Neighborhood Notes

This story about the proposed Uwajimaya project coincides nicely with the presentation today by Uwajimaya and Sockeye Development to the Old Town/Chinatown Visions Committee.  What's interesting to note is the interest this proposal is generating interest from nearby property owners to redevelop their properties.  Empty storefronts in the neighboring blocks would fill up relatively soon.  That's why this project is important.

The area still has its problems; drug trafficking is mentioned in the story.  But a business that would create a huge amount of foot traffic, and bring in more stores to the area would help drive the drug trafficking out.  You put that many eyes on the street and change will happen.  

From the Portland Tribune:

Howard Weiner is looking to move. The owner of Cal Skate Skateboards, on Northwest Sixth Avenue in Old Town, already has his eye on a new spot, the corner shop at Northwest Fifth Avenue and Davis Street, just a block away.

But that one block may eventually represent a considerable difference in potential retail trade, Weiner said Tuesday. In fact, Fifth Avenue might soon run along one side of the project that could finally propel redevelopment of the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood.

On Wednesday morning, Doug Obletz, manager of Sockeye Development LLC, will join officials of Uwajimaya Inc., the Seattle Asian supermarket chain, to make a presentation before The Old Town/Chinatown Visions Committee on plans for what the city calls Block 33, currently home to a surface parking lot bounded by Northwest Fourth and Fifth avenues and Couch and Davis streets.

The Old Town/Chinatown Visions Committee meeting is at 11:30 a.m. at Central City Concern, 232 N.W. Sixth Ave. It is open to the public.

Read the full story.