Portland Mall Management, Inc. News

APA Great Places Award
The American Planning Association (APA) announced on October 1st that SW 5th & SW 6th avenues in downtown Portland is one of 10 Great Streets in America. The designation is the result of the revitalization and renovation made along the Portland Transit Mall as part of the MAX Green Line extension in 2009. The designation includes the 57 blocks along the Portland Transit Mall between NW Irving and SW Jackson Street. To read the full press release, please click here.

Vic Rhodes, PMMI Operations Manager, Announces Retirement
Vic Rhodes has played an instrumental role in the creation of Portland Mall Management, Inc. (PMMI) and the implementation of its mission to maintain the Portland Mall to the highest standards of cleanliness, safety and capital maintenance. Vic  has been involved with PMMI (and its informal predecessor organizations) from 2006 to 2014. He provided early technical advice leading to the development of detailed maintenance protocols and budgets for all aspects of the Mall infrastructure, including brick intersections, street furniture, street trees, art work and transit shelters. He assisted the PMMI board in the negotiation of public agency, partner and vendor contracts and provided on-going oversight of PMMI daily operations. Vic carried out his PMMI duties with extreme diligence, frugality and good humor. Upon Vic's retirement in November, Jeri Jenkins, former City of Portland Bureau of Transportation, CBD Program Manager, will take over as Operations Manager for Portland Mall Management, Inc.

We Need Your Help
In order to maintain a polished downtown, PMMI requests that businesses on SW 5th and 6th Avenues take part in tending their respective landscapes whenever possible. This includes weeding the tree wells and swales in front of each business. All Portlanders benefit when PMMI and the neighbors that surround the Transit Mall work together to maintain a beautiful and livable downtown district.

For any questions on Portland Mall landscaping please email pdxmallmgt@gmail.com.

Mall Partner Messages

Update on TriMet Tilikum Crossing Bridge
The United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx recently visited the Tilikum Crossing and the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project to highlight how transit creates ladders of opportunity to help Americans get to the middle class. From getting employees to work, to cost effectively easing congestion, to giving seniors, youth and people with disabilities full access to our society, TriMet plays a key role in shaping our region.

More than two decades in the making, the Portland-Milwaukie light rail project demonstrates what federal investments can do when we have the opportunity to plan for our future. The Federal Transit Administration’s $745 million grant was matched locally by a mix of public and private contributions. To date, the Tilikum Crossing project has helped create nearly 12,200 jobs just when our region needed jobs most. Mark your calendars—the MAX Orange Line will open on time, and on budget, September 12, 2015. To read more please click here.


Stimson Lumber Tree Arrival
On November 14th, the city's 75-foot tall Douglas Fir will parade down 6th avenue for all to enjoy. Festivities include a parade, the Beat Goes on Marching Band, seasonal songs performed by the Dickens Carolers and free hot chocolate provided by Unitus Community Credit Union.

The community will then gather in Portland's Living Room on the Day After Thanksgiving, November 28th, to celebrate the lighting of the spectacular 75 ft tall tree provided by Stimson Lumber. Guests will enjoy a community sing-a-long led by Thomas Lauderdale featuring members of Pink Martini, “Oregon’s Own” 234^th Army Band, the NW Community Gospel Choir and many more. For more information on other holiday events at the Square please visit www.thesquarepdx.org