Montavilla News

23/09/2025

Essa Bakery opened in August within the former Stop By Bakery & Deli space at 8243 SE Division Street. The new bakery's owner, Essa Abdulsahib, is friends with the previous business owner and learned that the space was available after Stop By Bakery relocated to Beaverton. Abdulsahib is a lifelong baker who brought his father's traditional recipes and techniques from Iraq to his new home in Portland....

23/09/2025

In late July, Oregon Metro purchased a 1.46-acre property at the intersection of SE 90th Place and SE 89th Avenue. Crews recently installed a chainlink fence around the sloped lot and cut back the overgrown greenery that dominated this parcel. Over the next two years, Metro's Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) team will collaborate with partner developers to introduce new affordable housing at the site, which will incorporate open neighborhood greenspace....

19/09/2025

In January 2024, a fire destroyed Barrio Bar and damaged the surrounding Portland Mercado building at 7238 SE Foster Road. Since then, Portland residents have eagerly awaited the dining destination's restoration and worried as the once vibrant space sat empty. Repair work and improvements began in May, with Summit Reconstruction & Restoration crews continuing to work through the summer thanks to a…...

16/09/2025

Framing crews have made significant progress on the 40-unit complex at 2905 SE 89th Avenue. This joint venture between APANO and Gorman & Company will transform a 1.1-acre property into affordable family apartments in a dual courtyard configuration. Construction will continue on The Jade apartments throughout the year, with an anticipated opening date in 2026. The developers intend to create a healthy and sustainable community with solar panels providing the bulk of residential power and families having ample access to green space....

Framing crews have made significant progress on the 40-unit complex at 2905 SE 89th Avenue. This joint venture between APANO and Gorman & Company will transform a 1.1-acre proper…

14/09/2025

Starting on Monday, September 15th, contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will begin creating new sidewalks on the south side of SE Washington Street from 80th Avenue to 82nd Avenue. This predominantly Fixing Our Streets-funded project will construct two blocks of paved sidewalks that have been missing from the streetscape for decades. Work coincides with recent updates to lane configuration on the street…...

Starting on Monday, September 15th, contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will begin creating new sidewalks on the south side of SE Washington Street from 80th Avenu…

13/09/2025

Last year, Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Urban Forestry division began planting new street trees throughout Montavilla as part of a program to increase the urban tree canopy. Contractors working for the City placed most of the new trees in the planting strip between the sidewalk and curb. This year, Urban Forestry expanded the tree planning program to incorporate areas with few trees on streets without sidewalks or curbs… https://montavilla.net/2025/09/13/curb-less-street-tree-planting-program/

13/09/2025

Last year, Portland Parks & Recreation's (PP&R) Urban Forestry division began planting new street trees throughout Montavilla as part of a program to increase the urban tree canopy. Contractors working for the City placed most of the new trees in the planting strip between the sidewalk and curb. This year, Urban Forestry expanded the tree planning program to incorporate areas with few trees on streets without sidewalks or curbs....

Last year, Portland Parks & Recreation’s (PP&R) Urban Forestry division began planting new street trees throughout Montavilla as part of a program to increase the urban tree canopy. C…

11/09/2025

On Sunday, September 14th, SE 79th Avenue will close to traffic from SE Stark Street to SE Pine Street for a family-friendly event series called Play Streets. The national nonprofit Playworks is partnering with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to present a free three-part gathering in the Montavilla neighborhood, running from 10 a.m. to noon. Organizers will create a car-free play zone for kids, families, and neighbors during those two hours, then return on Sunday, September 28th and October 19th to do it all over again....

On Sunday, September 14th, SE 79th Avenue will close to traffic from SE Stark Street to SE Pine Street for a family-friendly event series called Play Streets. The national nonprofit Playworks is pa…

10/09/2025

Q – Who is Montavilla’s Vestal School named after? A – Vestal School is named after John L. Vestal (1852-1925). In 1925, he bequeathed the vast majority of his estate to the Portland public school district. It was the largest donation ever given to the district, according to The American School Board Journal of May 1925. Vestal left assets then valued at $200,000—equivalent to nearly $3,700,000 today and twice the size of Simon Benson’s $100,000 gift to Benson Polytechnic School....

The inspiring legacy of John L. Vestal, the man behind Montavilla's Vestal School, and his remarkable generosity to education.

09/09/2025

On Monday, September 8th, representatives and planners from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) presented information on a repaving and lane reconfiguration project to the Montavilla Neighborhood Association. At the evening meeting, attendees learned about the planned NE Glisan Pave and Paint Project that will primarily take place in Summer 2026. That work will include repaving NE Glisan Street from NE 82nd to 92nd avenues, sidewalk corner reconstruction for accessibility, stormwater management improvements, and lane reconfiguration to support painted buffered-bike lanes....

On Monday, September 8th, representatives and planners from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) presented information on a repaving and lane reconfiguration project to the Montavilla Neigh…

08/09/2025

Road Crews working on SE 85th Avenue for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will close lanes of travel for motorists in different locations north of SE Powell Boulevard as they install new sidewalks where inconsistent pedestrian infrastructure hampered walking and rolling on the Neighborhood Greenway. Cement masons will also reconstruct many sidewalk corners in the area along the project's path to include Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)compliant curb ramps....

Road Crews working on SE 85th Avenue for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will close lanes of travel for motorists in different locations north of SE Powell Boulevard as they install ne…

05/09/2025

Apparel maker and retail store Union Rose will close its Montavilla location at 8029 SE Stark Street in late October after it completes its move to the Plural Collective in Sellwood. Store owner and clothing designer Rita Hudson-Evalt is making this move to reduce operational costs and free up more time for creative work in her craft as well as pursue other diversified work opportunities....