Category: Sustainability

New Pedestrian Plaza Coming to SE Hawthorne

Artist's rendition of the 37th Avenue Plaza looking northwest from the Bagdad Theater. Have you ever walked down Hawthorne and thought, “wow, I love this street, but wouldn’t it be even better with a nice place to sit and watch the colorful world go by?” You’re in luck because PBOT in partnership with the Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association (HBBA) and the SNA, will be piloting a new pedestrian plaza this summer at 37th and Hawthorne! The plaza will provide space to relax, eat a bite and enjoy art and performances! We’re sure you have questions, and we have answers.

  1. What is the Hawthorne Sustainability Plaza & Project?
    The Hawthorne Pilot Plaza and Kiosk project is a community-driven initiative aimed at enhancing the Hawthorne District by creating a seasonal public plaza located on the north side of Hawthorne Blvd at SE 37th Avenue. The plaza will include an active gathering space, seating, street mural, landscaping, and a solar kiosk offering wayfinding maps and information.
  2. How was 37th Avenue chosen as the location?
    This location was selected as a pilot in August 2024 because it has the right ingredients for success including active restaurants, frequent pedestrian and bike traffic, adjacency of a bus line and proximity to the iconic Bagdad Theater. PBOT’s traffic engineering shows this area would work to close the street and  piloting a seasonal plaza in Spring of 2025 is in the planning stages.
  3. Site plan for the 37th Avenue plaza showing as series of tables on the west side of 37th, planters on the north and south, and an emergency lane to the east.What amenities will the plaza offer?
    • Seating: Picnic tables with attached benches made from durable, weather-resistant materials.
    • Landscape Planters: Large planters will border the plaza, providing greenery and separating the gathering area from the street to ensure safety.
    • Public Art: Street murals and cultural displays will be integrated into the plaza’s design.
    • Solar-Powered Kiosk: A compact 4×6-foot kiosk adds phone charging, maps, and district info.
    • Lighting: Ambient decorative lighting will be used to enhance safety and vibrancy.
  4. How will this project benefit the community?
    • Central Gathering Space: The plaza will create a welcoming, car-free area for residents and visitors to meet, relax, and socialize, and a place for community events without special permits for street closures.
    • Business Boost: By activating the street, the plaza will increase more foot traffic to the area, attracting more customers to local businesses and expanding opportunities for outdoor dining and vending, allowing adjacent businesses to expand their operations. 
    • Inclusive & Welcoming Space: The plaza will be designed to serve people of all ages and incomes
    • District Beautification: Enhances the streetscape with greenery, public art, and attractive amenities.
    • Sustainability: Solar kiosk adds access to power that helps with emergency response & climate education.
  5. How will the plaza be maintained?
    HBBA intends to use part of the grant funds to secure a maintenance and management contract for ongoing care and cleaning of the plaza. This includes: bi-weekly trash pick-up, sweeping and maintaining landscape planters, graffiti removal, and general upkeep to ensure the plaza remains clean, safe, and welcoming.
  6. How has the community been involved in this project?
    This site was selected after careful consultation with community members and organizations, including the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association (SNA) and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). Key outreach efforts included:

    • Hawthorne Street Fair (2023 & 2024): Community members participated in voting and feedback sessions about kiosk locations and plaza amenities.
    • Pop-Up Plazas: Temporary installations and events, like the PARK(ing) Day event in September 2023 and other community pop-ups, provided residents with opportunities to experience the concept.
    • Surveys & Focus Groups: In 2023, a community survey was sent to Hawthorne business district and neighborhood to gather input on desired amenities.
    • Business Meetings: HBBA hosted multiple meetings with local businesses to share updates and collect feedback.
    • Neighborhood Association Presentations: PBOT and HBBA have presented the project at various neighborhood meetings to keep residents informed.
  7. What is the timeline & next steps for the project?
    • March 2025: Plaza maintenance/stewardship planning, form committee for plaza naming/mural contest.
    • March/April 2025: Kiosk permits and structural review, mural design competition.
    • May/June 2025: Kiosk installation and mural painting, pilot plaza officially opens (seasonal through Oct.).
  8. How is this site being funded?
    The project is funded by a $46,000 grant from Venture Portland to the Hawthorne Boulevard Business Association (HBBA) to create a solar kiosk mini-resiliency hub. This became a catalyst to create a community plaza at SE 37th Avenue. With PBOT developing a new Plaza Pilot Program, this grant has allowed us to participate – a unique opportunity to enhance our business district and add amenities for all.
  9. How can businesses and community members be involved or learn more?
    • Volunteer to join a “Friends of the Plaza” community group
    • Participate in the plaza naming contest or street mural design calls.
    • Sign up for updates through the HBBA or Sunnyside Neighborhood Association newsletters.

Want to learn more? Download a copy of the proposal and these FAQs.

For more information or questions, contact

Learn more about Portland’s Plaza Program
www.portland.gov/transportation/planning/plazas/plazas

SE Community Kitchen Tool Library in the Works

Sunnyside is a neighborhood with friendly folks who feel comfortable lending a cup of sugar to their neighbors. But what if there was a place where people could borrow a food dehydrator or cider press?

Everyone deserves access to kitchen tools for food processing, preserving, and serving. With that in mind, community members are developing the Southeast Community Kitchen Tool Library, a place where anyone can borrow from an extensive collection of kitchen appliances and tools. We hope to offer pressure cookers, canners, knife sharpeners, bread machines, popcorn makers, grain mills—even place settings and ravioli crimpers! The goal is to provide a wide variety of handy items that are infrequently needed and often prohibitively expensive.

We also envision the Community Kitchen Tool Library being a place where neighborly connections can be fostered through a shared love of food. The library might even grow into a community-supported kitchen where we can share our culinary skills, nourish our bodies with healthy local food, and collaborate on difficult or intensive projects.

We are inspired by other successful lending libraries, such as the Southeast Portland Tool Library and North Portland Preserve and Serve Library, and believe that together we will make this a reality. By making expensive equipment freely available to all, and by sharing our collective skills and knowledge about food preservation and preparation, the future Southeast Community Kitchen Tool Library will make our community a more equitable and sustainable place to live.

This is a community-directed initiative and we need your input, creative energy, and kitchen items. Please contact Kim Hack for more information ([email protected] or 971-285-7372). Join us on November 7 for a planning meeting at 1221 SE 35th Avenue between Salmon and Main streets. Thank you!

 

 

Walgreens Expansion Meeting for All Neighbors

Come to our next neighborhood meeting on Thursday June 2, from 7pm to 8:30 pm; this is just a meeting between neighbors to discuss a common strategy for moving forward. Walgreens representatives will not assist.

What: Walgreens Drive-Thru strategy meeting
When: Thursday June 2, from 7pm to 8:30 pm
Where: TaborSpace, 5441 SE Belmont st. Portland, OR 97215

TaborSpace is located in the parlor of the Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church. Parking is in a lot on the west side of the church. #15 bus stops across the street, on 55th and SE Belmont.

Directions to “the parlor”: Go to main church doors through the courtyard; go through the sanctuary; turn right.  There are hosts and signs greeting people.

As always, this info and future updates can be found at www.sunnysidewalgreens.com

~ Vincent Dawans, Neighbor