) (This could be the car-withdrawal talking) I still love my car.
Read more and discuss: Low-Car Diet Update - Week 3
» August 8, 2008 - 1 comments - Marissa's Blog, Outer NE, Sustainability, Top Stories
Low Car Diet - Rain? Really?
So, things on the Low Car Diet have essentially gone according to plan. Karol and I are both really enjoying the bonus exercise we're getting from walking and riding the bus and Max are easy. But today, a few raindrops have reminded us what it might be like to do the low-car commute ... in 8 months of the year when its raining.
I, for one, have no clue where my umbrella is. Probably in the same place I left it that last day it rained in June. As my thoughts turn to actually using a Zip-Car to get around town, I have to admit that I was pretty bummed to learn that the closest Zip Car is oh, 1.6 miles from my house. Observe:
Read more and discuss: Low Car Diet - Rain? Really?
» July 29, 2008 - 2 comments - Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE, Sustainability
Low Car Diet - 1st weekend
Besides bragging incessantly about the bazillion miles I walked last week, it was a pretty low key weekend for me. My little family walked to the movie store, to the coffee shop, to the grocery store.
Karol, however, sampled a veritable smorgasbord of transportation options. She took the Max to a concert at the Zoo and reports that the riders were good-natured and friendly. She walked to her Yoga class (yes, she really is that dedicated) and car-pooled with friends to everyone's favorite Swedish superstore: IKEA. She says, "Walking everywhere makes me feel more fit, and feeling more fit makes me think I can eat more – and that’s not right!"
So true, so true. But hey, wouldn't it be great if you could eat out at a chain restaurant in Multnomah County that has 15 or more locations nationwide and have the calorie counts clearly posted next to the
price or on a clearly visible poster at the point of purchase? So you could treat yourself but know how many more miles you'll have to walk to burn it off? I think so. So does the Oregonian.
Discuss: Low Car Diet - 1st weekend
» July 28, 2008 - 0 comments - Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE, Sustainability
Low Car Diet - Days 3 and 4
In the immortal words of Karol Collymore, we're "still walking," five days into our Low-Car Diet. That said, at this early stage in the game, we're mostly avoiding complicated trips rather than making the effort to plan for them.
Even so, there are some things you can't avoid. Eating, for instance, is mostly a must. Same with picking up life-saving prescriptions and bringing home the bacon. In the course of doing these unavoidable tasks, we've discovered a few things that we didn't know before:
Read more and discuss: Low Car Diet - Days 3 and 4
» July 25, 2008 - 0 comments - Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE, Sustainability
Low Car Diet - Day 2
Yesterday (just to mix things up and keep it exciting for the four people who might be reading this), instead of taking the number 6 to the Max from the Multnomah Building on Hawthorne and Grand, I walked up 7th/Sandy to 11th and the Max.
The beauty of this walk for me was getting to stroll by the Franz Bakery blocks. As most of my friends and co-workers know, I'm tragically gluten intolerant, but that doesn't stop me from loving the smell of freshly baked bread.
You can smell Franz's gluten-y delicious-ness all the way from Burnside. Even better, on the corner of the northernmost Franz block you can peer in the window as steamy loaves of bread come out of the oven and plop onto the conveyor belt. I highly recommend standing and staring at them for a while.
Today's stats:
Miles Walked: 3.6
Bus rides: 1
Max rides:2
Gluten-y daydreams: several
Collymore's update(and I quote): "Still Walking."
Discuss: Low Car Diet - Day 2
» July 23, 2008 - 0 comments - Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE, Sustainability
Low Car Diet Challenge: 1 day down, 29 to go
by Marissa Madrigal
Yesterday morning Jeff gave the keynote speech at the 3rd annual ZipCar "Low Car Diet" kick-off in Pioneer Square. Among the 30 or so Portland participants: yours truly and Ms. Karol Collymore, communications expert extraordinaire.
Karol claims that the breezy distance between her place and work combined with her unencumbered "life status" will make her experience simple and un-blog worthy. I disagree and plan to keep you updated on her car-less trials and tribulations, too. She won't be able to resist Target's suburban lure for long. When she decides to cave - which she will - how will she get there? Public Transit? Walking? Zip Car? Oh, the mystery! The Intrigue! But I digress.
Some background on me and my commuting: I live in Central NE Portland about 1/3 of a mile from a bus line and about a mile from the blue and red line MAX. When I first moved to Portland 8 years ago, I lived really close-in; but I always drove anyway because gas was hovering around a buck a gallon. I started walking/busing more when I met my husband who walked everywhere, and even more when I sold my car on a whim.
Then we had a kid - an amazing, lovable kid - but suddenly we were driving everywhere. Then a few wine bars plopped into our neighborhood and we moved further out to find a cheaper, nicer place. The only problem? The available public transportation options = not hot.
Read more and discuss: Low Car Diet Challenge: 1 day down, 29 to go
» July 22, 2008 - 1 comments - Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE, Sustainability
Are you concerned about the NE 82nd Max Station?
Here's your chance to tell someone! From Save Madison South:
Eastside MAX Station Open House
April 14th
5-8pm - drop in any time
Glenhaven (Banfield Pet Hospital)
Drop-in to learn about the project and share your ideas on how the areas around MAX stations can be improved.
The purpose of the Eastside MAX Station Communities Project is to take a comprehensive look at station community areas within one-half mile of MAX light rail stations in Northeast and Southeast Portland.
The basic question is: How can these communities become better places? The project will evaluate and recommend changes to land use/zoning, building and station design, transit and transportation facilities surrounding six stations: 60th Avenue, 82nd Avenue, Parkrose/Sumner, 122nd Avenue, 148th Avenue, and 162nd Avenue (see map). The objective is to help the Station Communities better serve transit users, support transit-oriented development and create more attractive communities.
Read more and discuss: Are you concerned about the NE 82nd Max Station?
» April 11, 2008 - 0 comments - Community Involvement, Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE, Public Safety
Rose City Park Neighborhood Association Candidates Fair - March 25th
From Rose City Park Neighborhood Association:
Join your neighbors to meet and to ask questions of the candidates you will be selecting for government roles that will impact you and those around you!
WHEN: Tuesdays, March 25th from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
WHERE: Rose City Park United Methodist Church, NE 58th & Alameda (by NE Sandy Blvd., enter on NE 58th Avenue)
As of March 3, the (#) indicates the candidates that agreed to speak at the Rose City Park Candidates Fair. (PF) indicates they have the signatures to qualify for public financing but may not have been certified.
Read more and discuss: Rose City Park Neighborhood Association Candidates Fair - March 25th
» March 18, 2008 - 0 comments - Community Involvement, Events, Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE
Multnomah County to offer cell phone recycling
This morning the Board unanimously passed a resolution, brought forth by Commissioner Cogen, to offer cell phone recycling in various county buildings. The buildings chosen are sprinkled all over the county in locations as diverse as the McCoy Building downtown to the Gresham Library. A full list of locations after the jump.
Of the 130 million mobile phones retired annually in the United States every year, less than 1% are recycled, and it is estimated that consumers have stored 500 million obsolete cellular phones that await disposal. Cellular phones in landfills can leach toxic substances into the water and air. Disposal of cellular phones into solid waste in Oregon is a public concern both from a health and resource depletion perspective. Among the toxic metals and other materials present in cellular phones, as reported by the EPA, are:
Lead – can damage the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, and kidneys
Chromium VI – can damage DNA and has been linked to asthmatic bronchitis
Brominated Flame Retardants – act as endocrine disrupters and increase the risk of cancer of the digestive and lymph systems.
This program is also revenue neutral for the County. According to Jeff, "The County’s function is to protect the health and safety of our residents. This is a no-cost way for us to do that by keeping toxics out of our waste stream while supporting local businesses, promoting sustainability and helping provide funding for our libraries and environmental programs."
Read more and discuss: Multnomah County to offer cell phone recycling
» December 6, 2007 - 0 comments - Community Involvement, Front Page News, Inner NE, Karol's Blog, North Portland, Outer NE, Sustainability
Welcome, Central Northeast Neigbors!
Central Northeast Neighbors have a great website to stay updated with the neighborhood goings on! The neighborhoods are: Beaumont-Wilshire, Cully, Hollywood, Madison South, Rose City Park, Roseway, Sumner and Sunderland. Their mission is as follows: To support neighborhood efforts that contribute to community livability, diversity, safety, vitality, and sustainability in Central NE Portland. CNN provides a forum to empower communities to take action on issues of livability and community development that lead to collaborative efforts.
Check out the site, it has great information and will help you get involved with your neighbors.
Discuss: Welcome, Central Northeast Neigbors!
» October 24, 2007 - 0 comments - Community Involvement, Front Page News, Karol's Blog, Outer NE
Developer Withdraws Big-Box Permit
It's official, Canadian developer Smartcentres has withdrawn its application for a conditional use permit that would have allowed the construction of a 240,000 square foot development across the street from Madison High School.
Smartcentres has until February to submit other plans, but until then the neighborhoods that mobilized against the development are celebrating and collecting ideas for alternative developments. Thoughts? Leave them here!
Discuss: Developer Withdraws Big-Box Permit
» October 3, 2007 - 0 comments - Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Neighborhoods, Outer NE
Roseway Neighborhood Association raises money to fight big-box development
Roseway Neighborhood Association does not want a big-box store in their neighborhood so they raised money to help the "Save Madison South Coalition" in their fight against SmartCentres, a Canadian shopping center developer and frequent partner of Wal-Mart. Check out their website and see why they are against the project and what help, if any you want to give.
Discuss: Roseway Neighborhood Association raises money to fight big-box development
» October 1, 2007 - 2 comments - Community Involvement, Front Page News, Outer NE
UPDATED Hearing Date Set for NE 82nd Big Box
----HEARING DATE CHANGED TO October 16th 2007 SAME LOCATION ----
From the Save Madison South website:
"8/21/07
LAND USE HEARING ANNOUNCED
RED ALERT!!!
By now you have heard that a land use hearing date has been announced for the Big Box proposed for the property across from Madison High School on NE 82nd Avenue. The permit would expand the current zoning from 60,000 sq ft to 240,000 sq ft. Please mark the dates on your calendar and plan to attend so you can voice your opinion. Here is the quick information on the land use hearing:
When: 10/1/07 & 10/3/07 at 9:00 am
Where: Development Service Building, 1900 SW 4th, Room 2500"
Jeff is planning to testify against the conditional use permit because he believes a development that size (and with thousands of additional car trips) will make neighborhood streets more dangerous. Do you live in the Roseway or Madison South Neighbhorhoods? What do you think about this big-box proposal?
Discuss: UPDATED Hearing Date Set for NE 82nd Big Box
» August 29, 2007 - 0 comments - Community Involvement, Front Page News, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE
Composting at the County
This morning I had the pleasure of talking to Jane at the Juvenile Justice Center. She handles all things food and service related with that building and has a warm spot for saving children and the Earth. She currently runs a composting program at the Center that collects the food waste from the kitchen and the meals; reducing the amount of trash that gets collected. Jane appreciates that saving the Earth comes at a current cost, but lowers overall costs - to the wallet and the planet - in the long run. Great job, Jane!
Read more and discuss: Composting at the County
» August 13, 2007 - 0 comments - Children and Families, Karol's Blog, Outer NE, Sustainability, Top Stories
Neighbors Mobilize Against Big-Box
Neighbors in the Roseway and Madison South neighborhoods are mobilizing against a new "big box" development planned across the street from Madison High School.
Canadian Developer SmartCentre has requested a conditional use permit from the City of Portland to build a 240,000 square foot commerical development on an old land fill. The land is currently zoned for a 60,000 square foot building - the size of your neighborhood Safeway or New Seasons.
Read more and discuss: Neighbors Mobilize Against Big-Box
» July 25, 2007 - 2 comments - Marissa's Blog, Neighborhoods, Outer NE, Sidebar Alerts
Here Comes IKEA - Traffic advisory for PDX
Lots of folks here in Northwest Oregon make the trip up to Seattle to do a little IKEA shopping. Now, they only have to go as far as PDX. The new IKEA opens Wednesday, July 25th. There will be traffic issues. Please read the following advisory if you are going to or from the airport next week:
Read more and discuss: Here Comes IKEA - Traffic advisory for PDX
» July 18, 2007 - 0 comments - Inner NE, North Portland, Outer NE, Public Safety
Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids
“The connection between health and the dwelling of the population is one of the most important that exists.” -Florence Nightengale
What do dust-mites, cockroaches, mold and rodents have in common? Besides their respective “ick” factors, these organisms are big-time asthma triggers. The right mattress cover and a good vaccum can help eliminate dust-mites, but those other opportunistic critters can be a little harder to boot out of your home – even more so if you’re a renter without control over the root cause of the infestation.
Multnomah County’s Environmental Health Division recently hosted a Healthy Homes Summit to study the nexus between our health and our homes. Participants helped compile a laundry list of recommendations for Multnomah County and the City of Portland (the full list is after the jump) ranging from updating building codes and enforcement to reflect public health to increasing and improving landlord education.
What you think Multnomah County should do to make our homes healthier?
Read more and discuss: Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids
» July 17, 2007 - 1 comments - Children and Families, Front Page News, Homeless, Human Services, Marissa's Blog, Outer NE
New Multnomah County No Idling Policy
On April 26, 2007 the Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution 07-073 which directed the Office of Sustainability and Fleet Services Division to create and once adopted, implement policies to reduce benzene pollution in Multnomah County. The BENZENE REDUCTION POLICY was adopted by the BCC on June 28, 2007.
The first step is to educate County employees on the dangers of benzene and to promote campaigns to reduce benzene exposure. You will soon begin to see reminder signs and labels at County facility loading docks and in County vehicles.
Read more and discuss: New Multnomah County No Idling Policy
» July 11, 2007 - 5 comments - Front Page News, Inner NE, Karol's Blog, North Portland, Outer NE, Sustainability
