Author Archives: Nick Falbo

Something Better than Bike Lanes for Foster?

  By Nick Falbo | 17 June, 2013 - 9:01 am |
23 Comments

The Foster Road Streetscape Plan is almost done. The City has shown their official options and in a few months the vision of the New Foster Road, whatever it looks like, will be adopted by City Council.

But people won’t stop talking about the bike lanes.

BikePortland.org, the premier forum for bicycling issues in this city, has raised the topic a couple of times in the last few weeks and each post is filled with 100+ comments of discussion. The BTA has identified Foster as a potential world-class bicycling corridor, and the official City of Portland Bike Advisory Committee has expressed disappointment that regular bike lanes are the only bikeway on the table for the new design.

The Official Bike Lane Proposal:

RegularBike Lanes

Disclaimer: The decision between 4 and 3 lanes has not yet been made. The City held an open house in June to hear from the neighbors, and the ultimate call will only be made once that information is available.  

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TOMORROW – Your Last, Best Chance to Shape Your Neighborhood

  By Nick Falbo | 3 June, 2013 - 8:00 am |
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The City of Portland is hosting a SUPER OPEN HOUSE tomorrow night to share and gather information about two major plans going on along Foster Road. We know these are kind of boring, and we know you have other things you’d rather do, but if one day you look out your window and see stuff you didn’t like, don’t tell us we didn’t warn you.

Here’s a sneak peak of what you’ll talk about: (more…)

Kickstart the Neighborhood and Your Farmers Market

  By Nick Falbo | 28 May, 2013 - 10:47 am |
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Over the years, neighbors in the Foster area have come together to show what can get accomplished if we all chip in. Social fundraising and organizing platforms such as Kickstarter or Fundly provide a platform for people with more ideas than money to make a pitch to get “investors” on board.

So far, the Foster hoods have made an admirable try at these opportunities. Check out some great examples of neighbors coming together, pitching in a few bucks, and making great things happen. (more…)

Could Your Alley Be This Awesome?

  By Nick Falbo | 15 May, 2013 - 7:27 am |
1 Comment

AA_onBlackFor the last few months, PSU grad students have been working hand-in-hand with Foster area neighbors in Lents, Mt. Scott-Arleta and Foster-Powell to learn about the struggles and benefits of living next to an alleyway. They’ve gathered your stories, concerns and ideas, and explored what opportunities existed to build on the strengths and overcome the problems. What they’ve come up with might knock your socks off. Check out some of the ‘visions’ they’ve created as inspiration: (more…)

Do you have ideas for the neighborhood? Foster Green wants to hear about it.

  By Nick Falbo | 8 May, 2013 - 11:10 am |
2 Comments

Have you ever had an idea for a local project you’d like to see? Maybe a mural? maybe a community garden, maybe a community event?

Foster Green wants to hear about your ideas, and help you bring them to reality. All you have to do is share your idea with the Foster Green EcoDistrict Steering Committee to get the discussion rolling.

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Examples of community projects supported by the EcoDistrict include the redesign of Laurelwood Park, and the Alley Allies alley improvement project.

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Sunday Parkways Comes to Foster

  By Nick Falbo | 7 May, 2013 - 7:33 am |
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sundayEvery year for the last 3 years, Portland has done something crazy: they open a loop of streets  for everyone in the neighborhoods to enjoy. This Sunday (Mothers Day!) is the first one of the 2013 season, and it’s in our neck of the woods.

For this one day from 11 am – 4 pm, car access is blocked or controlled along the route, and the full street is available for neighbors to roll, walk, skate, bike and jog. The Loop goes from park to park on quiet streets and bikeways called Neighborhood Greenways.  The east Portland loop is takes advantage of the awesome Springwater Corridor for about 1/4 of the route. Each park is filled with activities, vendors, food, and information. (more…)

The Rise of 82nd Avenue

  By Nick Falbo | 1 May, 2013 - 7:36 am |
1 Comment

Advocates and neighbors are gearing up to talk about 82nd avenue this Saturday, and if you live with/love/hate all that is 82nd, you should think about coming. The 82nd Community Forum will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in the Madison High School cafeteria, 2735 N.E. 82nd Ave. It’s free and open to the public but registration is required due to space constraints.

82ndStreet (more…)

Alleys, Parks, and You – Community Events this week.

  By Nick Falbo | 22 April, 2013 - 8:04 am |
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Our neighborhoods are always changing, and two community-oriented events this week are examples of that change. As neighbors we can watch it happen around us, or we can take charge and help put our own fingerprints on the place we call home.

If you haven’t been to one of these events, they’re pretty low key and casual. Swing on by and take a look. (more…)

WWYLTS?

  By Nick Falbo | 15 April, 2013 - 8:26 am |
3 Comments

IconWhat Would You Like To See?

Have you ever looked at the empty lots around the neighborhood and had a brilliant idea for what it could be used for? Finally someone who can do something about it wants to hear your ideas.

The PDC has control of many empty lots on their hands, such as 72nd & Foster, and a handful of sites in the Lents Town Center, near 92nd & Foster. While the PDC has got big plans and bold visions for most parcels, some sites are just awaiting a creative spark to figure out how to best use them today. (more…)

Better Bus Stops for Lents

  By Nick Falbo | 3 April, 2013 - 6:15 am |
8 Comments

I ride the #14 bus a lot. I’m on one of the “end of the line” stops on Foster, and after cruising through inner SE portland you can’t but see the stark contrast in the need and conditions of our built environment.

Screen shot 2013-04-02 at 5.59.35 AMThe Bus stop at 82nd & Foster pictured here,  is one of the highest volume stops on the #14, and it is also one of the ugliest, and potentially dangerous stops on the whole street. Further east on Foster, the stop at 85th pinches neighbors between a chain link fence on one side, and fast moving traffic on the other. There is no bench here, because there is physically no room. (more…)

Money for Foster, if We Fight For It

  By Nick Falbo | 20 March, 2013 - 8:40 am |
6 Comments

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) wants to give us money, but the competition is tough. Their current round of state transportation project funding has identified three projects directly relevant to our Foster neighborhoods, and we’re only going to stand out from the many other projects on the list if we can make our voice heard. That’s where you come in.

Below the project descriptions on this page are three forms, one for each Foster-area project. Please consider filling your contact information and letting ODOT know your interest in seeing one (or all) of these projects funded. (more…)