Interstate Corridor:
Downtown Kenton Redevelopment Project Phase II:
The Denver Avenue Streetscape Project

Construction design and engineering will begin in Spring 2008. Construction of the improvements is slated to begin in 2009.

In February 2008 the Portland City Council, PDC and the Urban Forestry Commission adopted the recommendations of the Downtown Kenton Denver Streetscape Plan and authorized work to move ahead on the streetscape.

The Plan outlines improvements along North Denver Avenue, from Interstate Avenue south to Watts Street, including widened sidewalks, new trees, lighting, benches, stormwater planters and public art. These will help to revitalize the historic Kenton business district.

Widened sidewalk streetscape Conceptual only

Bus stop at North McClellan Conceptual only

Public seating and stormwater planters Conceptual only

Now that a preferred design concept has been selected, the team will refine the details of the schematic design through the design and engineering phase.

Public art will be another component of the streetscape design. With the help of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, artist and public art consultant Valerie Otani was brought on to the design team to make recommendations for themes, scale of public art, and potential location of art installations.

Public art ideas and concepts were centered around the dominant presence of the Paul Bunyan statue at the Interstate Avenue gateway entrance onto Denver Avenue. In following with design elements of Paul Bunyan, art characterized as “contemporary folk art” can play off of and tie into Paul Bunyan. Keying into this Kenton Neighborhood icon, this type of art can be somewhat whimsical, yet still representative of themes that capture both a nostalgic past and a vibrant present. Because downtown Kenton is surrounded by family housing and parks, an element key to conceptual art ideas was that the art be interactive and engaging, creating a family-friendly tone. Local artists, both emerging and mature, whose work fits the neighborhood, would be commissioned. Some inspirational concepts include:

Note that these images are potential style inspiration and do not depict art that will actually be installed on the Streetscape.

The conceptual and schematic designs for the Denver Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project were done by PDC in conjunction with a Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC), the Portland Department of Transportation and design consultants SERA Architects and Greenworks.

The selected design, favored by the CAC and at several public open houses features:

• Widened sidewalks
• One auto lane in each direction
• Center turn lane removed
• Widening of existing bike lanes
• Curbside loading plan for businesses
• Space for all modes of traffic; cars, bicycles, pedestrians, delivery trucks

The Plan additionally includes recommendations on:

• Street trees
• Street lighting
• Storm water treatment
• Sidewalk/crosswalk design
• Street furniture
• Gateways

Conceptual streetscape design elements are shown below. The final selection will be subject to budget and availability.

Stormwater Planters

These are meant to capture and infiltrate stormwater run-off from the roadway and sidewalks.

Stormwater Planter at SW 12th and Montgomery

Street Trees

Two styles are trees are envisioned. Both were selected because of their “business-friendly” airy leaf/branch patterns and less-invasive root systems, distinctive fall color and manageable size.

A Honey Locust is first choice for the core area of Denver Avenue from Interstate to Watts

A Raywood Ash is recommended from Watts to Schofield. The different color and slightly wider canopy of these trees will help delineate the southern gateway of the business district.

Street Furniture Including Lighting, Benches and Sign Caps

Curved stone benches would be built in place at select corners, and would complement the metal benches located throughout the project area. Both lighting and sign caps would highlight the historic background of the area.

Recommended Light Fixture

Recommended Site Furniture

Built-in-place Stone Bench

White-on-Black Street Sign with Historic District Sign Cap

To see the preliminary design concepts in greater detail, please view the Denver Avenue Streetscape Plan Preliminary Concepts (PDF). Please keep in mind that all of these design elements are preliminary and conceptual. They were refined with comments received at three public open houses, through the stakeholder questionnaire, and additional public events.

Download the complete Denver Avenue Streetscape plan from our document library below.

DATES (subject to change)
June 11, 2008 5-8 pm	Open House: at the Kenton Neighborhood Association general meeting; Masonic Temple, 8130 N. Denver Avenue
Fall 2008	Open House: date, time, location TBD
Winter 2008	Completion of design and engineering
Spring 2009	Open House: date, time, location TBD
Spring 2009	Project out to bid
Spring/Fall 2009	Construction begins (dependent on funding availability)

Looking north on Denver Avenue in 1926 (Oregon Historical Society)

The Kenton business district, located on North Denver Avenue in Portland, in the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area, offers a wealth of attractive, historic buildings, proximity to a light rail station and a large public park. Despite its many advantages and ongoing revitalization efforts, the area has not yet met its full potential, with many properties standing underutilized or vacant. The Portland Development Commission initiated the Downtown Kenton Redevelopment Project in September 2005 to help set the stage for the Kenton business district revitalization.

The first phase of the Redevelopment Project concluded in June 2006; among the most important work stemming from the Project was the development of preliminary streetscape improvement concepts for downtown Denver Avenue. In addition to enhancing the commercial vitality of the street, the improvements are intended to enhance safety, neighborhood identity and stormwater management.

Over 40 participants turned out for the design workshop in December 2006.

Highlights from the streetscape improvements project to date:

• Formation of a 14-member CAC;
• Creation of project goals and criteria;
• December 2006 Public Design Workshop with the CAC and other members of the public which resulted in three options for the street cross section; and
• Public Open Houses in February, June and November 2007 focusing on narrowing design options for the plan.
• February 2008 the Denver Avenue Streetscape Plan with the Widened Sidewalks option is adopted by PDC Board of Commissioners and Portland City Council.

 

Streetscape Plan

• Streetscape Plan
  High Resolution (PDF, 18.6 M) Low Resolution (PDF, 7.2 M)
• Denver Avenue Streetscape Plan Preliminary Concepts (PDF)

Background

• Goals & Criteria (PDF)
• Downtown Kenton Redevelopment Project: Streetscape
• Streetscape Case Studies (PDF)
  
• Oregon Historical Society Photos (PDF)
  

Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings

• CAC Roster (PDF)
• June 6, 2006 Summary (PDF)
• July 5, 2006 Summary (PDF)
• October 4, 2006 Summary (PDF)
• November 6, 2006 Summary (PDF)

Project Area

• Denver Streetscape Improvement Area Map (PDF)
  

Field Day October 2006

• Field Day Notes (PDF)

Streetscape Tour October 2006

• Streetscape Tour Notes (PDF)

Design Workshop December 6, 2006

• Workshop Sketches (PDF)
• Workshop Summary (PDF)
• Workshop Description (PDF)

For more information about the Denver Avenue Streetscape Improvement project, please contact:
PDC Project Manager
Carol Herzberg, e-mail,
(503) 823-3276