Next meeting: Wed., April 5th
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How do YOU want to influence the City of Portland?

Dear Portland Friends, Colleagues & Community Organizations,

The last time the City of Portland created a fresh community engagement framework was 1974. Nearly 50 years later, Portland’s population has doubled and faces livability, safety, and affordability concerns. 

The Office of Community & Civic Life’s Portland Engagement Project (PEP) is the opportunity for all Portlanders to help evolve our city’s engagement model to solve issues today and into the future. 

The first step of this project is listening—YOU are the most valuable part of this project, and we want to hear your ideas!

From now until April 30, our independent consultant Pregame is hosting virtual listening sessions across Portland to hear from as many Portlanders as we can. If you are unable to make a listening session, you can host your own with our DIY Kit or complete an online survey (find out more below).

In closing, I would like to extend a big thank you to all of the district offices who contributed to designing this listening project with Pregame. We hope to see you at a listening session!

Kind Regards, 
T.J. McHugh
Acting Director, Office of Community & Civic Life

Sign up for a listening session!

Friday, March 24, 12:00PM – 1:00PM
All Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!

Monday, March 27, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
SW Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!

Monday, April 3, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
North Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!

Tuesday, April 4, 4:30PM – 5:30PM
Lideres Verde Listening Session
Sign up here!

Tuesday, April 4, 6:30PM – 7:30PM
East Portlanders Listening Session hosted by Wilkes Community Group
Sign up here!

Wednesday, April 5, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
All Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!

Monday, April 10, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
NE Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!

Wednesday, April 12, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
All Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!

Saturday, April 15, 12:00PM – 1:00PM
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods Listening Session
Sign up here!

Wednesday, April 19, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
All Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!

Friday, April 21, 12:00PM – 1:00PM
All Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!

Wednesday, April 26, 6:00PM – 7:00PM
All Portlanders Listening Session
Sign up here!


Can’t make a listening session? Lead your own!

We have created a do-it-yourself kit to help Portlanders lead and collect ideas from their community. Learn more about how to host your own listening session and download the kit here: DIY Listening Session Kit


Share your ideas through the online survey!

The survey takes less than five minutes to complete, and your response is anonymous. All the ideas gathered will be compiled after the survey closes on April 30, and then a report will be available to the public through Civic Life in July. Take the survey here!


What is the Portland Engagement Project? 

The Portland Engagement Project brings the City, community-based organizations, neighborhood associations, and individual Portlanders together to build proactive engagement structures in order to reduce social vulnerability and livability issues, restore trust, and support our communities to thrive. 

There are five main components of PEP that will help the City design an equitable engagement model to address civic issues and build stronger relationships with the community. This process brings together best practices from engagement experts and community leaders, dedicated City engagement staff, and robust demographic data from the 2020 Census and other sources to build a better system for all Portlanders.

We hope you will join us in building and engagement model that works to solve issues today and into the future!

For more information about the Portland Engagement Project, please visit the City’s website: www.portland.gov/civic/portland-engagement-project.

Neighbors Together

Hi neighbors! We hope you are keeping warm and safely enjoying the recent snowstorm. Keep reading for information on an upcoming neighborhood safety conversation, an artist popup market at Arleta Triangle Square, and how to host your event at the Square.


Neighborhood Safety

Join a Neighborhood Safety conversation sponsored by the City of Portland and the Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association.

When: March 8, 2023 at 7-8 pm
Where: 5512 SE 73rd Ave. (MS Presbyterian Church)

The event is limited to 25 participants. RSVP below to secure your spot.
Email any questions or topic suggestions to: Jacob.Brostoff@portlandoregon.gov


Pre-Spring Pop Up Market

Come to the Pre-Spring Pop Up market on March 18th and support your neighbors and local artists! The market is located at the newly-revamped ARLETA TRIANGLE SQUARE on SE Woodstock/SE 72nd. You can have a great time with your friends and family and also visit Fat Cupcake for sweets or Mt Scott Pub right across the street to grab some drinks. Don’t miss out on this fun and exciting event!

When: March 18, 2023 at 12-5 pm
Where: SE 72nd Ave & Woodstock (Arleta Triangle Square)

Host Your Event at the Triangle Square

Host your next event at the Arleta Triangle Square, a free and welcoming public space that promotes sustainability, cultivates community, and provides safety for the neighborhood. Whether it’s a community gathering, a birthday party, or a get-together with friends, the Arleta Triangle Square is the perfect outdoor venue. Come create, gather, and meet at the Triangle Square. Reserve the space with an email to the neighborhood association with details and enjoy the benefits of an inclusive and versatile public space. See you at the Triangle Square!


To find information on monthly board meetings and how to request time on the agenda, visit the meetings page.

Have you noticed missing traffic signs, graffiti, trash, potholes, or other safety concerns? You can report them by using the PDX Reporter App or by calling 3-1-1.

PDX Reporter App
PDX 311 | Portland.gov

Portland Bureau of Transportation crews work 24/7 keeping snow and ice routes clear. Here are tips for taking transit, walking, biking, or driving in severe weather.

GET HOME SAFE: Severe Weather Travel Tips | Portland.gov

Multnomah County severe weather tips: Keep warm. Avoid traffic. Help your neighbor. Volunteer. Tips and resources for how to stay healthy and have fun during the winter months.

Care for When It’s Cold | Multnomah County (multco.us)

Upcoming Projects in the Neighborhood

Lower SE Rising Area Plan

The Lower SE Rising Area Plan, led by Bureau of Planning & Sustainability and the Bureau of Transportation, addresses multimodal connectivity and transit access through transportation and land use changes in Brentwood-Darlington and portions of Mt. Scott-Arleta, Woodstock, and Lents. The area plan is a land use review and transportation planning effort already underway.

View the online open house and materials online. Project staff are seeking community input to guide healthy community development. Questions about the area plan? Email project leads or attend the February board meeting of Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association to provide feedback. Details are available after the link. The recommended plan goes before City Council in early 2023.

New Holgate Library in 2024

Construction for the new Holgate Library is underway. The new building will sit on the existing site, be three times larger than the current branch, and occupy 21,000 square feet. The branch will feature large play and learning spaces for children, multiple meeting rooms, dedicated teen room, updated technology and internet, outdoor plaza for community members, local representative art, rooftop solar panels and enhanced curbside features on SE Holgate. The project is anticipated to be complete in 2024.

The MSANA Board issued a letter of support for the required land use review and applauds the extensive community engagement and outreach conducted. Library guests are encouraged to visit nearby branches (Woodstock, Midland, and Belmont) during construction. Questions about library capital projects? Email libraryspaces@multcolib.org.

SE Carlton and 72nd Sewer Project

Construction on the SE Carlton and 72nd Sewer Project began this week and is anticipated to last up to four months. Work crews will begin preliminary work to install more than 600 feet of sewer pipes. Open trench excavations are necessary to replace existing pipes that in excess of 100 years old. Two new maintenance access holes on Carlton and 28 lateral pipes will be installed. Once work is complete on Carlton work crews will move onto 72nd Ave sometime in February. The project will protect the Willamette River Watershed and reduce the risk of sewer pipe leaks. Sign up for project updates. Questions about the SE Carlton and 72nd Sewer Project? Email Cheryl Kuck, Community Outreach at Environmental Services.

Mt. Scott Community Center Seismic Retrofit and Expansion

Mt. Scott Community Center will be undergoing an expansion and seismic retrofit beginning in late 2023. You may have seen the signs around Mt. Scott Park announcing the planned expansion or read about it last year. The pool and gym will remain with an improved roof and HVAC system. What’s new is an open lobby, an event hall, updated aerobic and fitness class spaces, flexible meeting rooms, new kitchen with training and instruction opportunities, technology upgrades, seismic updates, an increase in trees and vegetation, and more. The community center is scheduled to close at the end of 2023 and will reopen in 2025. Sign up for project updates and enjoy the community center while its open. Questions about the Mt. Scott Seismic Retrofit and Expansion? Email Marlo Medellin, Capital Project Manager at Portland Parks.

73Foster

The 73Foster project is a multi-unit housing development located at 7330 SE Foster that aims to provide affordable and permanent supportive housing for families and people with disabilities living on lower incomes. The project will have 22 units of Permanent Supportive Housing and 42 affordable housing units in total.

In addition to the housing units, the project will also offer a range of programming and amenities to its residents, including on-site case management services, resident services, food pantry, community room, on-site laundry rooms, courtyard seating area, lobby lounge area, and high energy efficiency for low utilities. The design of the project is also accessible to people of all abilities. Construction is anticipated to be complete in 2025. Sign up for email updates.

73Foster Neighborhood Contact Meeting

View of a proposed building on SE Foster Road. Perspective is from the middle of Foster looking south towards a 4-story building with a tree-lined 73rd Avenue visible in the background.

WHEN: December 1, 2022, 6:00PM-7:30PM – presentation begins at 6:30
WHERE: 72Foster Community Room at 5005 SE 72nd Ave. – access room via the courtyard

Reach Community Development and Holst Architecture invite you to join an open house about the upcoming 73Foster development at 7330 SE Foster Road. This building will provide 22 units of Permanent Supportive Housing and 42 affordable housing units for families and people with disabilities living on lower incomes.

Please join us to learn more and ask the design and development team questions about the project and its inclusive design goals. We are very excited about the accessibility of this project, and we look forward to engaging with our community members about it!

Masks are required. Light snacks will be provided by REACH. Please reach out with questions and comments before or after the meeting. If you required special assistance, including translation/interpretation accommodations, please let us know in advance so we can support your attendance!

MEETING CONTACT: Hannah Silver, Holst Architecture – hsilver@holstarc.com

Reach Community Development
Holst Architecture
Walsh Construction Co.

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