EarthTalk:
Wild salmon
is one of the
healthiest foods
we can eat
Food Front
brings in
national
advisors to
bolster business
– Page 7
Restaurant
Review: Gigi’s
makes the jump
from food cart to
cafe
– Page 8
– Page 4
The Southwest Portland Post
Volume No. 23 Issue No. 4
NO
PARKING
www.swportlandpost.com
Are parking problems in
Multnomah Village real or
perceived?
for accessibility, especially disabled,
injured, and elderly citizens.
Many individuals have weighed
in over the years on issues of the
Picture this scenario: parking meters
c o m m u n i t y. T h e r e h a v e b e e n
line the main streets of Multnomah
workshops on transportation needs;
Village; parking enforcement officers
forums on livability; meetings with
walk around daily with handheld
politicians; and engaging citizens; and
devices issuing tickets as needed; less
an abundance of media coverage.
and less parking spots are found due
“Here’s the thing,” declared a very
to infill, traffic calming, and additional
long-time business owner who wanted
bio-swales.
to remain nameless. “Believe it or not,
Business owners and visitors say the
there is a problem with parking which
above scenario is plausible in the not-
creates a domino effect which grates the
too-distant future. Of course anything
nerves of visitors, frustrates business
is possible when it comes to involving
owners, and produces a stress factor
the city, especially the issues that are
that, quite frankly, wasn’t there not
deep-rooted in passion and frustration.
that long ago.”
So is the parking problem in this
According to this owner, the city is
100-year-old village real or perceived?
partially to blame for the problem.
On one hand, there are the folks who
Tamara Marshall, co-owner of
support road diets – narrowing of roads
Fusion Hair Salon, reported a recent
to slow traffic and reduce accidents –
parking issue on the Multnomah
increased bicycling; accessible, frequent
Village Facebook page and it resulted
public transportation; and encouraging
in over 100 comments.
walking.
“It exasperates me,” her thread
On the other hand, there are the
began, “that my clients are circling the
folks who need access to parking
block for more than 15 minutes looking
for parking.”
“Once parked, they
usually have to move
their car before the
two-hour time limit
so no one stays to
shop.”
She relayed that
customers feel
frustrated because
they were told by the
city that they need to
move their car away
from their original
parking space since
they may get ticketed
for just moving a few
feet away.
Some comments
state that people are
spoiled. They don’t
want to walk any
longer than three
minutes.
“Not everyone can
Temporary parking signs placed by gas company NW commute any way
Natural are ignored. This photo was taken during but by car,” Marshall
working hours along Capitol Highway near 34th Avenue. responded. “What
By Erik Vidstrand
The Southwest Portland Post
Portland, Oregon
Complimentary
February 2015
about the elderly, the
disabled, even people
who may be injured? I
have clients as far away
as Ashland. What do
you tell them?”
Joe Theissen, one
of the writers on the
Multnomah Village
Facebook page
wrote, “I’ll take more
sidewalks over more
parking lots any time.
“I’m a lifelong ‘97219-
er’… and I’ve had to
deal with parking in
the Village for years.
I firmly believe that
moving toward more
parking is moving
away from what the
Village is all about.
“But honestly, I care
more about preserving
the Village than the 21st
century expectations of
convenience.”
Cash Gordon, the
manager of O’Connor’s Tamara Marshall is co-owner of Fusion Hair Salon in
Restaurant and Bar, Multnomah Village. Marshall said her customers are forced to
claims that parking move their cars out of the area after two hours or face parking
problems are hurting tickets. (Post photo by Don Snedecor)
business.
the road and sidewalk construction
“Our business has been down. I
projects began over three years ago.
feel this is mainly due to the parking
“I’ve spoken to Moses Ross (former
issues. If people can’t easily park,
chair of the Multnomah Neighborhood
they say, ‘the hell with it’ and go
Association),” Gordon continued. “He
somewhere else [to eat or drink].”
prefers a political solution.”
Gordon walks the village at least
There were other solutions suggested
twice a week scoping out the parking
including the Post’s editor, Don
situation. He notes that the lower lot
Snedecor.
at the Multnomah Center is usually
“Except for loading and unloading,”
full. According to the city, who runs
Snedecor commented, “business
the center, it’s filled with employees
owners, managers, and employees
and students.
should always long-term park at the
Nevertheless, on the Sunday before
Multnomah Center, lower lot, if they
Christmas, one of the busiest shopping
are able to.
days of the year, this reporter counted
“The Multnomah Village Business
36 empty parking spots in the lower
Association,” he continued, “should
lot while parking and traffic chaos
survey surrounding properties for
prevailed in the heart of the village.
vacant lots, church lots, etc. that could
Gordon remarked that 33 parking
be used for overflow parking and then
spots have disappeared on Multnomah
Boulevard and Capitol Highway since
(Continued on Page 6)
(Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)
Don’t forget to renew your subscription. Form on Page 2.
The Southwest Portland Post
4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509
Portland, OR 97206
A parking enforcement officer gives a ticket to a car parked illegally along Capitol Highway
next to the Multnomah Center. (Post photo by Erik Vidstrand)