Oregon Convention Center:
Martin Luther King, Jr. / Alberta

NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd
Gateway and Heritage Markers Project

UPDATE

Construction of the gateway site with four 20-foot markers is anticipated to start in early Spring 2011 and will be funded by the Portland Development Commission

Final Concept Master Plan for Gateway and Heritage Markers :
NE Martin Luther King Gateway and Heritage Markers Concept Master Plan
Concept Master Plan Summary

The Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Gateway and Heritage Markers project, located in the Oregon Convention Center Urban Renewal Area, is scheduled for design review in early October of 2010. The project consists of the redevelopment of the gateway site into Portland’s inner northeast neighborhoods. The gateway site consists of a triangular-shaped parcel approximately 15, 500 square feet bounded by NE Schuyler Street, NE Hancock Street and NE Grand Avenue. It is owned by the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation.

The 1993 Albina Community Plan called for the identification of a gateway at the convergence of N.E. Grand Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd that would announce the entrance to a historic area of Portland, enhance the pedestrian environment, and incorporate multicultural public art. This project fulfills the longstanding community goal to enhance the identity and livability of the inner northeast neighborhoods. A Stakeholder Advisory Group consisting of area residents and business owners guided the project development from the Concept Master Plan through final design.

The gateway consists of a plaza that provides space for community gatherings and events. Featured in the plaza are four 20 foot high weathering steel heritage markers with sixteen interpretive markers that honor the history of the North Northeast neighborhoods in four major themes; Community, Civil Rights, Immigration/Migration, and Commerce and Culture. The perforated weathering steel fence surrounding the plaza buffers the plaza from the heavy traffic flow on NE Grand Avenue while allowing clear sight lines into the plaza. The fence and heritage markers will be lit with energy efficient LED lights creating a soft glow for nighttime interest. Canopy trees in the plaza define the space and provide shade and seasonal color for the visitors.

A later phase of the project proposes the continuation of the heritage markers themes at six strategic locations along NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. from NE Russell to NE Ainsworth St.

It is anticipated that ground breaking will occur around the first of 2011.