Portland Eco-districts: A Natural Future

Mike Faha, GreenWorks Principal, recently participated in an AIA panel discussing Portland Eco-districts as part of the Portland Architecture and Design Festival.

"Portland Eco-districts: A Natural Future" explored Portland's newly created Eco-districts, how they work, and what work is being done throughout the Portland region.  The discussion also explored the extent we can go to create an idealistic future plan for Portland.  The panel included Architects, Landscape Architects, and Urban Designers.

For more information about the Portland Architecture and Design Festival visit www.aiaportland.org.

Work begins on improvements to several Eastside MAX stations

October 22, 2009

Projects funded with federal stimulus dollars

TriMet is beginning work this week on the first of several stimulus-funded projects aimed at improving rider and pedestrian safety, security and convenience at Eastside MAX stations.

Crews power wash chipping paint in advance of painting the shelter roof at TriMet's E 162nd Ave MAX station. Credit: Thomas Le Ngo

TriMet is using federal stimulus funds to repaint six MAX stations, starting at the E 162nd Ave station in Gresham.

Some Eastside MAX stations have had limited refurbishments over the years and are in need of painting. Federal stimulus funds allow TriMet to paint six stations over the next six weeks, weather permitting. After 162nd Ave station, painting will occur at the E 102nd Ave, E 122nd Ave, E 181st Ave, Ruby Junction/E 197th Ave and Gresham Central stations.

Upcoming projects

TriMet is also upgrading various street and rail crossings at 11 light rail stations along Eastside MAX beginning in November. The work includes installing bollards, chains and railings to channel pedestrians to help them be more aware of train movement. Crews will also install signs or pavement markings such as "Look Both Ways," "Stop Here," and "Danger No Trespassing."

Several other stimulus projects on the eastside are in the works in the coming months:

Bike improvements

• Replacing and adding bike lockers at six stations, increasing bike locker parking from 36 bikes to 72 bikes
• Refurbishing and reopening secured bike cage at Gresham Central, holding 30 bikes
• Work scheduled to start in November

Access control and illumination

• Installation of fencing, lighting and signage to improve safety, security and fare compliance at Gresham Central MAX station
• Scheduled to start in December

Tactile paver replacement

• Replacement of damaged and worn tactile pavers that alert riders of trackway at five stations

Job retention

The contractor for station painting is Aadland Evans Contractors, Inc. Subcontractors include A2 Fabrications, Suell Painting and COAT Flagging, all of which are part of TriMet's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

Federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) have retained three jobs and prevented nine layoffs among the contractor and three subcontractors working on this project.

About TriMet stimulus funds

TriMet was awarded $53.3 million in federal stimulus funds to be used to fix failing infrastructure, make the transit system more robust and put Oregonians to work. TriMet's 31 stimulus projects are projected to fund about 740 direct jobs and 1,100 indirect jobs.

For more information visit TriMet: http://trimet.org/news/releases/oct22_morestimulus.htm

Green From the Ground Up

NEW GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP SEMINAR: SWALES, RAIN GARDENS AND THE NEW LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES HANDBOOK

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 8:30 to 11 a.m. Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus Event Center 17705 NW Springville Road, Portland $10 registration fee

The Home Builders Association (HBA) Green Building Council, Clean Water Services and Metro have brought together speakers to present a balanced perspective and complete spectrum of information on swales and rain gardens.

estacada library rain garden

Carrie Pak, engineering division manger from Clean Water Services will be introducing their new Low Impact Development Approaches (LIDA) Handbook for the Tualatin Basin. Other presenters include Paul Dedyo, PE, KPFF Engineering, Mike Faha, Landscape Architect, Green Works and Alan Hipolito, Executive Director and business manager, Verde. The presenters will share experience-based insights and lessons learned about swale and rain garden design, installation – from sizing to plant selection – and operations, maintenance, project examples and case studies.

Register online now! Find out more about this seminar Find out more about nature-friendly – or low impact – development

Join Us for PARK(ing) Day 2009

Come see the 1 day park at NW 2nd and Couch... 9am to 5pm

  GreenWorks is proud to work with Metro as they participate in the annual, one-day global PARK(ing) Day event.  More from Metro:

"Artists, activists and communities will collaborate to transform metered parking spots in cities everywhere into temporary public parks or “park(ing)” spaces. Park(ing) Day is a powerful and creative way to re-imagine the potential of our public places by demonstrating the value of parks and natural areas, rethinking the way greenspace can happen, and helping to improve the quality of urban wildlife and human habitat. This year, Metro is tapping into the creative energy and celebrated momentum of this excellent event to educate our region’s residents about The Intertwine (the ever-growing regional network of integrated parks, trails and natural areas that will one day soon be the world’s greatest system of its kind!) and its web site launch.  Come check out our space at NW 2nd and Couch (or other Intertwine locations in Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Gresham and Vancouver, Washington) and learn more…"  

:: Visit the PARK(ing) Day Network - Portland  :: View PARK(ing) Day 2009 - Portland Metro Area regionwide map here.

 

Historic Kenton Main Street to Get Makeover

On Tuesday, August 25th a crowd braved a spot of summer rain to attend a  news conference to kick off Kenton business district streetscape project.  Portland Mayor Sam Adams and representatives of the Portland Development Commission, Multnomah County Libraries, N. Denver Avenue businesses, and the Kenton Neighborhood Association were all in attendance.  Some info from the PDC media advisory:

"Lots of new changes are coming to a historic part of town as a full range of streetscape improvements begin construction on N. Denver Avenue, the main street in the Kenton neighborhood. Construction is expected to begin in early September to renovate the 4.5-block stretch of N. Denver Avenue (Interstate Avenue south to Watts Street).  Improvements include wider sidewalks, new street trees, stormwater planters, pedestrian lighting, concrete street resurfacing, a granite public art sculpture and seven carved stone benches. The $2.85 million N. Denver Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project is funded by PDC in coordination with the Portland Bureau of Transportation. The city has been working with local businesses, community representatives, and technical experts since 2006 to plan the right mix of attractive, functional improvements.

The N. Denver Avenue project exemplifies the vision of 20-minute neighborhoods called out as a key element of the city’s new economic development strategy. Related revitalization projects include Multnomah County’s remodeling of 8226 N. Denver for a new North Portland library branch;  renovation of the iconic Paul Bunyan statue at the intersection of N. Denver and Interstate Avenue; and the opening of new businesses in the district. "

Images © GreenWorks PC.  For more information about this project check out our website.  Also see these recent articles in the Portland Business Journal and the Portland Tribune.

A Hopeful Rooftop Harvest

The Multnomah County Hope Garden installed in mid-June as a GreenWorks pro-bono project with a host of other partners, continues to thrive.  On August 19th hosted a crowd to continue the harvest.  Commissioner Judy Shiprack, Sustainability Coordinator Kat West, and many others celebrated with a brief  'harvest' ceremony to celebrate the donations of time, labor, and materials from a wide range of people and local businesses.

The produce will be donated to the Oregon Food Bank to combat hunger issues in our region, and if you have surplus veggies from your garden, these can be donated to OFB through the Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign.  Over 4000 pounds of produce so far this year has been donated from local gardeners - over 50 of which came for this very productive 150 square feet of rooftop.

commissioner shiprack addresses the crowd

the bounty grows

the plaque showing donations and volunteers

Restoring Clara Vista Swales

Phase I of the work on the swale rehabilitation has been completed, and the following pics offer some views of the completed installation. For this grant-funded project, GreenWorks offers 50% of their time as a pro-bono service, working closely with Hacienda Community Development and our fabulous non-profit partner Verde to restore these stormwater facilities to their former lush and functional self.

The project, funded in part from Metro's Nature-in-Neighborhoods program, included educational aspects, where residents of all ages living in Hacienda properties were included in design decisions such as plantings, materials, and types of spaces that would be included. The result is truly community driven.

One issue with the original design was that there was an uninterrupted linear swale with meant that any diversion from the pathway would damage the hydrology of the site. In addition to the installation of new swale cells, the intermediate places in between were piped subsurface to allow for greater play and amenity area for residents. These are seen below, newly backfilled, and Phase II will import additional soil and re-seed these worn out areas with an ecolawn mix, as soon as the weather cools down.

Check out these pics of the before condition, where the majority of vegetation had been trampled, flow-dissipating rocks had been strewn above, and the water was ponding due to compaction of the soils. Quite a change.

Summer Sustainability...

GreenWorks is excited to be involved again in 2009 with the 2nd iteration of the Summer Sustainability Series program on 'Sustainability in the Built Environment.

From the Website:

"The Summer Sustainability Series offers unique professional programs based on the ground-breaking work of Oregon’s businesses, universities, not-for-profit organizations, and policy makers. We visit experts and practitioners in the field as they bring their experiences to life. Participants will join other thought leaders from a range of professions, pushing beyond the current thinking to find better solutions."

Again this year, GreenWorks Principal Jim Figurski gave an overview of the process of creating Tanner Springs Park (a collaboration between GreenWorks and Atelier Dreisietl, seen above). And Doug Shapiro of Hoyt Street Properties gave everyone the opportunity to get a birds eye view of the park atop the penthouse of the Metropolitan Condominiums. Not a bad perspective.

Day 2 Featured a presentation by Jason King, Senior Associate, giving a tour of the Multnomah County Building Green Roof (in full bloom below) and the newly planted rooftop urban agriculture demonstration, the Hope Garden.

Meet Columbia EcoVillage

This past Saturday, June 20th, the residents of the Columbia Ecovillage celebrated the grand opening of their sustainable community in Northeast Portland. The event featured "...brief presentations from the development team, architecture and contracting firms involved in the green renovation, as well as a community celebration and tours of the property and the two remaining homes."

GreenWorks provided permitting, site planning, and landscape architecture services, working with the great community members, to provide landscaping based on sustainable permaculture principles, as well as stormwater management for new buildings.

All images copyright 2009 - GreenWorks

Gardening for Hope

GreenWorks has been honored to help orchestrate the transformation of the rooftop planters on the Multnomah County Green Roof into a 'Hope Garden' ... From Multnomah County website:

"Multnomah County and the City of Portland are partnering to plant organic vegetable gardens at their respective headquarters to recognize the growing community interest in local food systems and to inspire residents to plant their own edible gardens.  “Growing food is a great way for a family to reduce food costs, spend time together, and to assist hungry families,” said Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack.   “Multnomah County recognizes that our local food system has a significant impact on the economy, health, and environment of our community,” said Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen. “And this demonstration project fits one of the county’s core missions to promote healthy people and healthy communities.”

 

Volunteers from a number of organizations and firms contributed their time and effort into making the garden a reality.  A list of donations includes:

:: GreenWorks Landscape Architects www.greenworkspc.com :: Teufel Landscape www.teufel.com :: Tremco Roofing www.tremcoroofing.com :: Anderson Roofing www.andersonroofing.net :: Phillips Soil Products www.phillipssoil.com :: HD Fowler www.hdfowler.com :: Oregon Wire www.oregonwireproducts.com :: Territorial Seeds www.territorialseed.com :: Plant Health www.planthealthllc.com :: Portland Nursery www.portlandnursery.com :: Parr Lumber www.parr.com  

Food will be cared for by the Multnomah County Green Team, and donated to local food banks via the Share your Harvest program.  The roof is publically accessible at 501 SE Hawthorne, and open during regular business hours.  Plus the view of downtown is stunning.