The city of Portland and Portland Downtown are working to develop a cleaner, safer and more activated Monument Square and Congress Street corridor. A new bike share station, the return of the arts market, seasonal outdoor seating, new downtown ambassadors as well as increased safety measures and tools to assist businesses and storefronts are underway or coming soon according to a press release issued this morning from the city.
“When issues related to safety and quality-of-life issues on Monument Square were raised by local businesses, we took those concerns seriously,” said City Manager Danielle West. “Together with Portland Downtown, our goal is that Monument Square and Congress Street be safe, clean and an attractive destination for workers, residents and visitors.” Shoppers too?
Buried near the end of the press release, apparently this revitalization of the area is done out of concern for the high vacancy rate of storefronts on Congress Street and in the Arts District. Several non-profits have expressed concern about this high vacancy rate of storefronts – one of them is Creative Portland, the city’s funded art agency. In a recent monthly commuications, “CP” referred to the “forboding zone along the Congress Street spine.” The other is Portland Downtown. The press release also says that sometime in the near future, the Portland Police department will be establishing a new temporary policing space in Monument Square. But the city’s press release does not say why that is justified..
Not mentioned in the city’s press release, but an issue for this consumer is a lack of on-street parking in the area. A lack of on-street parking is also a problem for this consumer on Washington Avenue. Frequently, I drive along both streets looking for on-street parking near several businesses I want to patronize. Most of the time I can’t find a parking spot near them, so I don’t stop. Perhaps others have had the same experience. Some may not like it, but the automobile is still a legal and viable form of transportation in Portland!
When this blogger suggested to a Portland Downtown official that perhaps business is off or down contributig to the growing number of empty storefronts could be in part because of economic uncertainity due to Trump’s tariff policies. He answered: “I had not thought of that.” When this blogger said the lack of on-street parking is an issue, this same Portland Downtown official dismissed my experience as invalid and untrue. Apparently, this official at Portland Downtown believes there is plenty of on-street parking around. Ha!
This blogger queried the Portland Police Department if there has been an increase in arrests or troubling behavior on behalf of the public that warrants a new, temporary policing space around Monument Square, this evening. Two such queries of the Portland Police Department have gone unanswered as of the end of the business day, June 25.