September 2007
1. Macy's scheduled to open October 26
2. City Council implements SAFE Committee recommendations
3. Clean and Safe officers help nab thief
4. Leonard observes security officers in action
5. Westside Community Court sees 7,000th defendant
6. Sidewalk Ambassadors stay busy in August
with downtown parking survey
7. Ambassadors move to new location in Old
Town
8. Allyson Reed named Downtown Retail Advocate
9. Retail Council supports 10th and Yamhill
garage redevelopment
10. Alliance reaches out to retailers on South
Park Blocks
11. People are talking about the Sidewalk
Ambassadors
1. Macy's scheduled to open October 26
Macy's in downtown's Meier and Frank Square announced that
it will reopen next month. The store, which has been closed
since January for renovation, will open its doors to customers
at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 26. The opening weekend will
include many special events for shoppers, including special
guests and customer gifts. Macy's will also hold a Gala Event
on October 24 to celebrate. See this month's Portland Monthly
for more information about that event.
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2. City Council implements SAFE Committee
recommendations
On August 15, Portland City Council voted to implement the
Sidewalk Access for Everyone (SAFE) Committee recommendations.
The SAFE recommendations, created by a broad group of stakeholders
including city government representatives, residents, homeless
advocates and local businesses, include enactment of an ordinance
prohibiting sitting or lying on sidewalks in downtown and
the Lloyd District during business hours. The recommendations
also provide homeless individuals with additional services
in the Central City, including:
- A day access service center;
- Additional public bench seating;
- Access to public restrooms, including a 24-hour restroom;
and
- Shower and locker facilities.
The new services provided through the SAFE recommendations
are in addition to other efforts assisting the homeless population
downtown and in the Lloyd business district, and are intended
to facilitate the City's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.
Transition Projects Incorporated (TPI), Sisters of the Road,
JOIN, Central City Concerns and New Avenues for Youth are
just some of the organizations providing day access, offering
drug, alcohol and mental health treatment and helping homeless
people transition into the workforce through training and
job placement.
The Portland Business Alliance and the Downtown and Lloyd
Business Improvement Districts are contributing $150,000 over
a two-year period to support implementation of the new homeless
services. Approximately $79,000 of those funds will be used
to operate TPI's day shelter with the remaining funds to support
other services as recommended by the SAFE Oversight Committee
during the next two years.
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3. Clean and Safe officers help nab thief
Clean and Safe security officers were essential to the apprehension
of a theft suspect in downtown last month. A citizen witnessed
someone breaking into a car in a parking garage at SW 9th
and Stark, and gave the suspect's description to a nearby
Clean and Safe officer. The officer broadcast the description
to all other Clean & Safe officers on the street, and another
officer spotted the suspect headed into Old Town on the skateboard.
Another officer finally found the man sitting on a bench at
NW 1st and Flanders and called one of the Portland Police
Bureau contract police officers into the area who subsequently
arrested the suspect for the car break-in and two more related
crimes. All the property was recovered undamaged and returned
to the owner.
In addition to assisting in the arrest, the Clean and Safe
Security Patrols engaged in 17,903 interactions with individuals
on the streets of downtown Portland in August. These contacts,
which continue to enhance the safety and security of citizens
in the Business Improvement District (BID). included 4,370
business assistance and referral contacts, 8,400 pedestrian
contacts, 111 arrests, 257 exclusions and an additional 138
non-enforcement problem solving contacts.
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4. Leonard observes security officers
in action
|
|
| Ron Beltz, Portland Downtown Services,
Inc. president and Clean and Safe officer Jimmy Bare pose
with Commissioner Randy Leonard. Leonard spent a morning
on a walkalong with Officer Bare, patrolling downtown.
|
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5. Westside Community Court sees 7,000th
defendant
In August, the court received its 7,000th defendant. During
the month, 198 defendants were ordered by the Community Court
Judge Steve Evans to perform community service on the Westside
work crew. The Community Court work crews removed 59 bags
of trash and 11 pieces of drug paraphernalia from the BID.
In all there were 852 hours of community service performed
by defendants from Community Court. These hours of community
service include work at the Blanchet House and at Loaves and
Fishes on inclement weather days.
Also in August, 38 defendants successfully completed the
Theft Accountability Class last month. The Downtown DA Legal
Assistant reviewed a total of 188 misdemeanor cases for prosecution
and referral to the Westside Community Court.
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6. Sidewalk Ambassadors stay busy in August
with downtown parking survey
In support of the Alliance's research efforts for downtown,
the Ambassador team completed an extensive survey of downtown
parking venues (lots, garages and structures) for the revision
of the Alliance's web-based map.
Monthly Stats: Business Modifications (recorded change to
a ground-floor storefront): 3 Business Visit (on-site check-in
with BID member): 63 Publications (maps, dining guides, brochures,
including 55 assortments): 2,563 Information (directions/addresses,
attraction, restaurant and hotel facts): 5,576 Service (requested
graffiti removal, sidewalk cleaning, sign or curb repair):
82 Grand Total: 8,292
Activity Statistics
- Business Modifications (adjustments to the database):
3
- Business Visits (check in with merchants in BID): 63
- Information (questions fielded): 5,576
- Publications (literature distributed): 2,563
- Service calls (reported graffiti and waste): 82
- Total: 8,292
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7. Ambassadors move to new location in Old
Town
Giving the Alliance a presence at each end of the BID, the
former Office of Neighborhood Involvement Crime Prevention
location at NW First Avenue and Davis Street is being converted
into the new headquarters for the Sidewalk Ambassador program.
Clean & Safe director Bill Sinnott will also have an office
at this location, which will facilitate the oversight of the
Clean and Safe and Community Service programs, as well as
the Ambassadors. Many Old Town/Chinatown businesses and organizations
(such as the Chinese Garden and The Monkey and The Rat) have
already expressed overwhelmingly positive support for having
the Ambassador program based in the area.
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8. Allyson Reed named Downtown Retail
Advocate
 The
Alliance and the City of Portland join forces to assist downtown
retailers. Allyson Reed of Gray & Associates has been named
the new Downtown Retail Advocate. The position, funded by
downtown property owners and the City of Portland, will bring
together private and public efforts for retail development.
Previously, Reed was the Vice President/General Manager of
Pioneer Place, and joined Gray & Associates in 2006. Reed
is working with the Alliance to focus on retention and strategy
for recruiting national retailers and restaurants. She will
also be providing business outreach regarding financial incentives
and leasing opportunities, and harnessing the energy of private
sector leaders to get behind the "call to action."
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9. Retail Council supports 10th and Yamhill
garage redevelopment
Downtown Retail Council (DRC) members recently testified
before City Council in support of the redevelopment of the
10th and Yamhill Garage. On August 8, Council approved an
intergovernmental agreement with Portland Development Commission
to move forward with John Carroll Investments to explore a
redevelopment of the 10th and Yamhill garage.
As stated in the 2007 Downtown Retail Strategy Update, the
potential redevelopment of the garage is key for revitalizing
the area and attracting new retailers, as well as retaining
existing retailers and customers in the retail core. The DRC
supports the City's continued creative and collaborative approach
when considering variables such as retail space management,
façade improvements, redevelopment options and garage ownership.
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10. Alliance reaches out to retailers
on South Park Blocks
The Alliance's Downtown Services team has been working in
partnership with the Portland Development Commission on the
South Park Blocks Streetscape and Park Block 5 design process
as part of the Park Avenue Vision plan. Efforts to reach retailers
around Park Block 5 and along SW Park and 9th Avenues included
meeting with property owners, business owners and retail managers
to obtain feedback on the current design and opportunities.
Developer ZGF will also offer another opportunity for public
and business to comment on the design.
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11. People are talking about the Sidewalk
Ambassadors
Many thankful patrons have written in to praise the Alliance's
Sidewalk Ambassadors:
"Patricia was very helpful as we stood outside the
Chinese Gardens not having a clue where to go next. Great
directions, great suggestions. Great idea to add enjoyment
to your city."
- Neal and Debbie E., Acton, MA
"Merlin was full of great info and an excellent ambassador
for your city. Thank her for her "House of Louie" recommendation!
Our Texas friends fell in love with dim sum."
- Anonymous, Out of town guest
"Very impressive. Answered our questions very directly,
walked us to nearby location we requested."
- D. M., Torrance, CA
"I believe that it is a truly wonderful idea, and
the lovely greeting I received would make any day better."
- Anonymous, Portland resident
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