Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland articles from February 2005

Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland archives from February 2005

Portland State Univ. 'The Broadway' building signing retail tenants.
February 1, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Retail tenants should be opening shop in The Broadway, Portland State University's mixed-use property, by as early as August, officials at PSU said Monday. "We actually have commitments on all of the retail...

Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter meets to organize, recognize excellence.
February 1, 2005... Byline: Joe Wilson This year's theme for the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter's annual conference was "Envision what's possible and then do it," and that's just what almost 400 members started doing last weekend at...

Oregon Building Congress deputy director seeks to diversify industry.
February 1, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl As the leader of an organization whose stated mission is "to partner with educators to increase the quality and diversity of applicants into the building industry," Dick O'Connor thought it odd that the people...

Flexcar signs six-month contract with state of Oregon.
February 1, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl The Oregon Department of Administrative Services has signed a six-month contract with Flexcar, during which employees of participating agencies will be encouraged to use the nation's largest car-sharing service. ...

Survey: Landscape architecture firms growing across country.
February 2, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough The demand for landscape architecture services is growing significantly across the country, according to the latest Business Indicators Survey released by the American Society of Landscape Architects. The...

Vancouver picks Group Mackenzie for police station design.
February 2, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl The city of Vancouver, Wash., has selected Group Mackenzie to design its new east side police station. The $4.1-million East Precinct Station will occupy 26,700 square feet on a five-acre site at the northwest...

Oregon-based timber products company awarded Voluntary Protection Program Star Award.
February 2, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough Timber Products Spectrum Division, located in White City in Southern Oregon, has been awarded a Voluntary Protection Program Star Award from the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Oregon...

Oregon professional engineering associations raise money for tsunami relief.
February 2, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl More than a month after Indian Ocean tsunamis afflicted Southeast Asia, Oregon engineering firms are still raising funds to help with relief efforts. After circulating an e-mail Jan. 18 to peers with other...

Home Builders Assn. of Metropolitan Portland names 2004 Remodeler of the Year.
February 2, 2005... Byline: DJC Staff Lee Zajic of N.W. Renovations & Design Co. has been named 2004 Remodeler of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland. HBA Executive Director Dave Nielsen said Zajic's participation in the...

Technology companies working to deliver services via home wiring.
February 2, 2005... Byline: Dolan News Service (This article originally ran in New Orleans CityBusiness, New Orleans, LA, another Dolan Media publication). Within the next few years, connecting to the Internet may be as simple as plugging into a wall...

Washington House approves public works loans.
February 3, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Southwest Washington would get approximately $12.5 million in low- or no-interest loans if a bill passed by the state House of Representatives earlier this week becomes law. House Bill 1049 would fund 64...

Seattle firm designs award-winning home that uses spinach protein for energy.
February 3, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl The house of the future is a throwback to the past. An award-winning home design by seven employees of Mithun, a Seattle design firm, doesn't suggest this at first glance. It's anchored by an otherworldly,...

Investors buy Washington Center Tower and Mall in Portland.
February 3, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Eight "tenant in common" buyers have purchased Washington Center Tower and Mall in downtown Portland for $12.95 million. RealNet Investments LLC, facilitated the sale of the buildings, which occupy...

National Assn. of Women in Construction, Portland Chapter 54 needs volunteers to build Irish cottage.
February 3, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison The National Association of Women in Construction, Portland Chapter 54, is seeking chapter volunteers to help finish building a traditional Irish cottage that will be on display at the 2005 Home & Garden Show. ...

Portland selects East Side Big Pipe contractor.
February 4, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison The city of Portland will negotiate with the joint venture of Kiewit/Bilfinger Berger for a contract to build the East Side Big Pipe, passing over the firm that's currently constructing a companion project on the...

2010 Olympics mean business for Pacific Northwest building industry.
February 4, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Well before the torch is lit at the 2010 Winter Olympics, about $10 billion in infrastructure and facilities will have to be built in and around metropolitan Vancouver, British Columbia, and American firms may...

BetterBricks opens new daylighting lab at Washington State University.
February 4, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl BetterBricks has opened a new daylighting laboratory at Washington State University's Spokane, Wash., campus, the seventh in BetterBricks' daylighting lab network. The WSU Daylighting Design Studio, which will...

Year-long effort to spur investment, building kicks off in Portland.
February 4, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough Get Centered, a year-long series of events dedicated to helping developers, architects, and elected officials spur investment in and build the region's downtowns and main streets, kicked off last night in Portland....

Multnomah Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section hosts commercial litigation seminars.
February 4, 2005... Byline: DJC Staff The Multnomah Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section is hosting a series of one-hour seminars covering a wide range of commercial litigation issues. The weekly, one-hour seminars will be held every Monday from March...

Firsthand experience demonstrates need for law firms, lawyers network.
February 4, 2005... Byline: Jane Pribek (This article originally ran in Minnesota Lawyer, Minneapolis, MN, another Dolan Media publication). Everything happens for a reason. But no one wants to hear that when the bad news hits. For example, Minneapolis...

DoubleTree at Jantzen Beach to join Red Lion franchise.
February 4, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Out with the new, in with the old. The DoubleTree Hotel-Jantzen Beach is now a Red Lion hotel again. Private investors who recently bought the hotel from DoubleTree have entered into a franchise license...

Oregon-Columbia chapter of Associated General Contractors adds labor relations manager.
February 4, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl A former leader of the carpenters union will oversee labor relations for the Oregon-Columbia Chapter of Associated General Contractors. Tim De Gan, who has spent the last 24 years working in labor relations, was...

Portland Development Comm. delays developer selection because of public concerns.
February 7, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Any concerns that Portland Development Commission doesn't heed the public's advice should be assuaged by the delay of the Burnside Bridgehead developer selection, according to the commission's project manager. ...

Two Portlanders to open state's first organic brewery.
February 7, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison For Craig Nicholls and Jason McAdam, it's all about Roots. The two Portlanders plan to open Roots Organic Brewing Co., the state's first organic brewery, later this month. The business partners, who met eight...

Portland Development Commission adds fifth commissioner.
February 7, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl The Portland Development Commission last week gained its fifth commissioner, Bertha M. Ferran. Ferran was approved by the Portland City Council Feb. 2. A senior mortgage consultant with Windermere Mortgage...

Portland-based S.D. Deacon chosen for Woodburn outlet work.
February 7, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough Officials from Woodburn Company Stores announced late last week that they have awarded Portland-based S.D. Deacon Corp of Oregon the job of general contractor for a $1.6 million expansion project that will expand...

Malaysian architect Ken Yeang to give speech on ecological planning, design.
February 7, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl A renowned Malaysian architect will give a free speech today on ecological planning and design at Portland State University. Ken Yeang, a principal with T.R. Hamzah & Yeang, an internationally known architecture...

Pacific Northwest chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors honors new leaders.
February 7, 2005... Byline: DJC Staff Associated Builders and Contractors Pacific Northwest Chapter recently recognized its new leaders for 2005 at its annual Leadership Banquet at the Governor Hotel in Portland. Kerrie Sundeleaf, president of...

Trammell Crow to develop multiple building industrial park in Portland.
February 7, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Trammell Crow Co. recently announced it will develop Columbia Corporate Park I, a two-building industrial park to be located at 4630 and 4740 N.E. 166th Ave. in Portland. In March, Trammell Crow will close on...

Robnett Construction's Eagle project draws HVAC, accounting firms.
February 7, 2005... Byline: Idaho Business Review Staff Report (This article originally ran in Idaho Business Review, Boise, ID, another Dolan Media publication.) Robnett Construction expects to complete office-warehouse buildings of 12,000 square feet...

Risk management concerns for commercial real estate lawyers.
February 7, 2005... Byline: South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff (This article originally ran in South Carolina Lawyers Weekly, Columbia, SC, another Dolan Media publication.) As a real estate lawyer are you often asked to provide risk management advice to...

Portland owners rename building in downtown Reno, Nevada, 'Museum Tower'.
February 7, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Portland-based Capstone Partners LLC, and NBS Real Estate Capital have renamed the "Porsche building" in downtown Reno, Nev. The 12-story office building at 100 West Liberty will be called Museum Tower because...

Portland elementary school hosts Nat'l Assn. of Women in Construction's Block Kids Competition.
February 8, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough A slight hum could be heard as about 54 third, fourth and fifthgraders sat down in the cafeteria of Chief Joseph Elementary School in North Portland Friday morning and used various materials - and their imaginations...

Oregon OSHA's third annual Safety Break set for May 11.
February 8, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division has announced the third annual Safety Break for Oregon will take place May 11. Oregon OSHA coordinates the one-day event, designed to raise awareness and...

Portland Metro. Assn. of Building Owners and Managers event will honor real estate professionals.
February 8, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison The Portland Metropolitan Association of Building Owners and Managers will honor the city's top real estate professionals Thursday evening during "Celebrate BOMA," the group's event of the year. "It's a...

Portland-based retail chain Storables plans $300,000 Tigard remodel.
February 8, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Following a better-than-expected year at its new Pearl District store, Portland-based retail chain Storables said Monday it plans a $300,000 remodel of its Tigard location. Details of the makeover, which will...

Portland's Institute of Real Estate Management luncheon will cover green building design.
February 9, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Green building design will be the topic presented at the Institute of Real Estate Management's membership luncheon later this month. Rob Bennett, senior manager of the city of Portland's Office of Sustainable...

Oregon Dept. on Environmental Quality fines JRJ Restorations for asbestos violations.
February 9, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recently announced the agency has issued penalties for asbestos-related environmental violations that occurred during the remodeling of the Envoy Apartment Building,...

Portland's Metro members to discuss recycling at BOMA Box Lunch Series.
February 9, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Metro recycling planners will offer waste management advice to building managers and contractors at a Feb. 15 session of the BOMA Box Lunch Series. Robin Hawley and Bryce Jacobson, associate solid waste planners...

Oregon-based MulvannyG2 Architecture announces shift in leadership.
February 9, 2005... Byline: DJC Staff It's the passing of the torch at MulvannyG2 Architecture as Jerry Lee moves from his longtime role as chief executive officer into a new position as chairman of the architecture and design firm. The move is the latest...

National Best in American Living awards honors Portland style.
February 9, 2005... Byline: DJC Staff The Gardens on Fifteenth Avenue, built by Lake Oswego based Bridgewood Homes LLC, has been selected as the winner of two Best in American Living awards presented in January during the annual convention of the National...

Commentary: Shutting down your computer at night vs. leaving it on.
February 9, 2005... Byline: Rick Edvalson (This article originally ran in Idaho Business Review, Boise, Idaho, another Dolan Media publication). Our client was feeling a little guilty. "I just leave my computer running all the time," he told me. "I hate...

Trammell Crow moves into Portland condo market.
February 9, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough After years of mostly focusing on developing high-end apartment buildings in the Portland area, Trammell Crow Co. has entered into the condominium market with the company's latest development, The Vaux. "We have...

Green building advocate hopes Portland takes 'next step'.
February 9, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Ken Yeang hopes that what he sees as "exceptional" about Portland design doesn't become the city's architectural burden. Yeang, a renowned Malaysian architect who has gained fame through writings that advocate...

Oregon's Woodburn Company Stores makes room for Nike store.
February 9, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Making room for a Nike Factory Store prompted Woodburn Company Stores to add a recently announced $1.6 million expansion, the property's general manager said Tuesday. Mary Graves, general manager at Woodburn...

Portland Development Commission: Burnside project could bring $800M in redevelopment.
February 10, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison A project that would turn Burnside and Couch streets into a couplet could add as much as $800 million in redevelopment potential for the surrounding area, the Portland Development Commission has found. PDC...

Bridge shaping up in Tillamook Forest.
February 10, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl With the help of the largest mobile crane in Oregon, pieces of a nearly 300-foot long wood-and-cable suspension bridge are being lifted and set into place over the Wilson River this week in the Tillamook State...

Gelato and coffee bar will be Portland's Irvington Corner's first tenant.
February 10, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Mio Gelato, a locally owned Italian cafe and coffee shop with a space in the Pearl District, has signed a lease to become Irvington Corner's first tenant. The shop will open in May in an 1,800-square-foot space...

Construction Industry Crime Prevention of the Pacific Northwest to hold annual awards luncheon.
February 10, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl The Construction Industry Crime Prevention of the Pacific Northwest will hold its ninth annual awards luncheon next month in Portland. Law enforcement officers and contractors will gather March 11 at Portland's...

Port of Portland presents transportation improvement plan to public.
February 10, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough Port of Portland transportation planning officials presented the 2005 Portland Transportation Improvement Plan to the Port's commission at a public hearing yesterday. The plan identifies, outlines and...

Entrepreneurs: Have your business plan in hand before seeking money.
February 10, 2005... Byline: Gaye Bunderson (This article originally ran in Idaho Business Review, Boise, ID, another Dolan Media publication). Getting a business funded begins first and foremost with a viable business plan. "A complete business plan...

Transportation projects competing for federal dollars.
February 11, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough After reviewing about 1,000 public comments regarding the funding of projects through the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program, regional government agency Metro will soon announce the list of projects...

First woman chief judge of Ninth Circuit visits University of Oregon.
February 11, 2005... Byline: DJC Staff The first woman to be named chief judge of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Mary M. Schroeder, will speak on what it means to be a woman in the judiciary. Her talk, "Whatever Happened to Diversity?", will be held...

Robert Half Legal survey shows more lawyers take work home.
February 11, 2005... Byline: Dolan News Service (This article originally ran in St. Louis Daily Record, St. Louis, MO, another Dolan Media publication). Most people think homework ends with graduation, but a survey by Robert Half Legal found that attorneys...

Oak Tower project making way through Portland Development Commission.
February 11, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough The first formal briefing in front of the Portland Development Commission for a proposed 26-story apartment tower in the Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal Area was held Wednesday afternoon at a regular PDC Board...

Cascadia Scorecard producer calls 2004 'year of 1 percent'.
February 11, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Northwest Environment Watch's annual recap, the Cascadia Scorecard, won't be ready for release for another two weeks, but the group's executive director, Alan Durning, has already declared 2004 "the year of 1...

Cedar Hills Crossing in Portland makes room for new tenants.
February 11, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Ross Dress For Less will lease a new building at Cedar Hills Crossing where Emporium used to be, and New Seasons Market will move to Ross' current location at the property, mall manager Mary Babicky said this week....

Portland Development Commission to promote Lents projects at community fair.
February 11, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl The Portland Development Commission will promote a variety of Lents projects, both completed and in the pipeline, at Saturday's Community Resource Fair. More than 15 community organizations, six city bureaus,...

Developer banks on light rail, LEED in Gateway district in East Portland.
February 14, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl When a $20 million mixed-use building that Walsh Construction will build is completed in 2006 in East Portland, it will be neither as large nor as "green" as what the developer Ted Gilbert had in mind when he dreamt...

Portland's Building Owners and Managers Assn. annual awards presented to industry professionals.
February 14, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison No sit-down dinner, and no rubber chicken. For the second year in a row, the Portland Metropolitan Building Owners and Managers Association presented its annual awards in a relaxed, party-like setting, drawing...

Contractors win Energy Trust of Oregon Million Kilowatt Hour awards.
February 14, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonprofit energy efficiency advocate, last week recognized Northwest contractors and distributors with its Million Kilowatt Hour awards. Commercial lighting contractors and distributors...

Wa.-based Parametrix projects get two communications awards.
February 14, 2005... Byline: DJC Staff Parametrix was awarded the Distinguished Award and the Best of Show award for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Project Environmental Impact Statement. The Puget Sound Chapter of the Society for...

Society of Industrial & Office Realtors Oregon Chapter to present awards.
February 14, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison The Society of Industrial & Office Realtors Oregon Chapter will present awards for its industrial, office and investment transactions of the year at its annual Awards Breakfast March 4. A panel of judges that...

Gov. Kulongoski to speak at Realtor event.
February 15, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski will be the keynote speaker at the 2005 Commercial Association of Realtors Oregon/Southwest Washington dinner and awards celebration next month. John Mitchell, Western Regional...

Portland veteran retiring from real estate industry.
February 15, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison In his early days as a commercial real estate broker, Jay Jacobsmuhlen stood out among his colleagues for a reason: his name. "At Norris Beggs (& Simpson), there were Meg Foster, Doug Jones - all of these short...

Oregon Transportation Commission to meet Wednesday.
February 15, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough The Oregon Transportation Commission has announced that it will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the main conference room of the Transportation Building, located at 355 Capitol St. N.E., in Salem. At the...

Benton City treatment plant lends Klickitat facility a helping hand.
February 15, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Had another Washington wastewater treatment plant not been upgraded last year, employees of a 22-year-old Klickitat facility would have had a mess on their hands. Not long before the end of a Jan. 28 workday,...

Bush's budget includes funds to support Columbia River deepening project.
February 15, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough When President Bush released his fiscal year 2006 budget request last week, many interested parties were happy to see that the budget request included $15 million for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project,...

Streetscape project to revitalize Portland's Old Town/Chinatown.
February 16, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough Cracked sidewalks and vacant storefronts may be a thing of the past for the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood in downtown Portland if a new streetscape revitalization project that begins next month is successful. ...

Weston Investments to develop corporate park in Gresham.
February 16, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Weston Investments LLC has purchased a 30-acre corporate park in Gresham from Opus Northwest, and the developer plans to build as much as 600,000 square feet of industrial and office space. Weston paid about $6...

Kimberly J. Gales, owner of Beaverton's Interior Installation Services, dies at 56.
February 16, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Kimberly J. Gales, who owned Interior Installation Services Inc., died Feb. 11 of a stroke. She was 56. Gales, who was born in Missoula, Mont., lived in Tigard and Manzanita, Ore. She owned Beaverton-based IIS,...

Metro Council grants awarded for Portland projects.
February 16, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough The Metro Council announced earlier this month that it has awarded grants valued at $157,544 for 17 neighborhood improvement projects that will benefit local residents, nonprofit organizations and schools in North...

American Council of Engineering Cos. of Oregon speaker discusses surviving difficult economic times.
February 17, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough Engineering firms need to be better at marketing their services and themselves if they are to be successful during difficult economic times, according to John R. Martin, of Pacific Energy Systems Inc., and Michelle...

University of Oregon preps campus development plan update.
February 17, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl The University of Oregon is preparing the first update to its Long Range Campus Development Plan since 1991. The plan, which will guide development of UO's Eugene campus for the next 10 years, is the subject of...

Metro's Measure 37 Task Force convenes for first time.
February 17, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough For the first time, Metro's Measure 37 Task Force convened Tuesday night at the Metro Regional Center. Headed by Metro Councilor Robert Liberty, the task force was expected to address the regional government's...

Portland Monthly moves into downtown building.
February 17, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Portland Monthly has moved from its offices on Northwest 14th Avenue into a 7,228-square-foot space at the corner of Southwest Oak Street and Broadway. In addition to the magazine, a call center is moving into...

Volunteers make Portland preservationists' dream a reality.
February 17, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Cathy Galbraith can't quantify the contributions of volunteers to the Architectural Heritage Center's new home. But she's certain the project wouldn't have happened the way it did without them. On Saturday, the...

Construction company files appeal against decision made by city of Portland.
February 18, 2005... Byline: Michelle Madison Impregilo/Healy/Obayashi, which was bypassed by the city of Portland to build the $500-million East Side Big Pipe project, has filed an appeal of the decision. In a summary of the appeal, the joint venture...

Affordable home efficiency conference comes to Portland.
February 18, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl A conference dedicated to home efficiency will come to the Northwest for the first time next week when Portland hosts Affordable Comfort Northwest 2005. The Feb. 23-24 Affordable Comfort Northwest is an offshoot...

Michael Schiller appointed president of Northwest Marine Terminals Association.
February 18, 2005... Byline: Cody McCullough The Port of Vancouver USA recently announced its operations manager, Michael Schiller, has been appointed as the president of the Northwest Marine Terminals Association. The NMTA is a voluntary association of...

Coalition for a Livable Future opens registration for Livability Summit in Portland.
February 18, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl The Coalition for a Livable Future, a network of Portland sustainability advocates, is now accepting reservations for its Regional Livability Summit. The March 4 summit will bring together residents, elected...

Senate Judiciary Committee approves bill to move large class actions from state to federal court.
February 18, 2005... Byline: Lawyers Weekly USA Staff (This article originally ran in Lawyers Weekly USA, Boston, MA, another Dolan Media publication). A bill that would move large class actions filed in state court to federal court has been approved by the...

Bankruptcy reform bill introduced in U.S. Senate.
February 18, 2005... Byline: Lawyers Weekly USA Staff (This article originally ran in Lawyers Weekly USA, Boston, MA, another Dolan Media publication). A bill that would make it harder for debtors to file for bankruptcy has been introduced in the Senate. A...

Oregon State's College of Engineering ranks 4th in percent of female faculty.
February 22, 2005... Byline: Justin Stranzl Oregon State University's College of Engineering has the fourth highest percentage of female faculty members among schools with similarly sized engineering programs, according to a new report. A study published...