Uncategorized | East Columbia Neighborhood Association

IFCC, a former brick firehouse with green trim and colorful banners showcasing local Black artists. The main banner says IFCC past present future Center for Black Arts & Culture

Save the date!
Wednesday, March 20

You are invited to a community gathering to help advance the community-led vision for a Center for Black Arts and Culture at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC). Thank you to everyone who provided input at our first meeting in August at Marantha Church. Your contributions are enhancing the plans to preserve and enhance this important community asset. Join us at Jefferson High School’s Cafeteria on Wednesday, March 20 to gather in community to enjoy good food, hear a presentation, and share your feedback on the next steps. We will share how a combination of community input, financial analysis, and arts management expertise has shaped the IFCC Feasibility Study.

Wednesday, March 20, 5:30pm – 7:30pmJefferson High School Cafeteria, 5210 N Kerby Avenue* 5:30pm – Doors open, refreshments served 6:00pm – 7:30pm – Presentation and small group chats ASL interpretation and childcare will be available Food by the Madman Pop Up (West Indian cuisine) Read more about what we heard at the first meeting here

*Entrance to the cafeteria is on N Kerby Avenue, to the right of the main Jefferson High School entrance and across from the parking lot.

Learn more about the IFCC Feasibility Study

Ballerina Jill Giedt has her arms raised in the air

Noah Simpson
photo by Elijah Hasan About the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC) IFCC is a community arts center located at 5340 N. Interstate Avenue, in North Portland’s Overlook neighborhood. The building was originally constructed in 1910 and used as a fire station until 1959. Portland’s first Black City Commissioner and PP&R Director, Charles Jordan, established IFCC as a North Portland community space and a focal point for Black culture in 1982.

Work is currently underway to advance the community led-vision of a Black arts and culture center at IFCC. The IFCC Community Advisory Committee proposes the building be redeveloped and expanded as a site where “the history of Portland’s Black community and its rich arts and culture contributions can be presented, displayed, discussed, and honored.”

Portland Parks & RecreationMaija Spencer | 503-867-0679 | maija.spencer@portlandoregon.gov

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Project Update: City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services

February 23, 2024

NE 6th Drive Pump Station Project Contact: Debbie Caselton, Community Outreach
Debbie.Caselton@portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-2831
Project Webpage: portland.gov/BES/NE6thPumpStation

What’s Happening Now Beginning late February and through March 2024, there will be activity at the project site, including delivery of materials, setting up staging of materials and equipment, and exploration and locating of current utilities. Major construction activities such as deactivation of the pump station and demolition will likely happen starting in April.

General Schedule The project is starting construction and will take about two years to complete. Pile Driving Proposed Engineers are working with the construction contractor to propose and evaluate the best method to install the deep piles. A key goal of this project is to improve the pump station’s resiliency to earthquake damage. Deep supports or “piles” driven into the deep gravels are the most effective way to provide this earthquake resiliency. Environmental Services is proposing the use of two different methods to install the earthquake support piles. First, a vibratory hammer would drive the piles down to a depth of about 100 feet. This type of hammer cuts into the soil using vibration alone, this method is quieter than other methods but may create some minimal vibration. Second, the piles would be driven down the remaining 10 feet to deep underlying gravel using an impact hammer. This method uses a large hammer to drive the piles down to the bearing material. It can be noisy and creates some noticeable vibration. Driven piles installed using vibratory and impact hammers are the most cost effective and quickest method to support the pump station. Using this method for this portion of the pump station upgrade will take about four weeks to complete, instead of several months for other support methods. They are also the best way to support the pump station in these soil conditions. Next Steps Environmental Services has used this construction method successfully many times. We understand that there may be some concerns about the potential for noise and vibration near the construction site. Neighbors closest to the NE 6th Drive Pump Station site have been contacted directly to provide more specific information. Our staff are working directly with potentially affected residents to monitor potential vibration and settlement. As we approach construction, we will also work with nearby properties to document existing property conditions ahead of the work beginning. We encourage you to reach out if you have any concerns. We Want to Hear from You Environmental Services will inform businesses and residents about project activities and respond to questions and concerns in a timely manner. Please let us know if you have concerns such as business operations, local access, delivery routes and schedules, or other concerns. Visit the project webpage at portland.gov/BES/NE6thPumpStation. Sign up to receive email or text message updates portland.gov/BES/signup. You can also sign up to receive information on other projects and topics. Contact Debbie Caselton with questions or comments by email at Debbie.Caselton@portlandoregon.gov or by phone at 503-823-2831. Please include your name, property address, and project name (NE 6th Drive) in your voicemail or email so we can provide you more details about what to expect. In the event of a sewer backup or basement flooding, call the Maintenance hotline immediately at 503-823-1700. It is staffed all hours and all days, 24/7.

This project will help protect the health
of the Columbia Slough Watershed. Know someone who would be interested in updates about this project? Please share this news! Stay Connected

Environmental Services City of Portland Working for Clean Rivers

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News Release Transportation commissions form bi-state tolling subcommittee to guide tolling on Interstate 5 bridge NEWS – Joint Release Oregon Transportation Commission Transportation Commission Office – 355 Capitol St. NE – Salem, OR 97301-3871 – 503-986-3450 Washington State Transportation Commission Transportation Commission Office – PO Box 47308 – Olympia, WA – 98504-7308 – 360-705-7070 Feb. 16, 2024 For more information, contact Reema Griffith, WSTC Executive Director, 360-705-7070 or Kevin Glenn, ODOT Communications Director, 503-910-5965. SALEM, OR. – The Oregon Transportation Commission and Washington State Transportation Commission have formed a new bi-state tolling subcommittee to study and assess possible toll rates and policies for the Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River. The subcommittee’s first meeting is on Friday, Feb. 23, and the public is invited to attend. The bi-state tolling subcommittee is made up of two commissioners appointed from each state’s transportation commission. Lee Beyer and Alicia Chapman are representing Oregon on the subcommittee; James “Jim” A. Restucci and Roy Jennings are representing Washington. They will assess toll rate and policy options for the bridge. The subcommittee also will advise the full memberships of the Washington and Oregon transportation commissions and ultimately provide recommendations on toll rates and policies for each state commission’s consideration and action in late 2025. The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting, which will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23. The meeting will be streamed live on Zoom. Public comment is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Written comment may be submitted to info@bistatesubcommittee.org. The January adoption of the bi-state tolling agreement by each state’s transportation commission set the stage for the bi-state tolling subcommittee. The subcommittee will meet virtually the third Friday of every month, and each meeting will provide an opportunity for public comment. Meeting notices and agendas will be posted on the WSTC and OTC websites prior to meetings. Construction of the Interstate 5 bridge over the Columbia River is anticipated to begin by early 2026, and tolling is expected to begin in spring 2026. Tolling is expected to provide traffic management and vital funding for the project as well as cover ongoing maintenance costs for the bridge and tolling operations. Free, temporary internet access is available to those who do not have broadband service in locations throughout Washington by finding the nearest Drive-In WiFi Hotspot. Free WiFi access in Oregon is available at these locations: Peninsula Park Community Center, 700 N. Rosa Parks Way, Portland, 97217 Matt Dishman Community Center, 77 NE Knott Street, Portland, 97212 Johns Community Center, 8427 N. Central Street, Portland, 97203 Kenton Library, 8226 N. Denver Avenue, Portland, 97217 Johns Library, 7510 N. Charleston Avenue, Portland, 97203 Hyperlinks within the release: Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/84421909149?pwd=aURNMnl2ZU5UVlBtbjdaN1BpUXN3QT09 WSTC: wstc.wa.gov/programs/tolling/i-5-bridge-over-the-columbia-river/ OTC: oregon.gov/odot/Get-Involved/Pages/Bistate-toll-commission.aspx Drive-In WiFi Hotspot: commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/washington-state-drive-in-wifi-hotspots-location-finder/ ### Americans with Disabilities Act Information Individuals requesting accommodations may request written materials in alternate formats, sign language interpreters, physical accessibility accommodations, or other reasonable accommodations by contacting the Washington State Transportation Commission at 360-705-7070 or by emailing transc@wstc.wa.gov. In Oregon, please contact the Oregon Transportation Commission Assistant at 503-986-3450 or email OTCAdmin@odot.state.or.us at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to make your request.  Title VI Notice to Public It is the Washington State Transportation Commission’s policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its programs and activities. Any person who believes his or her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights (OECR). For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OECR’s Title VI Coordinator at (360) 705-7090. Looking for a great job with a competitive salary and good benefits?
Want to help your community every day? Apply now at ODOTJobs.com.
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