West Gresham

Community-based urban living in West Gresham's Rockwood triangle. Click to enlarge

Sustainable Cities Year project redefines Rockwood potential. Proximity to Portland and MAX huge factors.

"Rockwood Boulevard combines social and community goals to transform an isolated and distressed site into a vibrant neighborhood. At the heart of the six arce site is a street lined with local business creating an atmosphere bursting with activity and unique flavor."

Six new designs for Rockwood

University of Oregon graduate students involved in the year-long Sustainable Cities Year program presented six new designs for the Rockwood triangle to an enthusiastic audience at the Gresham Redevelopment Commission (GRC) meeting on Dec 9, 2009. The crowd, which divided into three groups for two presentations and a short Q&A every 20 minutes, liked what they saw.

"Community-based urban living supported by a micro economy of local business" dominated the design themes. Students cited the close proximity to downtown Portland and the importance of the adjacent MAX Blue Line as huge factors in their designs, saying Rockwood is positioned to become a vital and thriving area in West Gresham.

Kick-off your Holiday Season! Park Place Coffee's $5 Jewelry Sale & Open House Sunday, Dec 13th 3-7PM

When: Sunday, Dec 13, 2009 3PM-7PM
Where: Park Place Coffee
1288 SE 182nd Ave (next to Vance Park)
Gresham, Or
Get Map!

Join the fun!

Stop by Park Place Coffee for some hot chocolate & cookies, and a visit.

Also, it's a great chance to pick-up some jewelry at a great price!

Stocking Stuffer Sale

$5 Jewelry & Accessories for Christmas Gifts. (cash sales only)

Perfect time to find stocking stuffers or inexpensive gifts for all!

Also, mention this notice and get $1.00 off food items.

Coco, cookies & music!

"We will be serving hot chocolate and cookies, playing Christmas music and gearing-up for the holidays! (Beer and wine available)

Seko Worldwide, Portland office Click to enlarge

Incentives greatly reduce system cost. Solar expected to provide 80% of the company's power need.

Solar brightens local business

Another local business has commited itself to GREEN by installing rooftop solar panels at its new 33,000 square foot facility in the Wilkes East area.

The Portland office of SEKO Worldwide, a personalized global freight transportation and logistics provider, is installing a 31Kw 'grid-tie' solar system in an efforts to increase its energy independence. The 143 panel photovoltaic (PV) system will supply about 80% of the company's lighting, heating, and air conditioning power needs when it becomes operational this December.

Owens Corning, Gresham plant Click to enlarge

100% Green Energy Use. Gresham facility demonstrates its commitment to sustainabilty.

Gresham Strikes Gold

Owens Corning's Gresham Oregon facility celebrated a golden achievement this Fall by receiving the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for new construction from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) (www.usgbc.org).

The LEED award recognizes superior achievement in design, construction and operation of green buildings. Owens Corning's Gresham plant is the only LEED Gold-certified insulation facility in the United States and one of approximately 203 industrial facilities in the U.S. that have been awarded LEED certification. The Gresham plant began operating in July 2009.

During a ceremony at the plant to celebrate the honor, Karel Czanderna, president of the building materials group, said, "Owens Corning is carrying out our commitment to sustainability today by focusing on three areas: greening our products, greening our operations and accelerating energy efficiency improvements in the built environment. This facility reflects all three components of that approach."

County commissioners approve scaled-down facility, Finding funding for the multi-million dollar project still an issue

Source: The Gresham Outlook, Thursday Oct 1, 2009
By Mara Stine

Rockwood might get their courthouse afterall

By a unanimous vote, Multnomah County commissioners approved moving forward with a plan for a new courthouse in Gresham’s Rockwood area Thursday, Oct. 1.

If built – and it is still an if as the county has yet to approve funding for the $17 million to $21 million project – the courthouse will replace Gresham’s old, single courtroom facility on Powell Boulevard. Get Map!

Because so many citizens signed up to testify – all in favor of the project – the 90-minute hearing ran over and two of the five commissioners had to leave for scheduled engagements before voting. But commissioners Jeff Cogen and Deborah Kafoury voiced support for the resolution before leaving.

Zimmerman House 1874

Tours & Open House Zimmerman Heritage Farm Sat Oct 17th 10AM - 3PM

When: Saturday Oct 17, 2009 10AM- 3PM
Where: Zimmerman Park
17111 NE Sandy Blvd
Gresham OR
Get Map!

A delightful 1874 Victorian farmhouse

Take a step back into history at the Zimmermann House, a Victorian era farmhouse, built in 1874 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This beautiful farmhouse is a perfect reflection of typical Columbia River dairy farm life in the late 1800s. The Zimmerman Heritage Farm is a unique cultural education and recreational resource that is being created for the benefit of the public on a 5.98-acre historic site in Gresham, Oregon. Open house and tours are available every third Saturday. Don't miss this unique opportunity to step back in time!

Nadaka Nature Park. Click to enlarge

Volunteer opportunities at Nadaka Nature Park Get your Green on! Join us in restoring this beautiful urban habitat.

Quiz?

• When was the last time you visited Nadaka Nature Park?
• Do you know Nadaka is located in the Wilkes East neighborhood?
• Did you know there is a Friends of Nadaka group working to improve Nadaka?
• Do you want to volunteer time - even 1 or 2 hours per month for Nadaka?

Answers

The entrance to Nadaka Nature Park is located at NE 175th Ave & NE Pacific St. Parking is curbside. Get Map!

Volunteer opportunities for Nadaka Nature Park include:

• Organizing monthly cleanups
• Removal of invasive plants
• Planting native plants & trees
• Removing graffiti
• Writing a history of Nadaka Nature Park
• Reaching out to organizations, businesses, churches, schools, etc. to become partners for improvements in Nadaka
• Fulfilling Metro's Nature in Neighborhood grant which includes:
  • A new bench
  • Dog waste stations
  • Trash can
  • Purchase of native plants & trees, etc.
  • Expansion of Nadaka Nature Park onto the recently acquired Nelson property for a community garden, orchard, nature based play area, etc.
• Art project on North fence
• Handling registration at cleanups
• Furnishing baked goods or drinks for volunteers
• Donating funds for projects at Nadaka.

Join the effort!

Volunteers are critical for accomplishing these tasks. Volunteer time is also required for fulfilling grants. As you can see there are many tasks to choose from -- so volunteer for one, two, or more, and join our effort! Together we can make a difference!

Columbia View Park. Click to enlarge

Gresham parks languish as funds dry up. Neighbors pitch-in to care for Columbia View Park.

Gresham $32 million behind in park maintenance

Because of lack of funds the City's Parks Department has only been able to mow the perimeter of Columbia View Park (See 'Related Content' below. Editor). Columbia View Park is located at NE 169th & NE Pacific Dr. Get Map!

Neighbors pitch-in

Neighbors who frequent the park have been picking up litter, mowing areas the City isn't, mulching around new trees, hauling debris to disposal stations and watering young trees that have been planted in the last couple of years. A big THANK YOU to these many volunteers.

How you can help

Some ivy is beginning to appear under the tree canopy areas and this needs to be removed before it spreads to the trees. This is something anyone can do anytime on their own. It is a good project to take your children to the park, teach them to identify ivy and remove it. This activity can be as simple as taking one grocery bag, filling it with ivy, taking it home and disposing of it.

Click to enlarge

Get your Green on! Join us for Invasives removal at Nadaka Nature Park

solv.org

Help restore our urban habitat

When: Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 9AM-2:30PM
Where: Nadaka Nature Park
NE 175th Ave & NE Pacific St
Gresham, Or
Get Map!

Volunteers will meet at the entry gate into Nadaka Nature Park.

Event Info

Be prepared to get a little dirty and to have fun by supporting and volunteering with Friends of Nadaka and Wilkes East Neighborhood Association in their efforts to restore this natural area by removing invasive underbrush such as ivy, holly & blackberries Saturday, October 10th,

This is a SOLV Clean & Green Project. Rain or shine! Come by and give us a hand. Spend all day or whatever time you can. Bring your own gloves if you have them.

Refreshments will be provided by Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. Cloth tote bags given to volunteers and a raffle for an original framed photograph of Nadaka.

Volunteers paint the plaza Click to enlarge

Splashes of Color mark a new beginning! Plaza del Sol comes to the Rockwood Cultural Marketplace

Rockwood, Sep 19, 2009
When Rockwood coverage happens its commonly due to negative events. So, we felt it was very important to share an amazing community building event that took place today in Rockwood.

Welcome Rockwood's Plaza Del Sol painting!

Plaza del Sol is one of several new interim uses being sited by the Gresham Redevelopment Commission on the Cultural Marketplace (former Fred Meyer store) property in Rockwood at SE 187th & SE Stark St. Get Map!

The plaza is the first piece of a recently approved interim use plan for the Rockwood Cultural Marketplace to transform the site with new sidewalks, paths, benches, a wildflower garden, play area, basketball courts, a food-cart area, and many other family friendly activities.

Using supplies donated by Parr Lumber and Miller Paint, volunteers worked throughout the day to paint the huge 13,000-square-foot “Plaza del Sol,” a colorful scale model of the solar system on the Southeast corner of the site.