Neighborhood Notes

Those who live in Lents know far better than I, but it seems that the Lents URA is making headway. This article from The Oregonian gives clear indication that the town center is changing, and shows how strong demand is for local goods and services. The article describes how plans for a coffee shop grew into a full restaurant because of demand by residents. Now that restaurant has a line out the door during lunch. That's a pretty strong indicator that people will support the new businesses that will come as the town center is redeveloped.

What other changes are happening that we haven't heard about in the press?

From The Oregonian:

While it would have made for a great story, and perhaps a whole new pipeline of revenue for redevelopment, the Portland Development Commission is not, we repeat NOT, going into the strip club business.

The city's urban renewal agency did, however, buy the building that housed the 92nd Avenue Club in Lents as part of its work in this outer Southeast neighborhood. And that's just one of many developments in Lents, including a new restaurant that's tapping pent-up demand.

First, the strip club.

PDC bought all but the Chevron station on the block bounded by Southeast Woodstock and Foster and 91st and 92nd avenues for $1.8 million last month. That included the 92nd Avenue Club. The club was for sale by the property owner. "We said, 'We don't want to buy your business,' " the PDC's Amy Miller Dowell says dryly.

Read the full story.

Info about the Lents Town Center URA.