West Gresham

Cub Scouts Pack #740 at Nadaka Park Cleanup. Click to enlarge

Cub Scouts remove vines and invasives as part of four Community Service projects to earn a special award.

By Lorraine Strahlmann
(Wilkes East resident. Jan 8, 2010)

If you were a young lad, where would you and your buddies be on an October Saturday morning? If you guessed Gresham Youth Football practice, this time you are wrong.

On this particular day, five (5) Cub Scouts from Gresham Pack #740 were hard at work helping clean Nadaka Nature Park of invasive plants, trees and vines.

With parental supervision the Cubs pushed wheelbarrows they filled with debris to a waiting yard waste bin provided by the City of Gresham.

Suzan Wells, Pres. SWNA outside abandoned QFC store 182nd/Powell. Gresham Outlook

City identifies 181st & Halsey as one of four potential Gresham locations. Five years later, still no 'Big Box' building code for responsible development.

According to a recent City Council report the possibility is real.

At the October 13th 2009 City Council meeting city planners presented a report that acknowledges Gresham's (Oregon's fourth largest city) need for a big-box policy. The report outlined areas of concern; a summary of how similar sized cities address those issues; and how Gresham compares.

Report recommends delay

The report recommends delaying code development saying the retail market has slowed, making another big-box development unlikely anytime soon. Besides, "A big-box store requires eight acres to accommodate parking," said John Pettis, associate comprehensive planner, "there are no vacant properties (in Gresham) that meet that requirement".

Planners did however identify four sites big enough to be redeveloped to accommodate a big-box (bigger than 100,000 sq. ft.); including 181st & Halsey. (See map below for location)

GRDC Advisory Committee agenda: Election of Officers, Rockwood Town Center Access Projects, Plaza del Sol, Storefront Improvement Grants, more.

When: Wednesday Jan 13, 2010 7PM-9PM
Where: Gresham City Hall
Oregon Trail Conference Center
1333 NW Eastman Pky
Gresham OR
Get Map!

On the agenda

Click here for Wednesday night's Gresham Redevelopment Commission (GRDC) Advisory Committee meeting agenda. This link takes you to the City of Gresham webpage that has the attachments and further meeting information.

It includes info Election of Officers, Rockwood Town Center Access Projects, Plaza del Sol, Storefront Improvement Grants, 2010 GRDC Work Plan, etc. You will find all of this under "agenda attachments" for the meeting on 1/13.

1874 Zimmerman House, Gresham Oregon. Click to enlarge

Zimmerman Heritage Farm A lasting vestige of East Multnomah County's agricultural roots Tours Sat Jan 16th 10AM -3PM

When: Saturday Jan 16, 2010 10AM-3PM
Where: Zimmerman Park
17111 NE Sandy Blvd
Gresham OR
Get Map!

A delightful 1874 Victorian farmhouse

Take a step back into history at the Zimmerman House, a Victorian era farmhouse, built in 1874 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This beautiful farmhouse is a perfect reflection of typical Columbia River dairy farm life in the late 1800s. The Zimmerman Heritage Farm is a unique cultural education and recreational resource that is being created for the benefit of the public on a 5.98-acre historic site in Gresham, Oregon.

Community-based urban living in West Gresham's Rockwood triangle. Click to enlarge

Sustainable Cities Year project redefines Rockwood potential. Proximity to Portland and MAX huge factors.

"Rockwood Boulevard combines social and community goals to transform an isolated and distressed site into a vibrant neighborhood. At the heart of the six arce site is a street lined with local business creating an atmosphere bursting with activity and unique flavor."

Six new designs for Rockwood

University of Oregon graduate students involved in the year-long Sustainable Cities Year program presented six new designs for the Rockwood triangle to an enthusiastic audience at the Gresham Redevelopment Commission (GRC) meeting on Dec 9, 2009. The crowd, which divided into three groups for two presentations and a short Q&A every 20 minutes, liked what they saw.

"Community-based urban living supported by a micro economy of local business" dominated the design themes. Students cited the close proximity to downtown Portland and the importance of the adjacent MAX Blue Line as huge factors in their designs, saying Rockwood is positioned to become a vital and thriving area in West Gresham.

Kick-off your Holiday Season! Park Place Coffee's $5 Jewelry Sale & Open House Sunday, Dec 13th 3-7PM

When: Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 3PM-7PM
Where: Park Place Coffee
1288 SE 182nd Ave (next to Vance Park)
Gresham, Or
Get Map!

Join the fun!

Stop by Park Place Coffee for some hot chocolate & cookies, and a visit.

Also, it's a great chance to pick-up some jewelry at a great price!

Stocking Stuffer Sale

$5 Jewelry & Accessories for Christmas Gifts. (cash sales only)

Perfect time to find stocking stuffers or inexpensive gifts for all!

Also, mention this notice and get $1.00 off food items.

Coco, cookies & music!

"We will be serving hot chocolate and cookies, playing Christmas music and gearing-up for the holidays! (Beer and wine available)

Seko Worldwide, Portland office Click to enlarge

Incentives greatly reduce system cost. Solar expected to provide 80% of the company's power need.

Solar brightens local business

Another local business has commited itself to GREEN by installing rooftop solar panels at its new 33,000 square foot facility in the Wilkes East area.

The Portland office of SEKO Worldwide, a personalized global freight transportation and logistics provider, is installing a 31Kw 'grid-tie' solar system in an efforts to increase its energy independence. The 143 panel photovoltaic (PV) system will supply about 80% of the company's lighting, heating, and air conditioning power needs when it becomes operational this December.

Owens Corning, Gresham plant Click to enlarge

100% Green Energy Use. Gresham facility demonstrates its commitment to sustainabilty.

Gresham Strikes Gold

Owens Corning's Gresham Oregon facility celebrated a golden achievement this Fall by receiving the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for new construction from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) (www.usgbc.org).

The LEED award recognizes superior achievement in design, construction and operation of green buildings. Owens Corning's Gresham plant is the only LEED Gold-certified insulation facility in the United States and one of approximately 203 industrial facilities in the U.S. that have been awarded LEED certification. The Gresham plant began operating in July 2009.

During a ceremony at the plant to celebrate the honor, Karel Czanderna, president of the building materials group, said, "Owens Corning is carrying out our commitment to sustainability today by focusing on three areas: greening our products, greening our operations and accelerating energy efficiency improvements in the built environment. This facility reflects all three components of that approach."

County commissioners approve scaled-down facility, Finding funding for the multi-million dollar project still an issue

Source: The Gresham Outlook, Thursday Oct 1, 2009
By Mara Stine

Rockwood might get their courthouse afterall

By a unanimous vote, Multnomah County commissioners approved moving forward with a plan for a new courthouse in Gresham’s Rockwood area Thursday, Oct. 1.

If built – and it is still an if as the county has yet to approve funding for the $17 million to $21 million project – the courthouse will replace Gresham’s old, single courtroom facility on Powell Boulevard. Get Map!

Because so many citizens signed up to testify – all in favor of the project – the 90-minute hearing ran over and two of the five commissioners had to leave for scheduled engagements before voting. But commissioners Jeff Cogen and Deborah Kafoury voiced support for the resolution before leaving.

Zimmerman House 1874

Tours & Open House Zimmerman Heritage Farm Sat Oct 17th 10AM - 3PM

When: Saturday Oct 17, 2009 10AM- 3PM
Where: Zimmerman Park
17111 NE Sandy Blvd
Gresham OR
Get Map!

A delightful 1874 Victorian farmhouse

Take a step back into history at the Zimmermann House, a Victorian era farmhouse, built in 1874 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This beautiful farmhouse is a perfect reflection of typical Columbia River dairy farm life in the late 1800s. The Zimmerman Heritage Farm is a unique cultural education and recreational resource that is being created for the benefit of the public on a 5.98-acre historic site in Gresham, Oregon. Open house and tours are available every third Saturday. Don't miss this unique opportunity to step back in time!