My transect walk brought to light a handful of things I couldn\u2019t have realized through my ethnography or maps. Most notably, seeing the world surrounding Congress Street was interesting. It is very clearly in the process of changing\u2014old structures stand next to beautiful new ones, buildings under construction abound, and parking lots dot the streets. It seems an important time for the neighborhood. Though Portland is close to housing capacity, it will remain in high demand, and I think there is a real need and opportunity to provide affordable housing options or mixed housing in prime neighborhoods. As my walk focused on architecture, it\u2019ll be interesting to see what it says about socioeconomics. I have lots of pictures I will want to sift through.<\/p>\n
8:00\u2014I start by exiting a car at the corner of Congress and Washington Ave. I proceed up the hill and, not having had breakfast, stop into Katie Made Bakery. Roughly 183 Congress Street. I am focusing on the architecture of buildings in the area, how it changes and (later) what it means. For now, it has a pretty coherent vibe: mostly wooden structures, tall and boxy, with nice details over the entranceways. Nice colors as well.<\/p>\n
8:30\u2014Took some picture outside of 171 Congress Street to highlight the wooden buildings and their brick bases. They are also generally pretty interesting colors, an eclectic mix for sure.<\/p>\n
8:35\u2014On the corner of Cumberland and Sheridan, I have turned off of Congress to explore the depth of Munjoy Hill or East End. I\u2019m looking at 66 Cumberland Ave., one of the more interesting houses I\u2019ve seen. It is clearly multi-family. It has a big porch, which is unusual. It is a bit rundown, it seems. Notably, it is next to a beautiful, brand new house made of gorgeous painted wood and slick metal.<\/p>\n
8:40\u2014Still on Cumberland, noticing lots of parking lots. And the buildings tend to have a decent amount of space between them too. It is airy, un-oppressive.<\/p>\n
8:45\u2014Some sort of repairs going on in the building next to 49 Cumberland.<\/p>\n
8:50\u201446 Cumberland, standing opposite a not-too-attractive 49 Cumberland, is an amazing new house. Multi-fam, I can tell. Beautiful wood, balconies. I wonder what it costs!<\/p>\n
9:00\u2014I\u2019ve turned back onto Congress, and am faced with \u201c118 on Munjoy Hill\u201d a new luxury development. This is very curious. It is much bigger than the surrounding apartments, though attempting a similar style. I have lots of pictures.<\/p>\n
9:10\u2014Having passed my coffee shop, I\u2019m standing across from The Front Room, a pretty fancy restaurant. I\u2019m thinking to myself that Congress Streeet up here seems pretty devoid of nice restaurants, and is surprisingly residential overall. Should I be surprised? Pretty building.<\/p>\n
9:20\u2014I turn down Emerson Street, and stand looking at The Emerson School, a big brick building. This is the only school I\u2019ve seen, and it looks nice. Is it private or public? Across the street is a beautiful orange house (pics) with a yard, one of the first I\u2019ve seen. At this point, I\u2019m past the peak of the hill, and I wonder if they have water views yet.<\/p>\n
9:35\u2014Got a mental map, excuse the pause. I\u2019m in front of the Eastern Promenade Apartments, which don\u2019t look particularly fancy. They remind me of Brunswick Apartments. Brick fa\u00e7ade. Squat. 30 Turner Street.<\/p>\n
9:43\u2014On the corner of Morning and Turner streets. I\u2019m looking north, across the street, at a big empty parking lot. How long will it be there? Who is it serving? It\u2019s private, but the houses next to it don\u2019t seem to require that much parking. It seems like prime real estate.<\/p>\n
9:50\u2014I\u2019ve reached the end of Turner Street, at the intersection with Eastern Promenade. There is a baseball field across from me. And a playground. Tons of kids around, though not for an organized sport. This obviously must add huge appeal to the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
10:00\u2014Walking along the Eastern Promenade ogling the massive houses. I stay on the far side of the street\u2014somehow, being too close seems like trespassing. They certainly have more character than the rest of the neighborhood (if not gaudiness). Overheard: \u201cThe product should jump off the page, and your product could be the rental [unit].\u201d (Two middle-aged women, one with a dog.)<\/p>\n
10:10\u2014At the corner of the Eastern Promenade and Congress Streets, in front of the monument, I notice many many private tour busses driving by, and stopping here, and then continuing.<\/p>\n
10:20\u2014It seems to me that even here on the Prom, many houses might be multi-family. I\u2019m not sure though. It seems a phenomenon sort of unique to Portland, or at least not something I\u2019ve seen, to have so many multi-unit building that look as if they are for one family. They are houses, not apartment buildings.<\/p>\n
10:30\u2014Although only tangentially related, down by the water there are tons of families, all young, with strollers and baseball mits etcetera. And many dogs. It seems very safe, very friendly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My transect walk brought to light a handful of things I couldn\u2019t have realized through my ethnography or maps. Most notably, seeing the world surrounding Congress Street was interesting. It is very clearly in the process of changing\u2014old structures stand next to beautiful new ones, buildings under construction abound, and parking lots dot the streets. … Continue reading Transect Walk of Munjoy Hill and East End<\/span>