"St Johns and the Streetcar"
Leaf Nielson
As a new resident to the beautiful city of Portland, and more specifically, to the neighborhood of St. Johns, I would like to express my gratitude. I have lived in rural Oregon for the entirety of my adult life, and moving to Portland has been a cultural and exciting change. This brings me to my first point.
The character of Portland’s unique neighborhoods is what makes this city so special. It’s this culture that makes Portland “The Best European City in America.” This was summed up in your goal regarding non- auto transportation. This is interesting, because the Lombard slip, which is threatened by new urban development, is ideally set up for a street car, like the one that used to run in St. Johns.
The Lombard slip hugs Ivy Island, which is the focal point of this letter, and also many other things. For instance, it was created as a barrier, to separate the congested truck traffic from the commercial district. It was also used to identify the neighborhood from the rest of north Portland; “Welcome to Historic St. Johns” the sign reads.
Not only is Ivy Island the gateway to St. Johns, it is also a symbol of community accomplishment. The neighborhood got together to clean up the green space and create what is there today. It is a landmark. It is an important part of our neighborhood, and I am asking you, please, help us save Ivy Island.
As a community member I am well aware of the need for urban expansion. This city is growing exponentially, and it only makes sense to adapt to those changes. That being said, we must compromise with the metro expansion, and preserve what makes this neighborhood unique and iconic. Choosing not to vacate Ivy Island is a perfect example of this. The condo goes up, but we keep our gateway.
The issues revolving around urban expansion are many, but this is just one. This is just one piece of the neighborhood, which defines the character and identity of our city. We cannot forget where we came from. We cannot let our culture become a ghost among red brick development. Thank you for your consideration.
Leaf Nielson
As a new resident to the beautiful city of Portland, and more specifically, to the neighborhood of St. Johns, I would like to express my gratitude. I have lived in rural Oregon for the entirety of my adult life, and moving to Portland has been a cultural and exciting change. This brings me to my first point.
The character of Portland’s unique neighborhoods is what makes this city so special. It’s this culture that makes Portland “The Best European City in America.” This was summed up in your goal regarding non- auto transportation. This is interesting, because the Lombard slip, which is threatened by new urban development, is ideally set up for a street car, like the one that used to run in St. Johns.
The Lombard slip hugs Ivy Island, which is the focal point of this letter, and also many other things. For instance, it was created as a barrier, to separate the congested truck traffic from the commercial district. It was also used to identify the neighborhood from the rest of north Portland; “Welcome to Historic St. Johns” the sign reads.
Not only is Ivy Island the gateway to St. Johns, it is also a symbol of community accomplishment. The neighborhood got together to clean up the green space and create what is there today. It is a landmark. It is an important part of our neighborhood, and I am asking you, please, help us save Ivy Island.
As a community member I am well aware of the need for urban expansion. This city is growing exponentially, and it only makes sense to adapt to those changes. That being said, we must compromise with the metro expansion, and preserve what makes this neighborhood unique and iconic. Choosing not to vacate Ivy Island is a perfect example of this. The condo goes up, but we keep our gateway.
The issues revolving around urban expansion are many, but this is just one. This is just one piece of the neighborhood, which defines the character and identity of our city. We cannot forget where we came from. We cannot let our culture become a ghost among red brick development. Thank you for your consideration.