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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 2002)
D ecem ber 0 4 , 2 0 0 2 ®l|e ^lortlanò (ßbseruer Page AS Empty store fronts like this one once lined Alberta Street. Now the revitalized cultural neighborhood boasts dozens of restaurants, coffee shops, botiques and galleries. Emma Gaston has lived above Joe s Place since 1978. She has seen first hand the transformation o f Alberta Street and likes what she sees, but worries that African American businesses and renters may eventually be pushed out. PHOTO BY W YNDE D y ER/T h E PORTLAND OBSERVER photo by D avid P lechl /T he P ortland O bserver ALBERTA STREET Tapestry ' continued in Transition from Front munity. Petry once thought that the busi “M oving is terrible,” she said. “I Fondren does not want to see nesses on Alberta would be ca wish I could stay here.” Alberta Street develop into another pable o f addressing the employ Jones says the dilemma is mostly Northwest 23rd. Neither do the Sis ment needs of local African Ameri a "class issue" but race ties in be ters in Action. cans, but said those businesses are cause many people of low income Jones thinks that if the course of staffed by owners too busy think are people o f color. Those people, progress isn’t checked, the demo ing about their own survival. she said, won’t be able to afford graphics along Alberta may become “Hawthorne has done it,” he said. A lberta’s rising rents and cost of very sim ilar to their neighbors “They have a few corporations and housing. across the river. they haven’t destroyed the neigh Even Fondren said houses that “I don’t want to imagine that,” borhood. Grassroots in and o f itself cost $ 130,00just a few years ago are she said. “All the people o f color - cannot be the answer, we need jobs priced at $197,000. But he is okay would be gone, here.” with the increase as long as some But Reggie Petry, an African Petry points to the success of affordable stock is still available. American owner of the Alberta Arts the New Seasons Market on North He disagrees that minority busi Pavilion, a gallery and community east 33rd Avenue. He thinks they nesses are being displaced, calling space at 2315 N.E. Alberta thinks have done a pretty good job of Alberta one o f the most diverse 23rd might not be far off, and might being good neighbors by hiring a communities in Portland. not be a bad idea after all. diverse staff. “We have African American, Petry agrees that people o f color "W hen you walk in there you Hispanic, and Korean businesses,” who live in the community should see a pretty good blend of people,” Fondren said. “The mom-and-pop have employment opportunities he said. establishments still have a chance along Alberta and that is why he Though even Petry agrees that over here.” M ---------------- once the flo o d He is con- gates are open, the c e r n e d , ideal course of de though, about velopment might outside inves be hard to manage. tors coming to “ T h e re i s n ’t Alberta to get yet a strategy that rich quick. He is in n o v a tiv e thinks their in e n o u g h to su p terests m ight port cultural in betray the inter tegrity and eco e sts o f th e nom ic d e v e lo p people that live - Camille Kent of Sisters in Action for Power ’ m ent, all at the and w ork on sam e tim e ,” he Alberta. thinks economic development that said. “Some people are coming strictly opens its doors to bigger busi Jo e ’s Place is the only black to invest,” said Fondren. “That nesses would create more jobs for ow ned tavern in O regon and has worries me a little.” African Americans in the area. been an icon on A lberta for years. Fondren said that although “M aybe outside corporations Em m a G aston has been a b ar progress can’t be stopped, hope aren’t such a bad idea,” he said. ten d er there on and o ff and has fully it can be guided with smart “Maybe a M cDonald’s or a Gap lived upstairs from the bar since growth that keeps locals employed should be given a green light to 1978. She th in k s the ch an g e on , and rents affordable. placement on Alberta Street.” A lb erta is good, but adds th at He said Sabin CDC has scooped Those businesses, he argues, re v ita liz a tio n has com e w ith a up apartm ents, houses and du are traditionally more financially price. plexes along Alberta to rehabilitate se c u re and th e re fo re b e tte r “We are one o f the only black and make more affordable to low equipped to hire greater numbers ow ned businesses still h ere,” income families. o f people. Gaston said. Fondren and others have been “I d on’t think w e’re getting a lot Shorty Gilliam lives just down adam ant about p reserving the o f employment for people of color the street from Joe’s Place and multiculturalism and down home with the businesses that are cur comes in just about everyday to flavor of the Alberta business com- rently on Alberta,” Petry said. play pool. He is taking the new look A lot o f people say revitalization is good fo r the community, but a lot o f people are being displaced by revitalization. People from higher incomes are benefiting. People from lower incomes aren’t. Dora Montgomery has been cutting hair at her small shop on Alberta for over seven years. She says the rising cost o f rent on the street is making it hard for her to stay in business. “I can't afford six or seven hundred a month for a place along Alberta. " she said. photo by D avid P lechl /TH e P ortland O bserver and changing atmosphere along Alberta all in stride. “ Its g re a t the w ay they are building up the s tre e t,” he said. revitalization. "Y ou’re not ever going to stop that,” he explained. “Everything goes up but the wages." (2fcb£H Racial & Ethnic Approaches to Community Health A program of the African American Health Coalition, Inc. 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Please receive approval from your doctor before beginning exercise class For an answer you can trust, let your credit union help! Serving all who live, work, worship or attend school All classes are free of charge! in the Portland communities o f Arbor Lodge, Boise. Bridgeton. Buckman north o f S E. Hawthorne, Cathedral Park, China Town, Concordia west o f N .E. 33"* Avenue, WILLAMETTE Federal Credit Union 2151 N.W. Front Avenue Portland, Oregon 97209 (S03) 299 4539 ■ (888) 900 8S59 www willamettefcu.com African American Health Coalition, Inc. Concordia University, Downtown Portland, East Columbia, Goose Hollow, Humboldt, Irvington west o f N.E. 17th Avenue, Kerns, King west o f N E. 24th Avenue, Laurelhurst west o f N.E. 32nd Avenue. 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