Portland’s Irvington Neighborhood, A Virtual Tour

Irvington is a Northeast Portland neighborhood that was originally part of the Donation Land Claim of 1851. Today, it is a thriving community of single-family homes and apartment buildings. The southern boundary of Irvington is NE Broadway Street. Boasting numerous restaurants, shops, and other services along this southern boundary (Things From Another World games and comic shop, barber shops, the tidy gas station Fastrack, veterinarian clinic, etc.), it makes for a great biking and pedestrian-friendly area of Portland. Catch the bus on Broadway to get to downtown in just minutes. The Pearl District is also just past the Broadway Bridge, so there is direct and efficient access to other neighborhoods. It is also close enough to the on-ramps for I-84 and I-5 (but not too close!). The northern boundary is Fremont Street, also a haven for shopping and dining.

Coming Full Circle

The Portland Streetcar was implemented in 1889, connecting more neighborhoods. Its relevance peaked in 1912, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s website. The original Portland Streetcar service ended in 1950. The modern version of the Portland Streetcar, more efficient and practical for modern roadways, was implemented in 2001. Alas, history does repeat itself.

Having once lived in this neighborhood myself, it is near and dear to me. Please enjoy a selection of photos collected over the recent years and seasons. If you’d like to read a more extensive history on Irvington, please visit the Irvington Neighborhood Association’s National Park Service’s National Register Nomination submission. Enjoy the tour!

Photo Gallery

tudor style home — Craftsman half-timber home

scooter in front of home — Great place to ride a scooter

home with hand sanitizer in entry — Hand sanitizer adorning the entryway

yellow stately manor home — Another stately style

queen anne victorian home — Queen Anne Style

black cat chilling by wall — Black cats are my favorite

cat crossing street — Cat walking the clean streets

large tree in fall — Majestic fall colors

home decorated for halloween — Halloween

orange rose in bloom — You can almost smell this rose

home christmas lights — Home decorated with Christmas lights

meringue pies and babka — Goodies at Helen Bernhard Bakery

bulbous tree growth — Interesting trees abound

vintage red car under fall tree — Vintage car in front of Central Lutheran Church in Fall

mushrooms — Take time to notice the little things

black and white cat climbing leg — The cats are very friendly

Portland’s Winter Light Festival Illuminates Riverfront

The Portland Winter Light Festival dazzled us this past weekend! The fifth anniversary of a newer Portland tradition spans the east and west side of the Willamette River. We enjoyed the impressive collaborative outdoor installations, giving us a chance to explore a different, temporary side of our beautiful city at night. Some of the installations featured here: Technicolor Dreamboat by Holst Architecture in collaboration with The Good Mod; Synapse by Cap Crescent; DiscoBug by Tyler FuQua Creations. See my Instagram story for the video experience, Strands of Dreams by Fritz Koenig, Smit Shah, and Zao Naegele.

We enjoyed a fantastic end to our evening with a walk across the Tilikum Crossing under a beautiful Snow Moon, the first supermoon of 2020, as we took in the Eastside displays of the Portland Winter Light Festival. The images here do not do the festival justice, of course, as it is a three-dimensional experience you just have to see in person. If you’re a stats geek (as I am), you may download their 2019 infographic to view the festival’s economic impact on the city. Discover more of this festival on Instagram at @PDXWLF.

couple selfie in glasses — Technicolor Dreamboat by Holst Architecture in collaboration with The Good Mod

PWLF Logo

multicolor light display representing neural network — Synapse by Cap Crescent

mosaic mirrored volkswagen bug — DiscoBug by Tyler FuQua Creations

people in front of illuminated columns at night

colorful ropes of light at night — Strands of Dreams by Fritz Koenig, Smit Shah & Zao Naegele

tilikum crossing bridge architecture with full moon peering through — Tilikum Crossing by Moonlight

downtown waterfront nighttime tilikum crossing bridge with reflection — Tilikum Crossing

large brushed steel fan blade colored by red and blue lights at night

bare winter trees uplit with colorful lights

Winter Cleaning Tips & Tricks For The Environment

sign in front of house shows globes and Greta Person of the Year — Northeast Portland resident’s tribute to Greta Thunberg

Published January 13, 2020

Western culture celebrates the merits of spring cleaning, but what if we shifted our focus to our homes during the winter, where we Pacific Northwesterners spend most of our lives during the cold and rainy season? And what if we approached our homes’ cleanliness and orderliness from an environmental perspective?

The Japanese tradition of “o-souji” may be extreme for our multi-room, multi-level homes, but we could apply some of the principles to indoor home maintenance and living at the beginning of a new year. An oversimplified explanation of the principle is based on the removal of everything from the home, cleaning/airing everything inside and out, and putting back only the essentials. We’ve all heard about the Kondori Method (Marie Kondo) of putting everything in a pile and keeping only the things that “spark joy.” This could work for each room of the home, including the garage.

Moving

If you’ve recently bought a home and are preparing to move, this is an excellent time to exorcise the things that are weighing you down. Set a box aside for things you don’t want. Place them into the box as you remove items from shelves for packing. You will probably go through another filtering process as you unpack. Keep in mind that what you donate, you will not need to find a home for in your new space. For people in the Portland-metro area, refer to my list of places to donate once you’ve parsed out the things you can leave behind.

Re-gifting

You could also create categories for some items, such as those that could be re-gifted. While it’s “the thought that counts,” ask yourself if this is something the person you’re giving to needs, wants, or would appreciate. If they, too, are making efforts to streamline their homes, consider gifts such as consumables, experiences, or a donation to their favorite charity in their name. Over the holidays, my wife and I participated in the Icelandic tradition of re-gifting books we had read to others in the family. It not only recirculates beloved reading material, but provides a basis for conversation at the next gathering.

Recycling

There have been stricter regulations on what may and may not be put in the recycling bins here in the Portland area. Please refer to Metro’s guide for recycling waste. If you have Styrofoam you’d like to recycle, please contact me about collection. I frequently travel by Agilyx who recycles Styrofoam and #5, so I’d be happy to make a run for our community.

Bags

Oregon now charges 5 cents per bag (yes, even paper ones!) at all stores. Consider making totes out of scraps of fabric you already have stored for that some-day craft project. Or see if your creative friend would make one for you with your materials. Buying new non-biodegradable but reusable petroleum-based bags might not be the perfect solution, but you can make your own change by using what you already have.

What are some other tips you’d like to share for your environmentally-conscious winter cleaning projects?

Eight Ways to Uncover Cash You Always Had

What if your own money was just waiting there for you to notice it?

Here are eight ways to uncover some cash you might have forgotten about or never knew you had:

via GIPHY

Published December 24, 2019

1. Unclaimed Property

Check with your state’s Unclaimed Property website to see if you have any uncashed checks, customer credits (for example, from a utility after a move), inactive bank accounts, and unapplied deposits. The State of Oregon also has a database to search for unclaimed military medals and insignia.

2. Venmo and Paypal

When was the last time you logged into these accounts? That time you had to set it up for an online transaction or an ebay sale or purchase might have left you with some leftovers. It might be time to update your password and email anyway, so go ahead and take a look.

3. Escrow account

Do you pay your property tax out of an escrow account along with your mortgage payment? Has your property tax ever fluctuated? Then you might want to call your mortgage company’s escrow department to see if there’s an overage that could be disbursed.

4. Credit Card Statements

Do you check your credit card bill line items each month? If not, go ahead and take a peek to see if there are any recurring charges. Are you still wanting to donate $50 on a monthly basis to a charity that might not be as active as it once was (and if so, are you deducting that from your taxes)? Or do you subscribe to a training website that you’ve never used? Yes, I know that example is super specific! Check it out to see if there are any automatic payments you’re making that you’d like to adjust.

5. Credit Card Cash Back and Points

If you have a cash back credit card, have you checked to see how much you have banked? Discover Card links with Amazon so you can apply cash back funds towards your purchase. How about your points? It’s possible your next vacation may be funded already. If you have an Alaska Airlines credit card, be sure to take advantage of their annual companion fare, too.

6. Netflix/Hulu/Amazon

This is in line with the Credit Card Statements idea, but you will want to check with your partner and/or housemates about who is subscribing to what. A friend told me she and her husband both had been subscribing to Hulu, so when she called about it, they credited her with 7 months’ worth of charges. $85 is a nice bottle of wine (or two or three)!

7. Cable/Internet/Phone Bill

When was the last time you checked your cable bill to see if you want to continue subscribing to channels you’re being charged for? At any time over the course of your contract, you can call to see if your provider has any promotions. I’m not saying you should go so far as to threaten to cancel (though some report this as an effective tactic), but a phone call to see what’s being offered might surprise you. Accepting a new deal may kick you back to the beginning of a 3-month, one-year, or two-year contract, so be sure to mark on your calendar when the time is almost up to make adjustments or another call. And sure, phoning the cable company is hardly a joy, but if it saves you a few hundred dollars, that’s a few hundred dollars for a half hour’s worth of work.

8. Coat Pockets

And finally, while not the most reliable or recommended way to save money, do check all your old pockets—pants and coats alike—before donating. There are some pretty whacky stories out there about what thrift store shoppers and clerks have found!

What are some ways you’ve uncovered cash? Drop me a line and let me know!

‘Tis the season for giving and gratitude!

November 22, 2019

‘Tis the season for giving and gratitude! I’m honored and humbled to have participated in the following charities this past year. If you’re preparing your house with a “winter clean” in anticipation of guests (or the new year for that tax write-off) and are looking for places to donate clothing and household goods, please see my suggested charities. Feel free to post charities of your choice as well—always good to expand the list!

Charity Roundup

Children’s Cancer Association Wonderball While this year’s figures are not yet available, CCA raised $1.2 Million at last year’s Wonderball. My wife and I were proud to attend and contribute in association with Mark Aalto of Advantage Mortgage and his wife who hosted our table.

SOLVE Beach Cleanup has become a family tradition. This year’s efforts were the result of over 4,900 volunteers collecting and removing an estimated 21,000 pounds of litter. Sign up with me for 2020: https://www.solveoregon.org

22KILL – Veterans suicide prevention through mental wellness and empowerment programs. This organization is especially important to me since my dad was a veteran of the Vietnam War. I have donated to and participated in golf tournaments benefiting 22KILL. Please visit their website for more info.

Cat Adoption Team Not only have I donated to CAT, but we have adopted cat family members from this great organization. They also accept donations at their charity thrift store, so please check out what they accept before donating.

We have also donated to and adopted cat family members from Oregon Humane Society – https://www.oregonhumane.org

From L-R: Chris Kane of Portland Bankruptcy Law Group, Me, Kyra Olsen of Rose & Thistle, and Al Ekman.

Kiwanis Doernbecher Children’s Cancer Program Portland Golf Tournament I’ve been a volunteer organizer and hosted two golf teams for this event for the last four years.

Friends of Outdoor School I was an Outdoor School counselor at Camp Meriwether when I was a Junior and Senior at Tillamook High School, so donating to this charity is close to my roots.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge I have donated to and volunteered at FCG since the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017. My wife and I have also purchased Timbers/Thorns scarves representing Columbia River and Multnomah Falls. Those purchases have helped fund efforts to restore the area.

Donation Guide

If you would like to donate to a local charity, below are some organizations to consider. Always check with the charity for donation guidelines prior to donating. Some of these organizations offer to pick up your items for a small fee.

Community Warehouse
William Temple House
Schoolhouse Supplies
Mainspring
Transition Projects

Surveying Portland, One Marker At A Time

Ever wonder how a lot that a house or condo complex sits on came about in the Portland metro area?

I was walking in Southeast Portland recently and noticed a stone marker near Lone Fir Cemetery. Curious about it, as it clearly wasn’t a headstone, I discovered that it is one of many old survey markers in the area. My thirst for history, as always, lead me on an inquisitive search for more information.

One of the cemetery boundaries used to be called Baseline Road. You may now recognize it by its current name, Southeast Stark Street. It is named for the baseline of the Willamette Meridian (see photos at end of this article), which runs east to the Idaho border and west to the Pacific Ocean. The Willamette Meridian was established in 1851 by Oregon’s first Surveyor General, John B. Preston. According to the Oregon Encyclopedia, the “Willamette Meridian was selected as the only principal meridian necessary to survey all of what is now Oregon and Washington.” This designation is the basis for all Pacific Northwest land surveys to this day.

why is this relevant to you?

If you want to modify something on your property, such as putting up a fence, it’s always a good idea to check your property’s plat to verify the legal boundaries. Sometimes a neighbor has something built beyond the boundary, and depending on conditions such as use of land or other factors, adverse possession may be enforced. Adverse possession is different from an easement. An easement is a legal allowance for access to property, such as allowing Comcast to provide cable lines up to your dwelling. If you would like to have a property properly surveyed, you should hire a Professional Land Surveyor who is licensed by the state.

Resources

SAIL – Survey and Assessor Image Locator is a place to find survey certificates for an address in Multnomah County. This ESRI map provides more detailed information on property boundaries than PortlandMaps.com.

Professional Land Surveyors’ Guide to Selecting an Oregon Land Surveyor.

To look up a license of a land surveyor, the state website advises to call their office at 503-362-2666 to get the most accurate information.

Advantages to Buying a Home in Oregon During Winter

There is a misperception that because Oregon is rainy in the winter, house hunting should happen between March and August. Sure, most new homes come onto the market then, but it is also the most competitive time to buy. You can often expect bids over asking price with multiple-offer situations, depending on the home’s price, condition, and location. Contrary to popular belief, for those who have not lived in Oregon, everything is dry in the summer. So if you’re looking in the fall/winter, you’ll be able to detect:

If the roof leaks
How well gutters drain
Standing water issues
If the basement leaks

These issues could indicate a bigger problem such as mold, which could require expensive remediation. They may also contribute to reducing the purchase price and/or ensuring repairs are completed prior to closing.

More advantages to a home search in the winter, aside from walking in the rain:

Sellers in winter months may have a home that was either overpriced, had condition issues, or is in not as a desirable location. These factors can cause their home to sit on the market.
There could be personal reasons driving the desire to sell in off-season, such as a job change.
Sellers are more motivated on price and repairs.
Motivation to sell before the holidays could be about getting the family settled quickly into a new home and having a budget to buy family presents.
Perhaps there’s a tax reason for trying to sell before the close of the year.

If you are hesitant to start your home search now, I hope this information helps with a different perspective on timing your search. I’d be happy to show you around Portland. Just drop me a line.

Donuts, Dive Bars, Drinks, and Dual-Needs Dining

August 7, 2019

Portland has experienced explosive growth over the last 20 years. This means some mainstays have weathered the influx of population, while new places have given us a fresh look at culinary experiences. Here is my list of top fives in the categories of donuts, dive bars, drinks, and dual-needs dining. Tell me if your favorites are missing from this list!

Donuts

Coco Donuts – Six locations in Portland where you can choose from cake or yeast. Apple fritter, hello!

bite taken out of custard-filled donut with coffee in background — *Boston Creme donut at Coco Donuts on NE Broadway*

Blue Star – Known for their brioche-style donuts, Blue Star also has vegan options. Eight locations in Portland.
Sesame Donuts – Seven locations in the Portland-metro area, with one right downtown.
Pip’s Original – This place always has a line on weekends, so better to visit during the week. 4759 NE Fremont
Annie’s Donuts – My personal favorite! 3449 NE 72^nd (at Sandy Blvd.)

Dive Bars

I’ve culled these selections to represent different neighborhoods across Portland. Enter at your own risk!

Goose Hollow Inn / Southwest – Founded over 50 years ago by former Mayor Bud Clark, the Goose Hollow Inn is a cozy local watering hole serving up sandwiches with carrot sticks in lieu of French fries. 1927 SW Jefferson St.
Rose & Thistle / Northeast – Going strong for over 25 years, the back patio of this place can easily accommodate large groups. 2341 NE Broadway
Rose & Thistle Pub

My Father’s Place / Inner Southeast – Serving up copious amounts of grease and beer, you’ll never know you are no longer in 1978. Rumor has it, the carpet was replaced recently. 523 SE Grand Ave.
Joe’s Cellar / Northwest – a staple for Longshoreman and industrial graveyard shift workers (opens at 7 am), Joe’s has pool tables, video lottery, cozy booths and a u-shaped bar for patrons’ easy access to drinks. 1332 NW 21st Ave.
The Lodge Bar & Grill / Southeast – Spacious patio, occasional live music, pool table and breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 6605 SE Powell Blvd.

Drinks

Cabezon – hands down the best Old Fashioned I’ve ever had. Try the cioppino to get a taste of everything.
Taqueria Nueve – extensive tequila and mezcal offerings in a bright, colorful, airy setting. Within walking distance to Doug Fir Lounge if you’re headed to a show.
Matador East – speaking of extensive tequila menu, this place also has an amazing happy hour food value. The watermelon aqua fresca is a great non-alcoholic option. Choose from eastside or westside location.
The Goose (formerly Esparza’s) – Open for happy hour!
Teote House Café – Awesome back patio; counter service; gluten-free. 1615 SE 12th Ave.

When you’ve converted to veganism and your relatives visit:

La Cocina – No website to show you their giant menu, but they easily and willingly (gasp) accommodate dietary specifications. Open Monday – Saturday, 11 am – 9 pm; closed Sunday. 3939 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Gravy – Mini iron-skillet-shaped crispy hash browns? Vegan or non-vegan namesake gravy? This breakfast joint has you covered. 3957 NE Mississippi and 3101 NE Sandy
Harlow – Vegan by default, adding eggs is optional. Breakfast and lunch. 3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Laughing Planet – Super casual, quick lunchtime options that won’t break your diet. Ten locations in Portland!
Shandong – Lunchtime is the best deal for this modern Chinese food joint, but dinnertime is also popular. 3724 NE Broadway

Honorable Mention goes to Eclectic Café for being a paleo-leaning casual eatery.

Landlord-Tenant Law in Portland, Oregon

July 12, 2019

Are you a homeowner who rents your property for residential use?

The recent landlord-tenant law changes in Oregon, and Portland specifically, might have you wondering where you stand. The correlation between housing costs/availability and the homeless crisis has spurred lawmakers of the state and City of Portland to enact legally enforceable regulations regarding rent increase caps, no-cause eviction notification timelines, and sizeable penalties for such violations. One thing is for certain: the tenant-landlord regulations are more stringent, making it more important than ever for small-time landlords to know how to properly navigate them.

If you own four or fewer rental properties, you need to know that in some no-cause eviction cases, you will want to file an exemption and have it approved prior to providing your tenant a 90-day notice to vacate. The city lists those 12 exemptions on its website (also below). True to form, the devil is in the details, including times. An eviction notice should have not just the vacancy deadline date, but the time as well. For example, state: “November 1, 2019 by 11:59 pm.” Better yet, hire a rental management company who can help you with the details. Otherwise, you will want to review your options with a legal professional before making any decisions. In the meantime, here is a starting point for navigating the new regulations as they pertain to landlord-tenant law in Oregon and the City of Portland.

Oregon Senate Bill 608 summary reads:

Prohibits landlord from terminating month-to-month tenancy without cause after 12 months of occupancy. Provides exception for certain tenancies on building or lot used by landlord as residence. Allows landlord to terminate tenancy with 90 days’ written notice and payment of one month’s rent under certain conditions. Exempts landlord managing four or fewer units from payment of one month’s rent. Provides that fixed term tenancy becomes month-to-month tenancy upon ending date if not renewed or terminated. Allows landlord to not renew fixed term tenancy if tenant receives three lease violation warnings within 12 months during term and landlord gives 90 days’ notice. Limits rent increases for residential tenancies to one per year. Limits maximum annual rent increase to seven percent above annual change in consumer price index. Requires Oregon Department of Administrative Services to publish maximum annual rent increase percentage.

There are 12 exemptions for landlords who otherwise would be required to pay relocation assistance in the City of Portland.

Rental Agreements for week-to-week tenancies.
Landlords whose Principal Residence is in the same Dwelling Unit as the Tenant. *
Landlords whose Principal Residence is in the same Duplex as the Tenant. *
Tenants who live in an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on the same property as the Landlord.
Landlords who temporarily rent out their Principal Residence during an absence of 3 years or less. *
Landlords who temporarily rent out their Principal Residence during an absence due to active duty military service. *
Termination of a Rental Agreement so the Landlord can move an immediate family member into the Dwelling Unit. The immediate family member CANNOT be the Landlord, their spouse, or any person who has been an owner of the Dwelling Unit within the past 12 months.
Dwelling Units regulated by federal, state or local governments as Affordable Housing for a period of at least 60 years.
Dwelling Units undergoing acquisition, rehabilitation or demolition for federally funded projects subject to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. These Dwelling Units are subject to federal, rather than city, relocation assistance laws.
Dwelling Units rendered immediately uninhabitable NOT due to the action or inaction of the Landlord or Tenant. Such events include, but are not limited to, natural or human-caused disasters.
Dwelling Units rented for less than 6 months while subject to a demolition permit submitted BEFORE the Rental Agreement began.
Dwelling Units where the Landlord provides a fixed-term Rental Agreement (example: 1-year lease), notifying the Tenant in writing BEFORE the Rental Agreement began that upon expiration of the lease the Dwelling Unit would be sold or permanently converted to a use OTHER THAN as a Dwelling Unit subject to Oregon’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

*See Interim Administrative Rules for definition of principal residence.

Re-printed from PortlandOregon.gov

Rental Cap

Most importantly, the rental cap in Portland is ~7% plus prime (about 10% as of this publish date). How likely are you to rent or sell your investment property because of the landlord-tenant laws? Do you think these laws will affect the housing market in any way? Will renters have fewer options if landlords sell? Will future renters be protected by rent that has already seen historically high rates? As usual, time will tell. In the meantime, protect your investment by knowing what the rules are. If you are not in Portland, Oregon, please check with your city’s ordinance for particular Acts relating to landlord-tenant law.

Ordinances and codes are subject to change. I am not an attorney and may not dispense legal advice. Please contact me if you would like a referral to an attorney.

Portland Murals Gallery

Published June 21, 2019

There’s been a growing fascination with emerging murals in Portland, Oregon, over the last few years.

The efforts to change mundane spaces into visually appealing and thought-provoking large-scale creative monuments have provided expressive avenues for artists. These projects have, in turn, enhanced the environment for residents and visitors alike.

Some of the artists featured in this gallery are:

David Flores
Rudi Broschofsky
Thomas Jackson
Jessie Weitz
Brianna Farin
@klutcho
@dominatah
@rupeezy
@opasit
@theearwig22
J. Shea
PablosMurals.com

You’ll notice not all murals are created by local artists. Incorporating international artists has stoked greater awareness of Portland’s art scene. If you’re interested in learning more, or if you’re an artist who would like to get involved, Forest For the Trees and Portland Street Art Alliance are local organizations that produce and promote street art (murals) in Portland. Some restaurants, bars, and retail shops have also commissioned works independently.

I hope you enjoy the following photos that highlight some of my finds in Portland. Let me know what you think, and feel free to tag me on Instagram (@seanbessorealty) with your Portland mural finds! I’ll be sure to add more as I come across them.