Portland observer., November 28, 2012, Page 5, Image 5

November 28, 2012___________________________ _ 3' ,ÎC
© H setU C t_________ _________________ Page5
A vacant property in the Lents Neighborhood o f southeast Portland is slated to become the future home for a Latino community marketplace, thanks to a economic
development grant by the U.S. Dept. o f Health and Human Services.
Community Market Envisioned
Southeast Lents
neighborhood
site has backers
L ee P erlman
T he P ortland O bserver
by
There are still a few steps to over­
come before there is a Latino-themed
community market in the Lents
neighborhood of southeast Port­
land, but a local advocacy group
has taken a giant step toward that
goal.
The non-profit Hacienda Com­
munity Development Corporation
was awarded a $789,000federal grant
last month to create a Mercado, a
Latino-themed market with multiple
food and non-food vendors at 7238
S.E. Foster Road, a vacant property
owned by the Portland Develop­
ment Commission.
The monies from the Community
Economic Development office of the
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human
Services will need to be supple­
mented with additional fundraising
to make the project feasible, accord­
ing to Nathan Teske, director of
Community Economic Development
for Hacienda.
In several respects, developing a
retail center for the Latino commu­
nity is new territory for Hacienda.
The non-profit started as an afford­
able housing provider, first buying
up and refurbishing existing hous­ for the venture.
perhaps a cooperative or a vendor
Teske warns, however, that there
ing complexes and later building
As to how the market would be association.”
is still a funding gap, but he and
new ones.
financially structured, Teske says,
Another supporter of the project Hacienda are confident that they
Teske says that Hacienda’s out­ “That’s still being worked out. There comes from a $40,000 gift from J.P. can open in 2014.
reach had determined that such a will be some sort of collective entity, Morgan Chase.
facility is essential for the success
of many would-be Latino entrepre­
neurs. “It’s a big step for us,” he
says.
The proposed site is also new
territory physically. So far most of
Hacienda’s operations have been
in northeast Portland’s Cully neigh­
borhood.
Truly making a difference in the lives of
“We spent a year and a half look­
Auto Accident victims and Injured Workers for nearly 20 years.
ing for a suitable site,” Teske told
If you or someone you know has been in an accident,
the Portland Observer. “Most of the
properties we looked at weren’t
call us so we can help you with your needs. (503) 284-7838
available for the project. To meet the
grant application deadline, we had
We are located on the
to have an agreement with some­
com er o f MLK and Russell
one.” A market survey “suggests
that within an eight minute drive of
Street, on the second floor
this site, 20 percent of the popula­
above the coffee shop.
tion is Latino.”
Teske says that Hacienda already
has identified 25 potential busi­
nesses for the Mercado; they in­
clude flower sellers, jewelers, party
C
H
supply dealers and an insurance
I
Parkm« Arc»
broker, in addition to food opera­
R
O
JU N E
tions. They will operate both inside
r
3
Russell
R
and outside a 5,700 square foot
*200
A
c-
building.
C
r
Hacienda, with the assistance of
I
realtor Michelle Reeves, will be
Russell St.
“vetting” potential entrepreneurs
s
as to their suitability and viability
Chiropractic Auto Injury Clinic, PC
Zchon R. Jones, DC
333 NE Russell St., #200, Portland, OR. 97212
(503) 284-7838