UPDATE, 3:30pm: I should stress that in no way am I implying that these students had been bought off financially, to make their film about Milepost 5 a certain way. I do feel, politically, that by lending credibility to the students’ efforts by being on the board of the institute, Sam Adams must have been at least pleasantly surprised to introduce a film by some journalistic novices that sure seemed to me to be promoting one of his pet projects, especially when the success of that pet project has been limited, given that they are now selling those condos to non-artists. And as someone who occasionally enjoys shooting from the hip, I should add that the smug feel of the entire presentation made me feel, I don’t know, sick. But that doesn’t mean I should necessarily have gone mouthing off about it. Amy will be back tomorrow to restore credibility to our news room. In the mean time, my sincere apologies to anyone who misconstrued the words coming out of my notoriously wide-open mouth.
ORIGINAL POST, 10:38: I’m sitting in City Council watching the Mercury‘s former managing editor, Phil Busse, present movies by students from the NW Institute for Social Change to city council. The projects were introduced by mayor-elect Sam Adams, who happens to be on the board of Busse’s project, and boy, it seems like he bought a degree of editorial sympathy from the makers of the first documentary, which wholeheartedly praised Adams’ controversial artist’s housing project, Milepost 5, for providing affordable housing for artists.
The “former nursing home” on 82nd Avenue, claimed the documentary, was better suited to helping struggling artists than, well, you know, unsightly retired folks. It quoted someone saying “82nd avenue is famous for three things, porn shops, pawn stores, and Asian groceries,” without seeming to reflect on why Asian grocery stores like Fubonn might be a better reason to visit the street than to watch some fucking half-witted video installation project or smoke a bowl with a dude in Birkenstocks.
In my opinion, Milepost 5 has nothing to do with the affordable housing debate. Nor do the city’s so-called “struggling artists.”
“Great project,” said Adams. “Great films…”
[is sick in own mouth]
Sir:
Rest assured, this project will go to the highest bidder, without fail.
Again, and again, follow the money.
Jacomus
So if Peterson’s blows its last chance, can we turn its space into a site for day labor artists?
Thank GOD, the streets were about to crumble without this ‘project.’
Then again, the less city government actually accomplishes, the more we all benefit.
Ha! I LOL’d at the comment about Fubonn.
I wish I had the courage to become an artist as I wanted to earlier in life. If I did, however, I would not have expected “society” to support my career choice with subsidized housing.
Becoming an artist is at its core a pretty self-absorbed pursuit. I don’t blame anyone for doing it (we’re all self-absorbed at heart), but I don’t consider young artists a group in need of public assistance. They’re making a choice.
But young artists, Blabby, unlike the deserving poor, are a great way to market a city to outsiders.
Was Milepost 5 an active retirement home before the developers bought it?
It’s my understanding from Amy that it had been closed for a while. Hence “former nursing home.”
If the nursing home was abandoned, and no one was displaced in order to develop Milepost 5, why do you have such hostility towards it?
I don’t. I have hostility towards the argument that Milepost 5 is in any way providing “affordable housing,” rather than being used as a way to market Portland to people who might like to move here after they’re done with college.
As one of the students that made the film. I invite all of you to come to the Northwest Institute’s event tonight at the White Stag Building (70 NW Couch) from 6:30 to 9.
We will present our projects (including this one) and talk about the program. It would be great to continue the dialogue about these issues.
whb05:
It’s “As one of the students WHO made the. . .”
A small point.
Jacomus
best matt davis post in weeks.
The quote in the film is taken from my mouth:
See more here: http://tjnorris.net/blog/?p=2112
And here: http://tjnorris.net/blog/?p=1945
Some of us artists, who are making this city more livable, more sustainable, more culturally rich want a viable place to live. That is a pursuit of all people. If Portland is to become famous for something other than roses, give some creedence to the good work of these young men and women who came from colleges all of the country to participate in this program.There’s a lot of work yet to do to making cultural tourism a full circle. Most of the harder working artists in this city are doing their part to make it happen. If you want to get involved look up ArtSpark, get involved in your own neighborhood, especially if you live in the Montavilla area. Cheers!
Mr. Norris your assesment of 82nd. Avenue and Portland in general shows you are a recent import. You know nothing about this region you claim to be making more viable, sustainable and “culturally rich” The recent import of artistic hipsters to Portland has been a disaster. A cultural Kudzu vine choking off the rich cultural history of this region. Portland was just fine before you all came along and made it more viable. I do thank the Vietnamese though for improving the cusine on 82nd.
I *love* the comparison of hipster douchebags to cultural Kudzu! Bravo.
While it most likely true Milepost5 is being used as a way to market Portland to people who might like to move here after they’re done with college, how many college graduates can afford $300K for an 800sf space?
Since all of the insane financing schemes (i.e. subprime, pay option, alt-a house loans) have vanished (good riddance I say), a buyer now needs a $60k of down payment for the $300k property.
Your average college graduate has 100K of student loans under his/her belt…where is the 60k of cold hard cash going to come from? Mommy and Daddy can’t afford it either because they can’t use their house like ATM machine anymore either.
This marketing strategy will likely be unsuccessful.
While it most likely true Milepost5 is being used as a way to market Portland to people who might like to move here after they’re done with college, how many college graduates can afford $300K for an 800sf space?
Since all of the insane financing schemes (i.e. subprime, pay option, alt-a house loans) have vanished (good riddance I say), a buyer now needs a $60k of down payment for the $300k property.
Your average college graduate has 100K of student loans under his/her belt…where is the 60k of cold hard cash going to come from? Mommy and Daddy can’t afford it either because they can’t use their house like ATM machine anymore either.
This marketing strategy will likely be unsuccessful.