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Recent Articles from Joe Streckert
7 good things you probably don’t know about the Sellwood Bridge
The Sellwood Bridge is going away. Well, strictly speaking, it's being replaced. This past month the Sellwood Bridge Project finally broke ground, and if everything goes according to plan Bridgetown will have a new river-span in 2015. While most people probably won't miss it due the less-than-stellar safety ratings that its received, seeing a substantial hunk of the landscape get replaced is not w[...]
The buzz about Besaw’s
Fans of Besaw’s can relax. The venerable restaurant is staying put. Some time ago the property was acquired by the Vancouver-based C.E. John Properties, and there was some uncertainty as […]
Why you are being counted as you walk Portland’s streets
You've probably been counted. Right now, on fifteen downtown intersections, people are sitting about in the cold-ish weather of Portland's December and counting pedestrians. Workers are sitting around and going "click" every single time someone walks by, contributing to a giant pile of numbers about pedestrian traffic. Who are they, though? Why are they there? And why is what they鈥檙e doing at al[...]
Mental health center for Central City Concern opens in old Burger King’s spot
The Old Town Recovery Center (formerly called the Broadway Recovery Center), an expansion of the already existing Old Town Clinic, has opened.
Why does Portland have so many dogs? Good urban planning
Portland is awash in dogs. We have a cupcake shop that makes doggy cakes. The North Park Blocks have a Benson Bubbler-esque dog bowl water fountain. Four-footed things that go "woof" are everywhere. So what鈥檚 this mean? Well, it鈥檚 yet another indicator that Portland has historically been pretty good at urban development.
Redevelopment under Burnside Bridge could take the skeeze out of Old Town
The area beneath the Burnside Bridge has been most strongly associated with Saturday Market. For years, the weekly craft market brought life and vitality to the sheltered area and turned what was normally an empty lot into one of Portland's most active mercantile areas.
What exactly is this Shemanski people want to occupy?
Occupy Portland made an attempt to re-occupy another park this past weekend. This time, it was in Shemanski Park, a name that led many Portlanders wondering: "Wait, what and where is Shemanski Park?"
Portland restores another soon-to-be-famous sign
The Butte Hotel has sat at the corner of NW 5th and Davis since 1912, making it as old as the larger, higher-end hotels in town (for comparison: the Benson was also built in 1912, the Heathman in 1927, and the Governor in 1909.)
Defining ‘historic,’ the Portland way
The Portland Building is technically “historic” now. Last week the National Parks Service released a document formally announcing that the 29-year-old structure is worthy of historic preservation. Now, I happen […]
Forecast calls for another partly insane Black Friday
This Friday is that most hallowed of American economic holidays 鈥� Black Friday, so named because of retailers that supposedly move from being in the red to being in the black, for the year, on the day after Thanksgiving.
7 things you may not know about the 鈥榮tructurally deficient’ Steel Bridge
The Steel Bridge was awash with protesters today, attempting to (among other things) raise awareness of its "structurally deficient" status. The bridge is old, but before we consign it to the dustbin of history, let's take a few moments to reflect on why the Steel Bridge is one of the neatest bridges in Bridgetown.
Sad-looking Galleria building was once Portland’s lifeblood 鈥� and could be again
Nothing says "Christmas" like projections as to how retail is going to do. This year, things actually look fairly non-terrible, as consumers are expected to spend about 3 percent more than last year. But local malls are not that optimistic. They have a huge, somewhat-empty reminder of what happens to failed malls: the Galleria.
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
