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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2017)
Page 4 June 21, 2017 by Pinched Development c ontinued froM f ront 5010 NE 9th Ave Portland, Or 97211 Phone: 503 284-2989 We specialize in a variety of cuts for men and women, hot towel razor shaves, braiding, hair extension, Shampoo, blow dryer and Platinum fade. Call Today or Walk in !!! Avalon Flowers 520 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204 • 503-796-9250 A full service flower experience Cori Stewart-- Owner, Operator • Birthdays • Anniversaries • Funerals • Weddings Open: Mon.-Fri. 7:30am til 5:30pm Saturday 9am til 2pm. Website: avalonflowerspdx.com email: avalonflowers@msn.com We Offer Wire Services building right up to the proper- ty line, which is compelling the Brames to move the meter. Due to regulations imposed by Pacific Power, the Brames must also re- wire their entire building to meet current industrial and commer- cial standards. The current wiring dates back to the 1940s. “It’s considered industrial,” ex- plained Rickey Brame, who has nearly three decades of experience working as a professional electri- cian, “which means we’ve got to have sprinkler systems and every- thing. It’s not just moving the me- ters, it snowballs.” Brian Alfrey, who co-owns the adjacent development site at 533 N.E. Killingsworth along with his business partner Mike Gad- berry, says that he is just trying to breathe new life into an underuti- lized piece of land. “It was a dilapidated old lock- smith building. The roof was fall- ing in, and it was just terrible,” said Alfrey. “We bought it, and we wanted to do something better for the neighborhood.” Alfrey and Gadberry also own the Radio Room, a popular bar and restaurant on Northeast Al- berta Street that is situated inside a repurposed gas station. Rickey Brame says that he isn’t opposed to the new development for the neighborhood, but is feel- ing forced out by the project. “We welcomed them at first, when we got the notice from the city,” he said. “We were tired of looking at that eye-sore too!” Alfrey, who is himself a na- tive of northeast Portland, says that he is simply trying to create a space that will help to preserve the historic characteristics of the Killingsworth business corridor, which Rickey and Herman Brame describe as “the soul of the city.” “We opted not to do a $2,000-a-month apartment com- plex,” Alfrey says, “but to do something that’s a little truer to the neighborhood.” Alfrey and Gadberry offered $10,000 to help cover the cost of moving the meter; Rickey Brame, however, says that the cost of re- wiring the entire structure would be substantially higher. The Brames say that while some space between construction projects and property lines are re- quired in residential areas, there are no such requirements in com- mercial zones. Ross Caron, public information officer for the Portland Bureau of Development Services, says city regulators are aware of the situa- tion involving the Brame’s build- ing. He explained that Pacific Power, and not the city, is compel- ling them to rewire the structure. Pacific Power could not be im- mediately reached for comment. The Brames add that while they understand that the developers are observing current regulations, say City Hall isn’t going far enough to protect existing landowners and minority business owners from new developments. “No matter what the code says,” said Herman Brame, “the code is wrong.” Pointing to already-gentrified neighborhoods like Mississippi and Alberta, the Brames say that the burden placed on them is an- other obstacle to staying put in parts of the city that are rapidly changing. “I have a minimum of 5 em- ployees here,” said Rickey Brame. “These are minority workers try- ing to stay in our own neighbor- hood.” Herman Brame says that city leaders are ignoring the plight of black residents and business own- ers who are being forced out of inner Portland. “You can cite codes and email back and forth, but that doesn’t get anything done,” he says. “At some point, they need to get out and walk around and see what’s actually going on.” Herman Brame penned a letter to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler asking him to review his family’s case, and learn more about how Portland residents are being af- fected by the city’s zoning rules. “We hope that they can review their code, and take this into con- sideration,” Herman Brame said. For now, the Brames are pre- paring to shut down the barber- shop as the new construction is ready to begin. He is hoping, how- ever, that a salon that’s attached to the barbershop can remain in op- eration for the foreseeable future. The salon is run by his daughter, who is the fourth generation of the Brame family to be successful in the beauty industry. “The barbershop is going to be cut off,” Rickey Brame says. “We’re going to be shut down. We’ve got no choice.” The barbershop is scheduled to have its power cut on Friday, June 23. “We will survive. We own this land,” Rickey Brame said, adding, “But this could have us shut down three years.” Showdogs is a full service salon. We do baths, all over hair cuts, tooth brush- ing, nail trims, soft claws, flea treatments, mud baths, and ear cleaning. We also have health care and grooming products to keep your pet clean in between visits. Show Dogs Grooming Salon & Boutique 926 N. Lombard Portland, OR 97217 503-283-1177 Tuesday-Saturday 9am-7pm Monday 10am-4pm Yo dawg is gonna look like a show dawg and your kitty will be pretty. Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com
