Past Issues :: 2006 September 1 :: News
Festival to celebrate improvements in Old Town/Chinatown
After nearly four years of community planning and 18 months of construction, improvements to NW 3rd and 4th avenues between Burnside and Glisan streets are wrapping up. The $5.35 million project is a partnership between the Portland Development Commission and the Portland Office of Transportation to achieve goals laid out in the Old Town/Chinatown Development Plan.
The improvements are designed to strengthen the identity of the historic district, foster cultural and economic diversity, and promote a vibrant pedestrian environment for commercial, retail and residential uses. The entire project is designed to reflect the rich history and diverse cultures of the district while giving the neighborhood a distinct identity and design. The project area includes Northwest 3rd and 4th Avenues from West Burnside to Northwest Glisan, including all cross streets. This area contains two National Historic Districts: the new Chinatown/Japantown Historic District (designated in 1989) and a portion of the Skidmore Old Town Historic District (designated in 1975).
The improvements include new streets, concrete sidewalks with granite paver accents, installation of streetlights throughout the area, two “Festival Streets” on Northwest Davis and Flanders, large granite planters with eight large public art sculptures, and 20 decorative bronze plaques that include quotes about the history of the neighborhood. In addition, over 120 trees, many of which are Asian species (including 16 palms and numerous other flowering species), have replaced 43 aging trees. Funding for the improvements was made possible through tax increment proceeds from the Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal Area, which is managed by PDC.
To officially open the renovated streets, a free public celebration is planned for Saturday and Sunday, September 30 and October 1. On Saturday the event will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The weekend’s events will kick off on Saturday at 10 a.m. with a parade through Chinatown led by the Seattle Chinese Community Girl’s Drill Team in full costume. The two festival streets on Northwest Flanders and Davis will each be closed to traffic to allow for the weekend celebration called “Under the Autumn Moon.”
The timing of the festival coincides with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival — one of the most celebrated Chinese holidays. Similar to harvest festivals celebrated by many cultures around the world, the Moon festival has been held throughout Asia for more than 1,000 years and has become a time to reflect upon the bounty of summer harvest among other things. Historically the Old Town/Chinatown district was home to many diverse communities including Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Jewish, African American, Roma and Scandinavian. Entertainment and other offerings at the festival will reflect this diversity.
Highlighting the World Mainstage on NW Flanders will be the nationally touring Shaolin Monks, back for an encore performance after their successful northwest debut in May at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. Other nonstop multicultural entertainment will include Portland Taiko; Portland All-Star Jazz Jam featuring Darrell Grant, Ron Steen and Thara Memory; Old Town’s one and only Darcelle; Dragon Arts Puppet Theatre; and Gypsy Caravan.
The Davis Street Cultural Stage will host a variety of acts including Woodstock Elementary School Chinese Dancers, Yat Sing Chinese Opera, Portland Bon Dancers, Aratas Hungarian Folk Dance Ensemble and Akendo-Obakan swords.
Other offerings at the event include the Global Bazaar offering a variety of gifts and foods for sale, city and human services information booths, a variety of ethnic food booths, cooking demonstrations, mahjong tables, fireworks, tours of the district, a tea garden, and arts and crafts area. On Saturday evening, NW Flanders will host a giant inflatable movie screen and a special outdoor movie will be shown. On Sunday, admission to the Classical Chinese Garden will be free all day.
The general contractor on the project was Parsons, with landscape design services provided by Nevue Ngan Associates. The urban designer was Lloyd Lindley, FASLA. Public art on the project was coordinated by the Regional Arts and Culture Council and is being created by artist Brian Goldbloom of Amboy, Washington. The bronze plaques were designed by Suenn Ho. Project construction was managed by the Portland Office of Transportation.
Presenting sponsor for the Under the Autumn Moon festival is Bank of America. Supporting sponsors are Portland Development Commission, Portland Office of Transportation, Bill Naito Company, Central City Concern, Comcast, Lufthansa, MulvannyG2 Architecture, NW Natural, Taipei Economic Cultural Office in Seattle, The Standard, TriMet and the University of Oregon.