Streets That Keep A City Honest (22. August 2006, 07:34 by Derek Young) ~ Changing Course?
While I was reading about Portland’s eye toward Tacoma (or at least one writer’s eye toward us), I came across another story that may be of interest to you. In it the writer talks about Portland’s 82nd Avenue.
I’ll admit it’s not beautiful. It doesn’t have the hottest clubs or gallery-hopping First Thursday crowds. But 82nd Avenue from Sandy Boulevard south to the Clackamas County line does things no city can do without.
First, the street reminds us that our economy still requires things. Words and ideas may be the stock in trade of college professors and the creative class, but cities need places to find used travel trailers, scout out discount appliances and hunt down new sound systems installed in beat-up Toyotas.
A couple of years ago I bought a small pickup. I wanted to cover the cargo bed so my 12-year-old golden retriever could stay dry when we drove around on errands or headed up to Mount Hood. My Yellow Pages list four firms on 82nd Avenue that fabricate and install pickup canopies, including Canopy Corner and Canopies Unlimited, and two more within shouting distance.
Every city needs a place for its own version of Canopy Corner…
As I read this I think of places like South Tacoma Way and parts of Pacific Avenue – places that many of us eye as great next steps for redevelopment, refurbishment, and revitalization. Maybe they are what they are for a reason and they keep us honest as a city.
Plus, maybe this is the heart of change for our city. In both the Portland and Tacoma examples, these streets are the primary roads through many of our immigrant communities. As these communities have kids and grow, it changes the demographic profile of the city and the potential voting future of the city. In Portland this has created more conservative enclaves in an otherwise liberal city. What does it mean for Tacoma?
While we think of downtown Tacoma as our future, it may be that places like South Tacoma Way will truly be our future. Population density. Basic services and new retail stores. Cheap office space for new businesses. Maybe I’m watching the wrong part of town in trying to understand where we’re going. Maybe I should get out more…
Link to The Oregonian
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Interesting questions, and questions I many of us 30+ yr. Tacoma residents (without such a fresh, optimistic view) no longer bother asking. You’re right-on that these roads (and corresponding streetcar lines) historically connected various immigrant communities. Heck, not too long ago, lower Portland Avenue used to be the Polish neighborhood. Sts. Peter & Paul Parish remains one of the few nationality-based churches, & the Polish National Alliance is still located nearby. Many outlying neighborhoods were distinct communities, such as Bismarck (became Hillsdale after WWI) at 64th & McKinley, and Community, at the end of the M-Street line. (Why the Community Tavern & the old Community Theater ;-) were named that.) South Tacoma was home to many fraternal organizations, further evidence that community once existed. But the return to downtown was such a long wait. I’m pessimistic and old enough to doubt this goodness will happen in my lifetime. Hope I’m wrong.
(Sorry for babbling – but struck a chord.)
1 | Posted by Dave L.(1) | Aug 22, 09:47 AM
I think that having good mass transit connecting these places, i.e. streetcar, would be a great way to help foster these active immigrant/commerical industrial communities.
I love hanging out in the hispanic neighborhood of Pacific Ave near 56th St. I think we just need to highlight the uniqueness of these places, make them more walking friendly, and make them accessable.
2 | Posted by Andrew | Aug 22, 11:53 AM
“I love hanging out in the hispanic neighborhood of Pacific Ave near 56th St.”
I can relate. I thoroughly relished mingling with Tacoma’s Asian community on Saturday at the Asian American Water Festival.
The sheer volume was astounding. People were parking up on Pacific Avenue and also walking from the far end of Dock Street. From every Asian background imaginable. Vietnam, China, Laos, Cambodia…There were a handful of whites and blacks around, and the rest appeared to be of Asian descent.
They hosted a talent contest, a la Tacoma Idol…dragon boat races with athletes whose prowess could rival any NFL star…and authentic Asian food of every flavor and variety.
People were kind to me, the Caucasian minority. I thought they’d be annoyed with my rambunctious 70 lb. Lab mix, instead they came up to take photos with him!
I want to see these people more often. I want to remember that I live in a community that is rich with diversity – from the hispanic neighborhood of Pacific Ave near 56th – to the African American influences of Hilltop – to this amazing Asian community.
It may be great idea to create interesting public and private places in the city center, but if access to these spaces is limited to the people who can afford the new developments down there, there may actually just be a reclamation in progress.
I agree with you Andrew on the transporation issue and had an interesting (online) conversation with Jamie (from thriceallamerican) this afternoon about the streetcar project. We need to connect all the dots but at the same time, figure out how to do it in a meaningful way.
4 | Posted by sparkrobot | Aug 22, 10:46 PM
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