Sunnyside Community House

A cornerstone near the corner of SE 35th and Yamhill Streets tells an old story which, until recently, could have been headed for an unfortunate ending. But now there is hope that the cornerstone will instead soon become the inspiration for a new story stretching well into the future of Sunnyside neighborhood.

The Old Story

The old story begins in the late 19th century when Sunnyside Methodist Episcopal Church was created in the burgeoning new Sunnyside neighborhood.  In 1910 this new congregation built the imposing, stone edifice at the corner of SE 35th and Yamhill. Then 12 years later, in an expression of commitment to the neighborhood of which it was a part, the congregation added a handsome addition to the east of the original structure and called it the “Community House.” It was designed as an activity space not just for members of the congregation but for the community at large. It contained, among other features, a second floor gymnasium (still in use by neighbors in the community) and a basement swimming pool (since abandoned and converted to other uses).

Unfortunately, in retrospect, as members of the congregation moved to other parts of the city, the congregation’s self-identity as a neighborhood church began to wane. Yet even as the worshiping congregation continued to diminish in size, and most of the members commuted from other parts of the city to participate in church activities, the “Community House” and the original solid stone structure continued to provide gathering spaces for neighborhood activities.

Then in 2015 the dwindling Sunnyside congregation voted to discontinue its life together. Consequently, according to denominational polity, the ownership of the building was transferred to the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The initial impulse of the Conference Board of Trustees was to offer the property for sale to the highest bidder. But a group of concerned folks were able to convince the Board to consider a different outcome, and, in effect, to write a new story for this building that has served the neighborhood so well in the past and that still has many years of life yet to give the community.

A New Story

The first chapter of a new story is currently being written by a Discernment Team appointed by the newly appointed United Methodist District Superintendent Erin Martin. She asked the team to develop a workable long-range plan to assure that the building is not sold to a private party but remains a significant available asset for the people of Sunnyside neighborhood. The Discernment Team envisions a renewed “Community House” as it were, both a legacy from the pioneer members of the Sunnyside Methodist congregation, and an expression of the motto of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association: “Proud Past, Bright Future.”

The team of nine persons is co-chaired by Mantu Joshi, a current resident of the Sunnyside neighborhood, and pat Schwiebert, a long-time director of the “Hard Times Supper” ministry that has occupied the Sunnyside church dining hall on Wednesday nights for more than thirty years. Since the discontinuance of the Sunnyside church congregation the supper is now sponsored solely by Metanoia Peace Community UMC, with the help of volunteers from several other congregations.

As part of the discernment process, Pat and Mantu and other members of the discernment team have already begun conversations with Sunnyside neighborhood leaders and residents, and current and potential building users. The team is working to create a non-profit corporation that can assume responsibility for the ongoing operation of the new Sunnyside Community House. The are also looking for ways to make the building fully ADA accessible for persons with disabilities.

Join the conversation:

If you would like to be a part of the conversation, we’d like to hear from you.

Pat can be reached at (503) 706-658three or pat[at]tearsoup.com.

Mantu can be reached at (503) 799-667nine or mantuhome[at]gmail.com.

JM Mayer

4 thoughts on “Sunnyside Community House”

  1. We’re looking for a venue to hold a small memorial service of approximately 50 people Sunday, February 19th or 26th. Is the Sunnyside Community Center available on either of these dates? How much to rent and for how long? Can we bring in our own catered lite appetizers?

  2. To Whom It May Concern:

    I am Andrea Whittle, Managing Director of Confrontation Theatre. Confrontation Theatre’s mission is to dedicate ourselves to excellent theatre at a very affordable cost to an all inclusive audience, as we confront the exceptionally unique experiences and perspectives of the Black diaspora.

    I am emailing to inquiry about a space rental at Sunnyside Community House for rehearsals or p for our 2017 fall production of a comedy entitled Sibling Rivalry by James Webb. This story explores the sometimes comic complications of sibling relationships before, during and after a funeral. Composed of short vignettes, linked by uproarious funeral advertisements, this comedy allows you to laugh in the face of life’s toughest challenges.

    The projected dates for sibling rivalry are that Rehearsals will start Tuesday, August 15, 2017 – Tuesday, September 5, 2017 @ 6-10PM (Technical rehearsal would begin would begin on Friday, September 1, 2017 @ 12-10PM)Performances would start on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 – Sunday, October 1, 2017 (Wednesday-Saturday @ 7:30PM; Sunday @ 3PM)

    We look forward to collaborating with you all in the near future and hope that this inquiry is warmly received. Thank you for your time. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to contact me via email or my cell (786) 338-8164

    Looking forward,
    Andrea Whittle

  3. I just wanted to say that I am proud to be a Portlander and folks like you/your organization is one of the reasons! I saw an article in “Green Monster Mail” regarding your effort to feed the homeless and it is quite admirable to say the least… Thank you!

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