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Special Spaces – City Council Votes to Initiate Foreclosure on Troubled Alberta Property

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Leo Newman | Contributing Writer

On September 16th, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to initiate foreclosure on 2734-2738 NE Alberta, colloquially known as the ‘Alberta Pit.’ The site on the corner of NE 28th and Alberta, inundated by a mound of untouched rubble of the historic Cowley Building, has accrued $105,627.81 in delinquent city liens since its demolition in December 2024. The vote possibly brings a close to a years-long battle between the city and its proprietor, Erzsabet Eppley, over the troubled property which stood dilapidated and vacant for several years prior to its demolition. 

“Neighbors are beyond ready to say goodbye to what has been, for a while now, a hazardous property,” Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney (D2) said in a statement to Concordia News.

The property returned to the public’s attention after the Housing and Permitting Committee referred the matter of foreclosure to the City Council in early August. A couple weeks later, a satirical advertisement for the “Pittman Apartments” appeared on the property’s surrounding fencing. The sign featured an AI-generated image of a luxury apartment complex engulfed in debris and tennis shoes. A QR code next to the building linked to the city government’s webpage for reporting property code violations. 

The stunt drew the attention of local residents and business owners, several of whom submitted written testimony in favor of foreclosing the property ahead of the council’s vote. Several testimonies pointed to dangers posed to pedestrians by the blocked off sidewalk in front of the property on Alberta Street. 

“Portland talks constantly about revitalization, housing, economic development, and bringing life back to our commercial corridors,” wrote Brad Trost. “Meanwhile, a highly visible piece of property in the middle of one of our most successful neighborhoods has been allowed to remain a fenced-off symbol of dysfunction. 

Eppley does not necessarily disagree. The proprietor had challenged the penalty liens that encumbered the property, claiming that the city never explained their cause. In an 11-page affidavit submitted as public testimony to the council, Eppley requested that the council forgive the liens, which she claimed made the property unattractive to buyers. The affidavit also argued that the city’s move to initiate foreclosure negates Eppley’s continued effort to remain compliant with city audits. 

Background

Eppley serves as proprietor for a relative, a minor who inherited the property from Eppley’s father after his death. Eppley’s father, Joseph Bozcki, fled Hungary during the 1956 Revolution and settled in Portland, whose surrounding hillsides reminded him of Budapest. By 1964, he had acquired the historic Cowley Building, where he lived and operated an appliance shop. The two-story brick structure had a colorful history once boasted a maple dancefloor spanning the entire second storey and, according to Eppley, a basement speakeasy outwardly advertised as a revolving door of revivalist churches. Bozcki and his wife Erzsabet would go on to acquire a portfolio of about twenty properties in the Portland area. When he died in 2010, he left his first property to his grandson, and Eppley oversees it. 

By then, the Cowley Building had fallen into considerable disrepair. Its apartments upstairs were reportedly prone to leaks. Its anchor tenant, Stephen Ferruzza, owner of Al Forno Ferruzza, a Sicilian-style pizzeria and music venue on the ground floor, told Willamette Week that he vacated the building in 2014 after the owners failed to react to a burst pipe in time, which led to an unsafe mold build-up. Ferruzza also rented his home on NE Tillamook Street from Eppley, who evicted him in June 2014, according to court records.

After Ferruzza’s departure, the Cowley building stood vacant. Eppley came under fire in October 2022 when several unreinforced bricks from the building’s east face fell onto the sidewalk. In response, the Portland Bureau of Development Services opened a “dangerous building case,” the first of a long series of public inquiries into the structural integrity of the building and its unreinforced masonry, and erected fencing around the property.

In the affidavit submitted to the City Council ahead of Thursday’s meeting, Eppley claimed that she reacted promptly to the failing bricks in compliance with city orders. The affidavit also reports that Eppley retained a forensic engineer to audit the building around this time. The audit found that the bricks up to the ground floor were compromised from water damage, possibly stemming from severe flooding after a water main break down the street that flooded Alberta Street for several blocks. 

In the two years that followed, Eppley incurred upwards of $60,000 in code violations Eppley says she consulted with multiple architects to renovate the property while honoring its historical significance. In 2023, she applied for a permit to demolish the second story. However, the city would only grant a permit to demolish the entire structure, Eppley says. 

She is also the proprietor of the boarded-up house behind the property as well as the Cruz Room on NE 23rd, another Alberta business that stood vacant for several years. A new tenant has leased the former bar since April and is making renovations, Eppley says. 

Next Steps

Demolition on the Cowley Building began in December 2024. Eppley says that the minor owner’s trust was effectively drained after spending half a million dollars financing the demolition, including asbestos removal and lead abatement, not to mention mounting zoning violations, and attorney fees. She says the trust did not have enough remaining money to clear the mound debris, which has tormented Alberta residents for nearly two years.

Now that the council has voted to initiate foreclosure, the city will be able to take the property, zoned for mixed-commercial use, to foreclosure sale. A representative of Councilor Sameer Kanal (D2) told Concordia News that the councilor expressed interest in purchasing the property for the city in the event of foreclosure.

“This was expected but it is still unfortunate” Eppley said of the decision. She says she is currently looking into ways to best respond to the Council’s vote. Eppley is now more than ever interested in preserving the legacy of the Cowley building, and has plans to write a book on the history of the Cowley Building. 

“Tonight’s move to initiate the foreclosure of 2734-2738 NE Alberta Street is a concrete step toward remedying this long-blighted property along one of the most vibrant commercial corridors in District 2” wrote Councilor Dan Ryan (D2) in a statement to Concordia News.

Leo Newman is a freelance reporter and paralegal based in NE Portland. He covers housing and development, immigration policy and the environment.

Slough Stew: Stories on the Columbia

Posted on September 20, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

Wood Ducks and Muskrats and Salmon… Oh My!

By Keith Daellenbach, Contributing Writer

Even today, the Columbia slough is teeming with abundant wildlife. 

It is home to 175 species of birds including mallards, wood ducks, green wing teals, American widgeons, and mergansers, as well as Canada geese. Great blue herons, castle egrets, belted kingfishers, ospreys (Oregon’s state raptor), double-crested cormorants, killdeer, and songbirds of great variety and sound are present including the red-winged blackbird which makes an earnest “Uncle Wee-Bull” call.  Binoculars help. There are beavers, river otters, muskrats, invasive nutria, cottontail rabbits, dragonflies and reptiles like the native northwestern pond turtle which has an estimated lifespan of 50 to 70 years.  Bald eagles, black tailed deer, Western painted turtles, raccoons and coyotes, are also in abundance. 

There are 28 species of fish including anadromous migrating Chinook and Coho salmon as well as steelhead, the juveniles of which shelter in 35 engineered logjams which were installed by the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) in 2015 along the lower six miles of the slough starting at Moore Island below the North Interstate Avenue bridge.  These logjams provide habitat that is impacted by levees which altered this lower Columbia River estuary and dramatically scaled back the impact of spring flooding to aid juvenile salmon migration along with access to cold water and nutrients.  

In 2025, 1,082,000 salmon crossed Bonneville Dam heading upriver which is only about 10 percent the 10 million (or more) salmon that migrated upriver in the 1870’s.  Along the lower slough, young families often bank fish including those with young families. Because fish in the slough may contain PCB, PFAS, and pesticides, it is important to follow Oregon Health Authority advisories and limit consumption to no more than one fillet each month for all resident fish (e.g., carp, bluegill, bass, sturgeon). 

It is incredible how much we can see right in our backyard.

Concordia Horoscopes

Posted on September 12, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Alessia Respect, Contributing Writer

The stars aligned that September was the month to launch CNews Horoscopes, and we’re thrilled to bring forward some of the otherworldly wisdom that runs deep in Concordia.

Horoscopes are a look into the stars, the sun, planets, moon and us. Sun sign dates are listed below, and if you know your moon and rising signs check those out too! We hope the special “C-Tips” help you discover things that make Concordia and its people unique. 

Virgo (August 23rd – September 22nd) Feliz cumpleaños my fellow Virgos. This time of year feels like an opportunity for fresh starts. It’s also a time when we feel as though we are expected to be everything everywhere all at once. Our Virgo planner brain wants to do it all, but should we? Remember, based on the sun it is still summer and your birthday season so soak it in! Play a little more than usual, loosen your grip on expectations, slow down, and savor the moment. C-Tip: Treat yourself to the magic of Javelina Restaurant on 42nd Ave. Carefully select a birthday tea from their extensive menu; it will be an herb that will guide you into your next circle around the sun. 

Libra (September 23rd – October 23rd) Happy birthday to my September Librans! Your mellow mood and love of harmony and justice will be needed in full force this fall. Before things get even more stirred up, tend deeply to your heart and gather up your energetic resources. All the signs will thank you for it. C-Tip: Nourish yourself at one of Concordia’s beautiful parks. Sit by a tree, find a comfy rock and let the power of nature become a part of you. 

Scorpio (October 24th – November 21st) People always think Scorpio is a fire sign, but we know the truth that Scorpios are watery AF. You lead with a hard exterior, but this month try to let your friends and loved ones see the watery side of you that you keep so well hidden. We’re counting on you, Scorpio, to help us soothe and calm the fires of summer. We all need a good cry like the cedar trees need a September rain. C-Tip: Lead a fellow Concordian to water at the soaking pool at Kennedy School. It’s totally free for Concordia residents, and its salt waters have healing properties. Bring your ID and show your address for a free soak. 

Sagittarius (November 22nd – December 21st) Sagittarians, the moon will be in your sign on September 16th, 17th and 18th. The nighttime and moon energy can help you know where to set your sights. The September moon reminds you this isn’t about reaching an earthly goal, but about setting your wild heart more wild. C-Tip: When the moon is in Sagittarius, invite your neighbors and friends for a “feral” themed hangout. See what kind of healthy wildness you can bring forward.

Capricorn (December 22nd – January 19th) Capricorns, you’ve been on a personal, multi-year journey that at times has felt murky, but in 2026 is starting to take a more clear form. With the sun now in your fellow earth sign, let Virgo energy help you walk into your next chapter with sweetness and hope. C-Tip: It’s time to celebrate the path you’ve been on, Capricorn. Gather loved ones close and walk down Happy Alley together (on NE 29th in between Alberta and Wygant). Bonus points if you stop at Callejon 29 for a celebratory meal or dance in some good vibes during a DJ set at Bar Cala. 

Aquarius (January 20th – February 18th) Dreamy Aquarius, you can see the new dawn before the rest of us. As the summer wanes, it’s a great time to tap back into your dream life and creative magic. Help those around you step outside of “what is” and imagine “what if…” C-Tip: Visit Parallel Worlds Bookshop on NE Alberta and 27th to get inspired by dreamy fantasy novels, afrofuturistic visionaries and writers creating utopian futures to counter our dystopia. 

Pisces (February 19th – March 20th) On the wheel of the year, Pisces sits directly opposite our current astro sign of Virgo. Your strong emotional side and intuition are on high feels these days. As Virgo rings in your half birthday, let this practical sign help you share with others what you are sensing and feeling. C-Tip: Of all the signs, you, Pisces, know that emotion is a gift. Invite someone over for a one-on-one hang out this September and help break out of the day-to-day convo by being vulnerable with your emotions. You’ll both be better for it.  

Aries (March 21st – April 19th) We know that you, Aries, are bold and confident, but you are also hella funny. Your laughter creates a buoyant energy that attracts others. While September can bring a more serious vibe, be the one to help lighten the mood. C-Tip: On a cooler September night, tell a few people to come over with a blanket. Get cozy outside, maybe enjoy some Oregon grown fruits or herbs, tell stories and sprinkle the night with the special sound of laughter.

Taurus (April 20th – May 20th) Taurans, you are feeling very curious these days. Your love of honesty and facts has your brain seeking something that feels truly true. Don’t be afraid to be inquisitive this month. Ask questions, examine something from all angles, and keep your playful mind on while you do it. C-Tip: While Concordia doesn’t have a county library in our bounds, we do have the University of Oregon library accessible to us! Go wander through the stacks and talk to a librarian. In your quest you will learn something valuable this fall. 

Gemini (May 21st – June 21st) – This year, the twin aspects of your personality are loving the balance and equality that September brings. On the September 23rd equinox, or sometime during that week, let yourself focus on inviting more balance between the many sides of your sweet, savory and spicy personality. If you’ve been leaning heavy on a few aspects, see if you can call in some of the parts of yourself that haven’t been front and center lately. C-Tip: Shake up your routine by walking to a part of Concordia you usually don’t venture to. Notice things along the way like plants, stickers, posters, and people. What is this side of yourself drawn to?

Cancer (June 22nd – July 22nd) Everyone’s favorite crab! Your loyalty is admirable beyond belief. Cancer, your steady presence turns our 6´s to 9´s! But sometimes your crab claws can loyally cling too tightly to a belief that no longer serves. This month offers a chance for you to loosen your grip, and explore. C-Tip: Take your shoes off and walk on the earth as much as you can this month, especially potent from September 10th (the new moon) to September 18th (the half moon).

Leo (July 23rd – August 22nd) – Last month’s Leo season went by fast, but we hope you got moments to luxuriate in it. There’s no reason to not keep the positive celebrations coming, Leo! Keep seeking out the day’s sweet little moments and take pause to truly enjoy the simple things. C-Tip: There’s no better place to appreciate and reflect than at Queer Plants Cafe on NE 42nd Ave. It’s coffee! It’s plants! It’s ripe for you, Leo.

About the Astrologer: The stars are better when they carry a little bit of mystery. Allessia Respect is a fellow neighbor and is happy to be circling the sun with you.

Artist Collective Show to Take Place on September 12th

Posted on September 10, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Amy Daileda, Contributing Writer

Join us at Concordia Commons (NE 30th and Killingsworth St.) on Saturday, September 12th from 3-7pm for the second Concordia Artist Collective Art Show. A group of artists from the Concordia neighborhood will be exhibiting and selling original art. This year’s event will feature eight artists.

Last year’s event “had its own heart  beat. It had such good vibes,” says Liz Borowski, one of the artists exhibiting this year along with Anne Jennings Paris, Lisa Laser, Andrea Morris, Carol Armstrong Ioanovici, James Hook, Gesine Kratzner and myself. 

Nature is a common theme among some of the artists. Liz works in mixed media and her pieces combine watercolor and embroidery. She teaches watercolor classes in her home studio.  Anne Jennings Paris enjoys talking to the attendees about her encaustic paintings. Her recent works are inspired by the flowers and colors of summer gardens.  Carol Armstrong Ioanovici enjoys painting on discarded wood. She will be sharing art that is  inspired by nature and her patterns. My works are detailed acrylic paintings of Pacific Northwest native plants. My home studio has a view of the yard, which provides much inspiration.

Lisa Laser will be exhibiting small acrylic paintings of snarky creatures on upcycled wood as well as oil paintings of landscapes, birds, and figures. Andrea Morris is a linocut artist with an affinity for bold colors, strong patterns, and imperfection. She will be showing a line of paper goods as well as hand printed originals.  James Hook is a self taught artist who started painting during lockdown. Hook’s works are figurative and explore themes of relationships and everyday life. Gesine Kratzner is a sculptor who works in clay. She creates creatures that embody emotions, with themes that are light hearted and humorous, spreading some much needed happiness.  

Lisa Laser says “I’m looking forward to being in such a welcoming space with a group of artists  who all share a love of the Concordia neighborhood. This is our second event together, and I  hope people will enjoy coming out and seeing us and take the time to connect with their  neighbors and city.” 

The Concordia Neighborhood Association is sponsoring the event and it is free. Hope to see you there!

Amy Daileda has lived in the Concordia neighborhood since 2000. She is an artist and gardener. You can often find her walking in our neighborhood taking macro photos of plants and insects for future paintings.

An Urban Lens – Summer, Music, and the Life of Public Space

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Garlynn Woodsong | Contributing Writer

A summer evening in Warsaw’s Old Town demonstrates one of urbanism’s oldest lessons: build great public places, and people will fill them with life. Photo by Garlynn Woodsong.

August has a different rhythm. School is out. Evenings linger. Porches fill. Food carts stay open a little later. A guitarist appears in the park. Neighbors who spent all winter waving from behind windshields suddenly find themselves talking for half an hour on the sidewalk.

None of this happens because a city ordinance requires it. It happens because people are given places where gat hering feels natural.

Urban planners spend a great deal of time thinking about physical infrastructure. We debate street widths, housing types, bike lanes, transit, stormwater, and zoning. Those conversations matter because they shape the framework within which daily life unfolds.

But there is another kind of infrastructure that deserves equal attention: cultural infrastructure. Not museums or concert halls, although those certainly have their place. I mean the everyday spaces where community comes alive: an alley dinner, a porch concert, a park where strangers become dancers. These moments may seem temporary, but they create something remarkably durable. They build trust between neighbors and become part of a neighborhood’s identity.

Ask someone why they love a particular place, and they rarely beg in by describing setback requirements. They remember the block party, the neighborhood café, the summer concert, or the conversation that lasted until sunset. Those experiences become part of the civic memory of a place.

The best public spaces don’t need to be elaborate. They need shade, places to sit, good lighting, trees, art, and room for people to bring their own creativity.

Great public spaces don’t manufacture culture. They make it easier for culture to emerge. That distinction matters. The strongest neighborhood traditions rarely come from City Hall. They grow when people have room to experiment: a movie night, local music, shared meals, a weekly gathering that slowly becomes a tradition.

And planning can either encourage those moments or unintentionally make them harder. Rules that discourage outdoor dining, temporary performances, or flexible use of public space don’t just regulate activity. They reduce opportunities for neighbors to create community. Cities that invest in welcoming public spaces and make it easier to host small events often discover that residents do the rest. Joy, it turns out, is remarkably self-organizing.

That matters for reasons beyond entertainment, because communities where people regularly gather become more resilient. Neighbors who have shared meals, music, and celebrations are more likely to recognize one another, lend a hand after a storm, or check on someone during a heat wave. The healthiest cities are not simply efficient. They are places where people genuinely enjoy being together.

As another Portland summer w inds dow n, I hope we take advantage of these long evenings. Walk instead of drive when you can. Stop at the food cart or the taqueria with the line of regulars. Listen when you hear music drifting across the park. Stay for the conversation after the event ends. Host a potluck block party with your neighbors. Cities are built over decades Community is built one gathering at a time.

Place Stories

A question for readers: What place in or around Concordia makes you feel most connected to your neighborhood? Maybe it’s a park, a food cart, a café, a front porch, a community garden, or someplace entirely unexpected. Please share your story by emailing it to CNewsEditor@ConcordiaPDX.org, with the subject line “Place Stories.” Your letter may be published in a future issue of Concordia News.

Garlynn Woodsong is a Concordia neighbor, planner, and dad who cares deeply about the city his son will inherit. His work centers on housing, climate action, and the everyday design of walkable, people focused communities. He welcomes ideas and questions from readers at garlynn42@gmail.com.

Concert in the Park Returns to Fernhill with Grupo Masato

Posted on July 25, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Events

By Cathy McCarthy | Contributing Writer

8/6, 12:15pm Update: THE CONCERT IS CONFIRMED FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Concert in the Park is returning to Fernhill Park, and this year’s Portland Parks & Recreation Summer Free For All concert will feature Grupo Masato, a Portland-based band whose Peruvian cumbia, chicha, and Afro-Peruvian sounds are made for movement. The event will be on Thursday, August 6th, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

Grupo Masato was co-founded in Portland in 2015 by Greg Klein and Otto Gygax. The band focuses largely on Peruvian music from the late 1960s and early 1970s, when musicians began blending Andean pan flute melodies with electric guitars influenced by surf rock, then layering those sounds over cumbia rhythms from Colombia.

The result became known as chicha music — bright, rhythmic, and full of motion. Chicha features layered guitars, keyboard, percussion, and vocals coming together in a sound that is upbeat, spacious, and easy to dance to. It is music that invites people in, whether they are ready to dance near the stage, move with kids on the grass, or simply tap along from a blanket or lawn chair. Many of Grupo Masato’s songs are covers from Peru, along with a few originals, and the band often stretches shorter songs into longer arrangements so the rhythm has time to build. Neighbors who want a preview can listen to Grupo Masato at grupomasato.com.

That dance-friendly energy is part of what makes Grupo Masato such a natural fit for a summer concert at Fernhill Park. Klein said Portland park concerts tend to bring out some of the band’s most enthusiastic crowds, with audiences responding to the music together in a way that feels different from a club performance. For him, that shared experience is part of what makes live neighborhood events matter.

“Community and live music are deeply important,” Klein says. “Live music can’t be replaced.”

At the concert, Concordia Neighborhood Association, Concordia Tree Team, and University of Oregon will be hosting community tables and there will be family-friendly activities on the lawn including crafts, temporary tattoos, and lawn games. In addition, performance artist The Traveling Typist will be creating poetry on-thespot. Don’t forget blankets and a lawn chair! Neighbors are encouraged to pack a picnic or purchase food onsite and make an evening of it.

PLAN YOUR EVENING SUMMER FREE FOR ALL CONCERT: GRUPO MASATO

TIME: 6:30–8:30 PM
LOCATION: Fernhill Park, NE 37th and Ainsworth

Bike Decorating and Parade – CANCELLED (only the bike parade has been cancelled)

Cathy McCarthy grew up in Concordia and, after years away, is glad to once again call the neighborhood home. She serves on the CNA board and leads the Social Committee. In her free time, you’ll find her out exploring the city and enjoying time outdoors.

Concordia Neighborhood Hosts Its Own Pride Party This Month

Posted on July 9, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Dina Sage | Concordia New Editor

Last year, Javier Puga-Phillips approached the Portland Pride Association (PPA) with a fresh idea – hosting an official Portland Pride event right here in Concordia. PPA, who has been running the waterfront event since 1975 and who hosts satellite events in other neighborhoods, was amenable. “I told them that pride is about making people welcome right where they live,” says Javier, a realtor who moved to Concordia from West Hollywood, California in 2020 with his husband.

After getting permission, Javier began planning the party and connected with Take Two General Manager Dennis Lindsey to reestablish the Concordia Neighborhood Pride Association, an organization that hasn’t been active since two years ago when Javier was the Chair of the CNA Social Committee.

The event is slated for Sunday July 19th and will take place at Concordia Commons after the Portland Pride Parade Downtown. The city of Portland has also agreed to shut down traffic on the adjacent block between NE Emerson and Killingsworth for the event. Drag performers, DJs and dancers will be performing at the party and Javier himself will be emceeing alongside cohost Meesha Peru. Ms. Peru is one of Portland’s most celebrated drag queens, a former Miss International and the city’s first Miss Gay Latino. There will be drinks from Take Two who recently announced its upcoming closure, and food from both Gabiano’s and Gabi’s. There will also be booths representing LGBTQ+ organizations and other community resources.

One such resource is Educate Ya, a Portland-based non-profit organization geared towards helping Hispanics and Latinos with cultural integration through bilingual health, leadership and education programs. In organizing the event, it is important to Javier to be able to support both gay and Latino communities. “I know a little something about those things,” says Javier, who was born in Mexico. Javier sits on the board of Educate Ya and 5% of the money that the event makes will be going to support it.

Why should you attend? Javier says, “Pride celebration should be about connecting with community and raising our voices. We are not a community that is going to step down; we’re going to step up, be loud and we want to be seen. Concordia’s 2026 Pride celebration is a way to support queer Latinos in the community who are in need of help. It is at the heart of Concordia. NE Pride started right here.” Learn more at tinyurl.com/2599h8ts.

Dina Sage loves engaging in the arts and being outdoors. She has been in Portland since 2011 and lives with her husband, daughter and their pets.

Slough Stew: Stories on the Columbia Part 1 – An Untapped Neighborhood Treasure

Posted on July 5, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Keith K. Daellenbach | Contributing Writer

Slough Stew is a new series focused on all things Columbia Slough.
The Columbia Slough offers opportunities for outdoor adventure, wildlife viewing and is a window into our region’s history. Photo by Keith Daellenbach.

For all the parks in Portland’s metropolitan area, one large open space flies below the radar as if it were a secret, the Columbia Slough. This watershed is 32,700 acres in size and supports a large wetland habitat stretching from Troutdale to North Portland. It looms large in our neighborhood’s collective consciousness, always present but largely unknown and seemingly impenetrable.

At its heart is a slow-moving stream corridor that flows east-towest and parallel to the Columbia River connecting neighborhoods, natural areas, and industrial lands. It is a vital part of the Lower Columbia Estuary as one of 28 estuaries in the EPA’s National Estuary Program.

170,000 people including those in the Concordia neighborhood, or four percent of all Oregonians, call the watershed home. However, 95 percent of these residents live upland of the slough and are, in a way, separated from the slough itself by N.E. Columbia Boulevard. The slough connects to multiple segments of the 40-mile loop and regional trail system, now 70 percent completed, for pedestrians and bicyclists linking parks, open space, and vehicle-free trails.

The Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District (UFSWQD) is a special district under the Oregon statute that operates and maintains the 27 miles of levees, including the primary levee along the northern boundary of the slough along Marine Drive and 12 pump stations. According to UFSWQD, the slough has 40 miles of slough and stream waterways.

According to the 40-Mile Loop Land Trust compilation, which does not account for riparian habitat immediately adjacent to primary and secondary streams, the Columbia Slough contains 2,560-acres of natural habitat in no less than 12 publicly owned open spaces. If the slough were a park, it would be the second largest park in metropolitan Portland behind Forest Park (5,200 acres) and ahead of Tryon Creek State Natural Area (658 acres).

In the slough, although not adjacent to the primary waterway, is the delightful City of Portland’s 27-acre Columbia Children’s Arboretum (10040 N.E. 6th Drive). This article series seeks to connect residents to the slough, reveal historical, cultural, and natural history perspectives, as well as how to access, recreate in, and, ultimately, protect the slough.

Keith Daellenbach is a mechanical engineer and outdoor enthusiast who loves mountain climbing, skiing, biking, canoeing, and beekeeping with his wife Amy and son Micah.

Community Voices Tree Trimming: A Concordia Controversy

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News, Trees

By Amanda Krzyzanowski | Contributing Writer

“I do not support any trimming that goes beyond the state requirements and regulations, and puts trees at risk for breakage, disease, or death.” — Kary Aloveah, Concerned Concordia Resident
Large Oregon Oak with the classic V shape cut around the power line. Photo by Amanda Krzyzanowski.

As we navigate life after the Labor Day Fires of 2020, our community is facing an increasingly concerned power company (PGE in Concordia) balanced against a real need for street tree canopies whose shade decreases reliance on AC as summers get hotter.

Navigating our responsibility in creating neighborhood tree canopy leads us down two distinct paths: before trees are planted and after. Before a tree is planted, consider the mature height and canopy spread of what you plant, and where you plant it. We need trees in our neighborhoods. We also need thoughtful planting choices that protect those trees long-term, keeping them out of conflict with the lines overhead. But where do we go with existing canopies that must coexist with power lines?

We are stuck in a tangle of bureaucratic regulations and enforcement. Vegetation management requirements around power lines are split between federal and state regulations, with the city and the power company owning the objects. The city owns the street trees; the power company owns the poles. This is a textbook example of a difficult case in civic engagement.

The federal government oversees higher-voltage transmission lines, but gives the state jurisdiction over the lower-voltage distribution lines that run through neighborhoods and into our homes. In Oregon the specific minimum clearance requirements vary based on line voltage (OAR 860-024-0016.) Portland steps in only to protect its assets, the trees.

The power company is ultimately responsible for meeting state requirements and does the actual work and they outsource to tree trimming companies who are supposed to have an arborist on staff . Complaints can be filed with the City of Portland, Pacific Power, and the Oregon Public Utility Commission, all of whom have forms you can fill out, based on a specific tree issue.

But there’s a bigger, umbrella issue here: navigating these systems isn’t easy. How would you know without following a weeks-long path of redirection, like Kary faced? Our laws and regulations were written by lawyers for lawyers.

There are often avenues for citizen access, we just have to find them. They require understanding layers of government jurisdiction and knowing which agencies hold which authority. The text of the law isn’t usually navigable, but the agencies and stakeholders are our avenue to access. This knowledge gap shouldn’t be a barrier to civic participation.

What we need are accessible civics courses in Oregon. The tangle of enforcement and responsibility around our power lines is just one example of why this education matters.

Amanda Krzyzanowski, PhD, is an educator, lifelong learner, and board member of the Concordia Neighborhood Association, where she serves as Chair of the Land Use Committee. With a background in higher education and community organizing, she enjoys exploring politics and shared experiences that shape our neighborhood.

From the Board – Meet Amanda Krzyznowski, CNA’s New Land Use Committee Chair

Posted on June 3, 2026 by Web Manager Posted in Concordia News

By Dina Sage | Concordia News Managing Editor

The Concordia Neighborhood Association board is a group of 13 volunteers who all live in, work in or own property in Concordia. They are dedicated to helping the community and meet once a month to discuss neighborhood issues and plan events.

How did you come to get involved with the CNA board?

I met the Land Use and Transportation (LUTC) Committee chair, Rich Burton, at Extracto. I was chatting with someone I met who was from Texas (like me) and he introduced me to Rich. I knew the board existed but I thought they just did social events. I didn’t know there was also a Land Use Committee and I didn’t know they did advocacy for the neighborhood. Rich told me was resigning. A month later I went to a meeting and got nominated for the LUTC chair position.

What are you hoping to accomplish on the board?

I grew up in Houston and not having zoning there had a strong impact on what happened to a neighborhood, so I have a lot of interest in government structures. I would like to learn more about what the neighborhood wants and I want to be a voice for the community.

I’m hoping to reinvigorate the Land Use and Transportation committee. I changed the monthly meeting time from Wednesdays to the second Tuesday of the month, which is the Tuesday right before the board meeting. I would love to invite anyone from the neighborhood to join us.

Where do you live?

I live right on Killingsworth between NE 36th and 37th. My partner and I bought the house in April 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. We moved here from Dallas and nature is what brought us here. We wanted to live close to the gorge but within the city.

At that time, we didn’t know it would be a loud street. Our home is gated and my dogs have a great time meeting people on the street and at the bus stop, but it is hard to back out my car.

What is your favorite thing about Concordia?

I love the walkability; there’s so many coff ee shops. I’m kind of a nerd and we looked at statistics for the neighborhood- this one met all the criteria in terms of safety, diversity, and ratio of owners to renters. The safety stats are divided into violent and non-violent crimes.

We wanted to avoid living in an area with violent crimes and Concordia fi t the bill. We are a young couple and we are not planning to have kids so we wanted a place that was family-friendly but not family-focused.

What are your favorite hobbies / past times?

I enjoy hiking, I have a thing for waterfalls and I try to go to waterfalls weekly on Waterfall Wednesday. I like to garden. I started a giant vegetable garden and I’ve been fi guring out how to add aesthetically-pleasing native plants.

My partner is working on getting his Master’s in Stats and Data Science at PSU. I like spending time with my two border collies, a 9-year old male named Jura and a 1 ½ year old female named Talisker. They both have Scottish names.

How has the neighborhood changed since you moved here?

We were nervous about how the pandemic would impact small businesses and we were happy that the neighborhood didn’t change too much. The things we loved about Concordia then are still true now.

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