Fundraising on the boulevard.

A bright and warm spring day like today was ideal for fundraising on the boulevard….

These folks were holding a car wash at Comfort Auto Repair to raise funds for a funeral service for Kirk Dunn, a 22-year-old who died last week in a swimming accident in the Sandy River:

Volunteers of America, which runs a men’s residential treatment center on the boulevard, also held a car wash in the empty lot at Sacramento and MLK:

These folks had a hot dog cart in front of the Nike Factory Store; proceeds went to Portland Victory Center, a Christ-centered drug treatment center:

PDC to present Gateway/Heritage Markers proposals this Thursday.

The Portland Development Commission will be holding an open house this Thursday eve, May 28, at the Goodbuild showroom to present three design options for the Gateway and Heritage Markers.

The proposals include plans for transforming the ‘gateway’ into N/NE Portland, where MLK and Grand merge, as well as ‘Heritage Markers’ that will line the boulevard. The Heritage Markers are expected to include markers that provide directions and information for pedestrians on the boulevard, as well as historical images that are viewable by folks driving by.

The PDC’s Gateway and Heritage Markers Concept Master Plan (September 2008) describes the “primary functions” of the markers as:

• The creation of a clear ‘threshold,’ announcing arrival to a unique district of Portland and the emphasis of this distinct character along the boulevard
• The preservation, interpretation, and celebration of a broad and inclusive history of the area’s cultural communities.

The PDC hopes to transform the Gateway Site into a unique block with striking sculpture and pedestrian-friendly space, while the Heritage Markers are intended to provide historical background and information about the area.

The Gateway Site as it looks now, heading north on Grand to where it merges with MLK Boulevard:

Goodbuild is at 2106 NE MLK; the open house will be from 5 to 7 pm.

Seen on the boulevard, May 23.

Bus stop bananas:

“Lot sale”-  a woman is using just the tiniest bit of the empty lot between Cook and Ivy to have a yard sale:

“Boat”, a view of the parking lot adjacent to the SCRAP store:

“Hollah”, in front of Echo Restaurant:

Perfect Timing: Broadway Toyota leaves the boulevard.

Broadway Toyota has moved its sales lots off the boulevard, leaving empty the two parcels of land abutting Broadway Street:

A few months ago, Broadway Toyota left the building at 2111 NE MLK, whose parking lot was turned into an impromptu  skatepark for a time today:

The sign above notes that 2111 has a new tenant. Broadway Toyota still has a toehold on the boulevard, utilizing this unmarked building at 2005 NE MLK for servicing autos, and its back lot for storing cars:

Moment of Truth Tattoo opens at 3821 NE MLK.

The revitalization of MLK Boulevard between Fremont and Alberta Streets continues, as Jake and Brandon have opened Moment of Truth Tattoo at 3821 NE MLK, in a newly-rehabbed storefront:

Moment of Truth will have its grand opening on the last Thursday in June, with a party to celebrate.

The building at 3821-27 MLK has been standing since 1922, and among other businesses, has held the Union Avenue Novelty Shop; Mister Charr’s (a “place of amusement,” according to the 1982 Polk city directory for Portland, and Sweetarts Incorporated, makers of candied fruits.  Moment of Truth now shares the building with Champions Barbershop.

Graham Street Lofts.

At the northwest corner of Graham and MLK:

…and a view from the back stairwell:

Nat’l Registry of Historic Places: 2500 NE MLK

The second of two buildings (on the stretch of the boulevard this blogs covers) on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Jensen Investment Company Building now houses Bardy Trophy at 2500-2522 NE MLK:

The building was erected in 1930 and originally housed Van De Kamp’s Holland Dutch Bakery, which sold numerous kinds of coffee cake. The platform atop the building held a windmill (presumably to signal that Dutch bakery items were sold there), but it fell off at some point, possibly in a storm. Stop into Goldrush Coffee Shop across the street for early photos of the building.

Go here to read about the fight to save the Los Angeles building that housed the Van De Kamp headquarters.

Shaver Green: now renting.

Shaver Green is set to open next month; one-bedroom apartments will cost $515, and two-bedroom apartments $647.  I’m curious about whether the 2-bedroom apartments are restricted to families.

Barbershop interviews: radio show this Thursday, May 28th.

This Thursday, KBOO radio host Jamilah Bourdon airs a program of interviews she did with folks who work in barbershops in the Albina area. She stopped by a number of shops to chat, including barbers at Champions and Reggie’s on MLK.  You can check out her show (called Guess Who’s Coming to Radio??!!) on the radio, or online, this Thursday May 28th, from 8 to 10 pm. It will be interesting to hear how these folks describe their reactions to the changes underway in the greater Albina neighborhood.

Burqitu closes, Safari opens at 3939 NE MLK

Safari Restaurant has opened in the space where Burqitu East African Restaurant had been, at 3939 NE MLK, between Shaver and Failing:

Safari also took over and renamed Burqitu’s accompanying grocery:

Jamaal told me that Safari is going to build from Burqitu’s current menu, and expand it to include Somalian dishes.