This Friday, October 24 at 10 a.m., Portland City Commissioners Nick Fish and Steve Novick will help celebrate the completion of the Division Streetscape Project’s major improvements with local neighbors and business owners at SE 31st and Division.

Who:               City Commissioners Steve Novick and Nick Fish 

When:             Friday, October 24, 10 a.m.

Where:            SE 31st Avenue and Division Street

What:              Kick off of OpenFest!, a neighborhood and business community celebration of the successful completion of the Division Streetscape Project’s major infrastructure and safety improvements.

 Division Street neighbors and businesses are marking the end of the Division Streetscape Project with OpenFest!, a day-long celebration of the Division Street re-opening. The celebration will include special offers from businesses and live music, and will continue until 9 p.m.

 The $6.4-million Division Streetscape Project began in May 2013 and has successfully replaced 4,900 feet of sewer pipes and repaved and reconstructed about two miles of SE Division Street from SE 11th to SE Cesar Chavez Boulevard. 

 “When we invest in green streets, we save our ratepayers money,” said City Commissioner Nick Fish. “By replacing pipes and planting trees, Portland manages its stormwater in a cost-effective manner while increasing the livability of our neighborhoods.”

 “This has been a community led project from the beginning and we appreciate everyone’s patience throughout construction,” said Commissioner Novick. “Thanks to coordination between PBOT, BES and community partners, Division is a bustling destination main street that is safer, more accessible and fully open for business.” 

The streetscape project was conceived in 2001, when neighborhood and business owners formed the Division Vision group to explore ways to make Division a street that better serves both residents and businesses. That effort led to the 2005 Division Green Street/Main Street Plan.

 Project Highlights Include: 

• Replacing 4,900 feet of sewer pipes and 32 sewer access structures that were in poor condition; 
• Adding 50 new curb extensions, 140  ADA-accessible corner ramps, new crosswalks and streetlights, and improving signalization to increase safety, access and visibility for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists; 
• Planting 150 street trees and constructing 68 green street planters to manage stormwater runoff; and
• Repaving and reconstructing 2 miles of SE Division  from SE 11th Avenue to SE Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

 Environmental Services and the Portland Bureau of Transportation worked together to improve the Division Street transportation corridor, repair and replace older sewers, add green infrastructure to manage stormwater and make sewers work more efficiently, and improve watershed health. More information about the Division Streetscape Project is available at www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/Streetscape and the Division/Clinton Business Association has posted OpenFest! information at divisionclinton.com/OpenFest.

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Media contacts:

Linc Mann, Environmental Services, 503-823-5328, linc.mann@portlandoregon.gov

Diane Dulken, Bureau of Transportation, 503-823-5552, diane.dulken@portlandoregon.gov