4 • The Southwest Portland Post
BUSINESS
March 2013
Main Street Program gradually
transforms Hillsdale town center
THE COUNTRY STORE
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
The hamlet of Hillsdale is trans-
forming: lighting has been enhanced;
landscaping has sprouted up; visual
storefront improvements assistance
is available; and new signage will
appear.
Kathryn, a 26 year-old resident of
the Mississippi neighborhood had
never heard of Hillsdale and had
mistaken it for Hillsboro at first.
“It seems quite nestled in,” she
replied as she did her laundry. “Mis-
sissippi Street has been going through
a series of renovations itself with the
addition of new cafes, restaurants,
food carts and small one-of-a-kind
shops.”
Her friend, Joe, explained that he
liked the unique one-of-a-kind shops
in Hillsdale and was going to the
bakery shortly.
“I’d love to see more cafes and
brewpubs and places to sit outside in
summer,” Joe suggested.
“Wouldn’t it be cool to add a second
floor [to the strip mall side]?” offered
one employee.
“This area could be a great place for
an early sixties retro look,” replied
another.
When asked if they had seen any
changes since the Main Street pro-
gram had taken affect, most had only
noticed new trees and shrubbery.
There are the new, large planters,
the red and white lamppost banners,
and the new square between the bak-
ery and the market.
There is talk of a plaza or posada
being developed where currently the
parking lot is between Key Bank and
Casa Colima. Bricks will probably be
sold in the future.
When all were asked about par-
ticipating in the development of the
town center, most replied that they
were unaware of notices or unable
to attend.
“Meetings are held at times when
I have to get the kids off to school,”
exclaimed one business owner who
did know about the meetings.
Hillsdale, along with two other
communities, St. Johns and Alberta
Street, received grants from the na-
Megan Braunsten, executive director of the Hillsdale Main Street program, displays one
of the new planters along Capitol Highway. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
tional main street program in October
2010.
Megan Braunsten is coming up on
two years of coordinating Hillsdale
Main Street (HMS) after putting in
three years as the Gresham Main
Street executive director.
“Events like our recent ‘Wine About
Winter’ and the annual Paella din-
ner,” Brausten explained, “are HMS
products.”
Governed by a 13-member board,
HMS brings together the Hillsdale
Business & Professional Associa-
Office Space
For Lease
Multnomah Village.
1000 square feet above
7832 SW Capitol Hwy.
503-295-7889 or 503-880-1408.
Businesses are open
during construction.
n
e
e
r
g
goes
Additional parking is available at
Multnomah Arts Center Lower West Lot.
Ad paid for by Environmental Services, City of Portland.
WS 1318
tion, neighborhood association and
residents on a regular basis to address
five main objectives.
Design. This component focuses
on physical improvements to the
Hillsdale Town Center such as land-
scaping; the parking area up by the
liquor store; the large, red planters
along Capitol Highway; and store-
front improvement such as painting
or redesign.
“We have a variety of architects and
designers available to our business
owners,” Braunsten said.
Promotions. Co-marketing of the
holiday golden ticket program was a
joint project with sister community,
Multnomah Village. An online map-
clicks.com site features 360 degree
virtual tours and online information.
A colorful up-to-date brochure fea-
tures both retail areas.
Economic Restructuring. A busi-
ness advocate program helps busi-
nesses with marketing such as up-
grading Facebook pages and websites
as needed. Up to two hours a week is
available.
Organization. Websites, social
media, monthly meetings, colorful
posters and an electronic newsletter
are incorporated to keep everyone
linked in.
Sustainability. Helping restaurants
to compost, sustainable energy au-
dits, providing a process to recycle.
Energy lighting assistance is provided
at no cost.
Volunteers are the backbone of the
program. Approximately 70 volun-
teers work a month with at least one
event having over 200 volunteers
on hand. “We couldn’t do without
them,” said Braunsten.
But no program is without chal-
lenges. These projects tend to go
through cycles. With many of the
original volunteers burnt out, “frien-
draising” is the art of getting new
blood and, along with it, new ideas.
Plans are underway to network
with Wilson High School, connect
with the Key Club, and aid each
other with fundraising needs. If you
are interested in volunteering please
call 503-896-9211, email volunterr@
hillsdalemainstreet.org or visit www.
hillsdalemainstreet.org.