On the corner of Northeast 13th Avenue and Holman Street there is a tiny park. It houses one pine tree, a bench, a broken sprinkler system, and an odd play structure/sculpture that some call the “horse saddle.” But this unassuming and often neglected little patch of soil and concrete has been the centerpiece of a neighborhood caring, protecting, and providing for itself one little block at a time.

Read the rest of the article on the Sentinel website.

If you missed the last meeting about making NE Holman street into one of Portland’s new “neighborhood greenways” you can see the materials and information on the Portland Office of Transportation webpage.  The meeting was well-attended, standing room only and full of lively conversation and energy.

Of particular note for Woodlawn is the proposal (originated by a group of neighbors who passionately wish to improve the “pocket park” at NE Holman and 13th) to use the Greenway project to slow and/or divert traffic, put in a bioswale, extend and improve the park and create a space for community and recreation.  This idea has been advocated for quite some time by the informal “Woodlawn Corner” group, and is an example of how a small group of committed citizens can bring an idea to the attention of city planners and have it incorporated into a project.  Most attendees at the meeting showed enthusiastic support for the proposal (a raise of hands was called for by the city presenters to make sure this was supported by the neighborhood) but it will still be on the table for discussion at the next meeting, so it is critical that neighbors show up and participate in the process.  Join the Woodlawn Corner google group or email Alan at strongworkarch//@//gmail.com to join, and/or come to the next potluck Wednesday April 28th at 6pm in the park.

SHOW UP!  For the next Greenways meeting on Tues May 4, 6-8pm Concordia Library Room 314.

Believe Movement studio says “Did you know that several of your neighbors are instructors at Believe Movement Studio?”.  No, I did not!  Check out their class offerings, more are being added all the time,  and sign up for email updates to get information about new classes and specials. Laura says “rates are the lowest in town.  Many discounts available for seniors, students, volunteers and non-profit employees.   We look forward to seeing you soon!”

New business alert: you’ve probably seen the progress that has been made at the soon-to-open Breakside Brewery.  Word is they will open their doors May 1.  Read more about the beer and the food.

Classic Foods recently had a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the opening of their new facility in Woodlawn.  Look forward to the smells of pasta being made in our neighborhood, and keep an eye out for them at local farmer’s markets!

Auntie Kelly’s Hawaiian Plate Lunch food cart will debut at the Woodlawn Sunday Parkways (coming up May 16!) and has invited Woodlawn neighbors to a tasting party, May 2 from 2-4 at 1724 NE Dekum Street. Enjoy teriyaki chicken, world famous “Maui style” kal bi ribs, mac salad, peanut ginger noodles, sticky rice, and organic greens.

There’s not a grocery store in Woodlawn (yet!) but if you are looking for a way to get your weekly fresh vegetables from a local farm, the Dancing Roots Farm CSA (community supported agriculture) is still taking members for this year.  They will have a pick-up site in Piedmont on Thursday evenings, very close to Woodlawn.  Contact Shari at 503.695.3445 or shari//@//dancingrootsfarm.com for more information.

Want more play by play of local businesses and Woodlawn happening?  If you are on facebook, many of our local businesses have a “fan page” and Sarah Bott at the Dekum Street Guest House is running a lively page called “It’s happening on Dekum Street” with up-to-the-minute news and happenings in the Woodlawn area.

Tuesday April 6th 6-8pm
2811 NE Holman Concordia Luther Hall Room 21

From Woodlawn neighbor Gregg L: “I went on a Green Streets tour with the city a year and a half ago in SE. These are beautiful streets in neighborhoods and in commercial districts. They are designed to get rainwater into the ground instead of into the sewers.
This is an incredible opportunity for the city to invest money into community improvements to make Woodlawn a greener, cleaner, safer neighborhood.

Green Streets offer many benefits that sewer pipes can’t. Green Streets:
• Clean and cool air and water
• Enhance neighborhood livability
• Increase community and property values
• Enhance pedestrian and bicycle access and safety
• Protect valuable surface and groundwater resources
• Add urban green space and wildlife habitat
• Help meet regulatory requirements for pollutant reduction and watershed resource management
• Reduce stormwater in the sewer system • Save money on wastewater pumping and treatment costs
The plants absorb water and their roots help water soak into the ground. Green Streets can be attractive neighborhood amenities, and a variety of plants can provide a range of looks.”

Check out some pics:

http://www.portlandonline.com/BES/index.cfm?c=44407

http://asla.org/awards/2006/06winners/341.html

Returns to the Village Ballroom!

Come join us this Monday, March 29, 7:30-9:30.
Village Ballroom, 700 NE Dekum

Square Dance to the hot tunes of the Greasy Chain String Band.
All Ages and Beginners Welcome!

Suggested Donation $5+
Pay-what-you-can; 100% of the door benefits Green Empowerment.

http://www.greenempowerment.org/

Two great events happening Saturday March 13!

The Woodlawn United Methodist Church is starting up a community garden.  All neighbors are invited to take part in the set up.  It will be a great opportunity to meet other neighbors and build community.
1pm – 2:30pm
On the SE corner of the church (15th and Dekum).

Also, Woodlawn neighbors Gregg and Nikki got a grant from the city to build an ecoroof! Gregg says the next deadline for the next round of grants is in about a month… it was really easy. He suggests people who are interested check out

Free Portland ECOROOF event THIS weekend March 12-13th
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. both days
Leftbank Annex | 101 N Weidler Street  Portland, Oregon  97227 Read the rest of this entry »

Urban Renewal Area Online Survey!
Please take this short survey to share your neighborhood development priorities and thoughts about inner North/Northeast Portland Urban Renewal Areas.

To take the survey, please visit:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PXD6V35

The responses will be compiled by PSU students and NECN staff and then made available to the Portland Development Commission, the North/Northeast Economic Development Initiative Community Advisory Committee and other city officials. All responses will be kept confidential and are in no way traceable to individual respondents.

This survey is part of an Urban Renewal Area community forum series, designed to educate and engage community members about upcoming Urban Renewal Area investment decisions which will change the built environment of inner North/Northeast Portland.

Please also come to the next URA forum on Thursday, March 11th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Billy Webb Elks Lodge.  Come hear community generated priorities and recommendations and help strategize future action steps for achieving community benefits from the Urban Renewal Areas.  For more details about the March 11th meeting and information from the first three forums, please visit www.necoalition.org.

The forum series is sponsored by the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, the Urban League of Portland and the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University.  This project was made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities (OH), a statewide nonprofit organization and an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which funds OH’s grant program.

WHAT:

FLOCK TOGETHER SOCIAL GATHERING: meet new folks with common interests

WHEN:

Saturday, March 13^th 2:00pm-4:00pm

WHERE:

Humboldt Gardens Opportunity Center

5033 N. Vancouver Avenue (at Alberta)

Portland, Oregon 97217

ABOUT:

Community Outreach of Our United Villages invites you to an interactive afternoon to connect with people and discover shared interests.  Snacks provided.  Child care, interpretation, and transportation provided upon request.  FREE and open to all. RSVP to outreach@ourunitedvillages.org or (503) 546.7499.  www.ourunitedvillages.org

Woodlawn Neighborhood Association invites you to a get-together for Woodlawn writers.  If you are a writer living in the Woodlawn neighborhood, or if you are interested in writing, please attend our first get-together.

2-4 PM Saturday March 13th

at the Community Room (upstairs)

United Methodist Church – corner of NE 15th and Dekum

Please bring a sample of your work.  This is an opportunity for writers in the Woodlawn neighborhood to meet, learn about one another’s work, and discuss how to promote our work within the community.

For more information: 503-288-3758