Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland articles from June 2008

Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland archives from June 2008

Shorenstein continues digging into Portland.
June 2, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf At the bottom of a 35-foot hole lined with steel, construction workers move methodically, laying out the groundwork for what will become the underground garage for Portland's next office tower, the 16-story First and...

Affordable apartments completed near Merlo light rail in Beaverton.
June 2, 2008... Byline: Nathalie Weinstein Seabold Construction and developer Tualatin Valley Housing Partners celebrated the completion of 128 units of affordable, transit-oriented housing on Saturday, with the opening of Merlo Station Apartments. ...

Lake Oswego green street collects, cleans storm water.
June 2, 2008... Byline: Sam Bennett The stretch of 10th Street between Evergreen Avenue and Andrews Road in Lake Oswego made an ideal setting for a green street pilot project. The street receives plenty of storm water runoff (in a city that averages...

Beaverton development faces foreclosure.
June 2, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff A foreclosure notice has been initiated by trust deed holder Drawbridge Special Opportunities Fund on four undeveloped plots at The Round, a mixed-use development located in downtown Beaverton. Attorney Douglas...

Battle Ground contractor given repair contract.
June 2, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Tapani Underground, of Battle Ground, Wash., has been awarded a $300,000 emergency contract by the Washington State Department of Transportation for repair work on U.S. 12. The construction will begin today on U.S. 12...

ACEC panel in Portland to discuss recent court ruling.
June 2, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff A decision handed down recently in the case of Harris v. Suniga will be discussed by the American Council of Engineering Companies' Risk Management Committee on June 10 at the offices of David Evans and Associates, in...

Portland-Vancouver office of Miyamoto International Inc. hires three.
June 2, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Miyamoto International Inc. has hired John Rupp as a project engineer in its Portland-Vancouver office, and Brian Knight and Scott Nyseth as managing principals. Rupp has experience in the structural design of new...

BnK Construction hires Rick Decknadel.
June 2, 2008... Byline: DJC staff BnK Construction, Inc. has hired Rick Decknadel as a superintendent. Decknadel will oversee tenant improvements and ground-up projects for BnK.

Construction defect law may not be flawless.
June 2, 2008... Byline: Melody Finnemore A new law that takes effect July 1 requires general contractors to offer a two-year warranty on the building envelope of large commercial structures. While the law is intended to protect building owners against...

Consruction industry: Ins and outs.
June 2, 2008... Byline: Melody Finnemore Given America's penchant for litigation and the increasing complexity of construction documents and other corporate contracts, most agree it's just smart business to have an attorney to provide legal advice when...

Commentary: Weighing in or stepping out?
June 2, 2008... Byline: Melody Finnemore For companies weighing whether to hire in-house legal counsel or work with an outside corporate attorney, the decision isn't always an easy one. Matthew Wilson, of counsel for Portland's White & Lee and chair of...

Commentary: Seven ways to protect your company from tech-savvy saboteurs.
June 2, 2008... Byline: Rich Meneghello Problem: In the not so distant past, employers could protect themselves when terminating employees by changing locks, monitoring the removal of personal items from desks and lockers, and, if potential violence were...

County progress on new courthouse in Multnomah County: slow but steady.
June 2, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf For decades, lawyers, judges and assorted Multnomah County officials have voiced complaints about the cramped quarters within their nearly 100-year-old courthouse, hoping the county would invest in a modern building. ...

Portland Development Commission could extend South Waterfront contract to all future projects.
June 3, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker Over the next few weeks, the Portland Development Commission will consider extending the terms of its South Waterfront agreement to all of its future development contracts. The South Waterfront Central District...

Oregon Department Of Transportation uncorks bottleneck along Delta Park.
June 3, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf Increasing transportation capacity along the Interstate 5 corridor has been a 20-year issue for both Washington and Oregon, and a solution has been consistently stalled by funding problems. But with the funding in place,...

ZGF projects in Portland get boost from stem cell funding.
June 3, 2008... Byline: Sam Bennett Three California university projects designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects received a large injection of funding last month from the governing board of California's stem cell agency. The ZGF projects are at...

Public art installed on Portland Mall Light Rail Project.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff The Portland Mall Light Rail Project saw its first piece of public art installed last week in the courtyard entryway of the new Hotel Modera. Michihiro Kosuge created the 65-inch-tall sculpture, which consists of...

Salem plans $14.9M public works building.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Salem's Public Works Department has planned a $14.9-million building upgrade to replace its Building 2 structure in southeast Salem. The new Operations Services Center would provide office space for public works...

Portland, Metro purchase 11 acres.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Metro and the city of Portland have purchased 11 acres at the Clatsop Buttes natural area for permanent protection. Located along Southeast Clatsop Street, the property includes a portion of Clatsop Creek and is...

Portland metro area residents invited to comment on assessment.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Portland metro area residents will be asked to weigh in on appropriate areas of study for a 40- to 50-year urban and rural reserves assessment, to be performed by Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties and Metro,...

Oregon City department moves offices.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff The Oregon City building and planning departments have moved to a new space at the remodeled Copeland Lumber building on the corner of Molalla and Pearl streets. The building and planning department's new address is...

Milwaukie issues response to TriMet.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Milwaukie city council has drafted a memorandum of understanding to TriMet regarding the city's cost for a proposed light-rail line. TriMet last week told the council that Milwaukie would be responsible for $5 million...

Development planned in Vancouver.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff A new, 43,600-square-foot retail complex has been announced by Vancouver developer Jon Thrift. Andresen Marketcenter, which will surround the new WinCo Foods grocery store at Andresen Road and 18th Street, will...

Big Bear's Market in Troutdale is up for sale.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff A 30-year-old store and restaurant in Troutdale has been put on the market. The owner of Big Bear's Country Market, Phil DuFresne, has decided to retire and sell the 4,000-square-foot property and surrounding .64...

Commentary: Companies need to 'work through the night'.
June 3, 2008... Byline: Julie Olson Working through the night is how one northwest company defined its marketing strategy last year in anticipation of the current economic slowdown. The company was clearly familiar with studies that show that businesses...

Portland-based Clark/Kjos Architects hires four.
June 3, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Clark/Kjos Architects has hired Jim Lattz as a project manager, Riff Surjawan as an interior designer, Rebecca Waddill as an office assistant and Jennifer Barnes-Hoyt as an intern. Lattz has 30 years of architecture...

Hollywood cafe space rocks on with new tenant.
June 4, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf When Mark Lindsay's Rock and Roll Cafe closed after less than a year in business, it left a real-estate hole on Northeast Sandy Boulevard, in the Hollywood District. But the 7,000-square-foot property won't remain...

Need a job? Look to green economy.
June 4, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker At a time when Oregon's economic downturn has led to slower hiring, the clean energy industry is madly recruiting graduating students and professionals looking to change careers. And workers are flocking to the state's...

Climate crisis puts pressure on Oregon designers.
June 4, 2008... Byline: Sam Bennett Scott Lewis can't complain about the strength of his business these days. As founder and principal at Brightworks, a Portland-based firm that offers strategic planning for sustainable building, Lewis said business...

No extension for Columbia River Crossing critics.
June 4, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf The Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration have denied a request from the Coalition for a Livable Future and 12 other organizations to extend the review period for the Columbia River...

Energy Trust of Oregon bumps up incentives.
June 4, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Energy Trust of Oregon is increasing the cash incentive paid to industrial customers that invest in improving production efficiency. The incentive per kilowatt hour saved will rise from 15 cents per kilowatt hour to...

State of Oregon seeks rules to keep drinking water out of toilets.
June 5, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker In two weeks, state building codes regulators will consider passing new rules to ensure Oregon homeowners don't have to flush their drinking water down the toilet. Oregon building codes currently allow homeowners...

2009 transportation funding package in Oregopn is top priority for trade group.
June 5, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf Even though the $2.5 billion from the Oregon Transportation Investment Act III will pay for bridge and road maintenance through 2013, at least one construction trade group is already looking for a new revenue stream to...

Dane to speak in Portland on energy independence.
June 5, 2008... Byline: Sam Bennett For most drivers, it's hard to imagine anything good coming from $4-a-gallon gas. But Svend Auken sees a silver lining. High energy prices might be a kind of shock therapy, said Auken, former first vice president of...

Parsons of Oregon-Columbia chapter of AGC named Safety Engineer of the Year.
June 5, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Dave Parsons of the Oregon-Columbia chapter of Associated General Contractors has been named Regional Safety Professional of the Year by the American Society of Safety Engineers. The award recognizes contributions to...

Oregon Residential Specialty Code: New requirements for lighting, moisture control.
June 5, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff The newest edition of the Oregon Residential Specialty Code has new moisture control and lighting requirements for 2008. The new code requires contractors to provide written documentation of compliance with two new...

EPA gives clean-air award to Seattle company.
June 5, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Seattle-based company Foss Maritime has been awarded the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Technology Award for development of its low-emission Green Dolphin hybrid tug boat. This is the first time the EPA has...

Commentary: Building one community at a time.
June 5, 2008... Byline: Mike Salsgiver Although it's late spring, various organizations, state agencies, and legislators are hard at work developing their legislative agendas for the 2009 regular session of the Oregon Legislature. The governor has...

PIVOT Architecture in Portland promotes Banks, Barwood.
June 5, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff PIVOT Architecture has promoted Larry Banks and Toby Barwood to principals. Banks is currently managing the design team for the new Eugene Water and Electric Board operations facility. Barwood recently led the...

State of Idaho seeks rules to keep drinking water out of toilets.
June 5, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker State plumbing board will meet in two weeks to discuss new rules that would allow reuse of gray water in Oregon homes In two weeks, state building codes regulators will consider passing new rules to ensure Oregon...

Portland State University approved for Master of Architecture program.
June 6, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Report A two-year architecture graduate degree program at Portland State University has been approved by the State Board of Higher Education. The new 74-credit-hour Master of Architecture program could begin classes...

Builders' competitive bids give schools some leeway in Oregon.
June 6, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker Competition for work among builders has led to unexpected cash bonuses for some Oregon school districts. Contractor bids on school construction projects in the Bend-La Pine and Clackamas school districts are coming...

Oregon's 'Big Look Task Force' has big task ahead after losing time.
June 6, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf When Oregon's Task Force for Land Use Planning had its funding reinstated in March, proponents of the so-called Big Look Task Force hailed the decision as the reopening of an important conversation. That conversation...

Taking visitors on an 'eco-adventure' in Oregon.
June 6, 2008... Byline: Sam Bennett Ground zero for ecotourism in Oregon may be a 640-acre site two and a half hours southeast of Portland. A proposal by Dutch Pacific Resources LLC will create an eco-adventure development called The Metolian - a...

Local firms back building industry school in Oregon.
June 6, 2008... Byline: Dan Carter Mel Sears, president of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon (ACEC Oregon) and Parametrix executive vice president, signed a check for $2,500 Wednesday to be donated to the new Architecture,...

Portland Habitat for Humanity finishes five homes in seven days.
June 6, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Portland Habitat for Humanity will complete work today on five Portland homes built in seven days for five low-income families. The Home Builders Blitz 2008 challenged local, professional home builders to build five...

Four Silverton youths complete electrical training.
June 6, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Four Silverton High School students have graduated from an Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon youth training program, which helps students looking for electrician careers transfer into adult electrical programs....

Deadline soon to register for American Council of Engineering Companies of Ore. golf tournament.
June 6, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff The American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon will be taking over the Langdon Farms Golf Club on Wednesday, June 25 for its Networking Day event. It will be a joint event with the American Society of Civil...

NW Engineers in Portland promotes Thayne, Newman.
June 6, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff NW Engineers LLC has promoted Bob Thayne and Matt Newman to principal. Thayne joined NW Engineers in May 2007. He specializes in storm water projects and works as a project manager on engineering jobs. He is a...

Bank of the Cascades in Portland hires Muravez.
June 6, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Bank of the Cascades has hired Bob Muravez as vice president and commercial loan officer. Muravez will specialize in construction lending, commercial real estate lending and commercial lending to small businesses. He...

Markowitz, Herbold, Glade & Mehlhaf in Portland hires Narver.
June 6, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Markowitz, Herbold, Glade & Mehlhaf PC has hired Clint L. Narver as an associate. Narver's practice will focus on complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on professional liability defense, securities law and...

Oregon eyes California's low-carbon fuel standard.
June 9, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker Amid mounting concerns over the use of corn-based ethanol, Oregon is looking to California for new policies that favor other clean fuels. The Oregon Department of Energy and Department of Environmental Quality are...

Portland engineering firm launches two new projects for NASA's Constellation program.
June 9, 2008... Byline: Nathalie Weinstein Far from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, local engineering firm Nishkian Dean has been putting rockets into space from its Portland drafting boards since 1992. And with new contracts to build a...

Portland Business Alliance report emphasizes land-use development and education.
June 9, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf The Portland Business Alliance might have declared transportation its biggest issue of the year. But if its Regional Business Plan is an indication of the organization's agenda for the 2009 legislative session, the group...

U.S. House denies bill to reauthorize rural assistance.
June 9, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Report A bill to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Program, which provides assistance to rural counties in Oregon and around the U.S., failed the House on Friday. The final vote on the Public Land Communities...

Gala planned for 25th anniversary of Society for Marketing Professional Services Oregon.
June 9, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Report The local chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services Oregon marks its 25th Anniversary at the 2008 Astral Awards at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 26. The awards honor marketing achievements in the...

Oregon-based SR Design hires Williams.
June 9, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Report SR Design LLC has hired Kevin Williams as a survey manager. Williams has 28 years of experience in the land surveying industry and is a member of the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon and Land Surveyors...

Portland-based A&I Benefit Plan Administrators hires Woodworth.
June 9, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Report A&I Benefit Plan Administrators Inc. has hired Craig Woodworth as its claims manager. Woodworth previously worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance for 13 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in management and a...

Portland-based Bradshaw Advertising hires Bera.
June 9, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Report Bradshaw Advertising has hired Monique Bera as a production manager. Bera previously served as the print/broadcast production manager for the Martz Agency in Scottsdale, Ariz. She also served as the...

Portland-based Cogan Owens Cogan hires Mayfield.
June 9, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Report Cogan Owens Cogan LLC has hired Dave Mayfield as a senior project manager. Mayfield has 30 years of transportation, environmental, resource and park planning experience.

Commentary: Bernanke talks tough.
June 9, 2008... Byline: William Rutherford On May 28 I appeared on CNBC and was asked about the declining U.S. dollar. During the interview I said that a strong dollar was in our interest. It didn't take long for Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal...

Portland Plan takes off, living solutions sought.
June 10, 2008... Byline: Sam Bennett Creating what urban planners call 20-minute neighborhoods was a recurring theme among residents and city officials Friday afternoon during the launch of the Portland Plan at the Oregon Convention Center. The event...

Oregon Institute of Technology student among first to graduate with degree in renewable energy.
June 10, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker As one of the first students in the nation to graduate with a renewable energy degree, Timothy Bailey isn't worried about finding a job. Then again, he's not looking for work. On June 16, Bailey will graduate with...

Wilsonville's Villebois developing despite slowdown.
June 10, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf For more than four years, Wilsonville's 580-acre mixed-use community Villebois has been slowly taking shape - a park here, housing there and retail soon to emerge. Villebois, a planned community on the former...

Redevelopment of Reliable Parts Building planned in Portland.
June 10, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff A 9,831-square-foot industrial building at 3103 S.E. Division St. will be renovated by San Francisco-based Kava Massih Architects. Formerly known as the Reliable Parts Building, it was purchased by Urban Development...

Energy Trust of Oregon seeks contractor for program.
June 10, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff The Energy Trust of Oregon is seeking proposals for a program management contractor for its Business Energy Solutions-New Buildings program. The winning bidder would negotiate with Energy Trust for a three-year contract...

Scheffler given Park Avenue West contract in Portland.
June 10, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Portland construction firm Scheffler Northwest Inc. has been selected as the shoring contractor for the Park Avenue West Tower, a 525-foot high rise located at Southwest Yamhill and Southwest Park Avenue. The firm was...

Tigard council lining up $90.7 million budget.
June 10, 2008... Byline: of Oregon Tigard City Council is expected today to approve a $90.7 million budget for the 2009 fiscal year. The proposal includes $28.6 million to pay for 84 capital improvement projects involving streets, parks and water...

Clackamas college, Oregon State agree to partnership.
June 10, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Oregon State University signed a dual-degree partnership agreement with Clackamas Community College last week. OSU is now the only university in the state that has a partnership with all 17 of Oregon's community colleges....

Demolition will create space for Lake Oswego park.
June 10, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff A 10,000-square-foot city-owned building at 120 State St. in Lake Oswego, will be razed to develop a lakefront park. The decision to demolish the U.S. Bank building this summer was approved by the Lake Oswego...

TriMet light-rail construction continues in Tualatin.
June 10, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff TriMet construction crews began installing new sidewalks Monday on Southwest Nyberg Road in Tualatin. Old sidewalks on the road will be demolished and new ones will be poured, temporarily detouring pedestrian traffic. The...

Commentary: Does affordable health care exist?
June 10, 2008... Byline: John Killin Employers in Oregon and throughout the country face a growing challenge in providing their employees with affordable health care. Health insurance premium costs have averaged double-digit increases over the last eight...

Hennebery Eddy Architects in Portland hires five.
June 10, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc. has hired Katalin Czege and Matt Alexander as architectural staff, Nancy Dodge as business manager, Khristy Harris as staff accountant and Adam Lucas as office administrator. Czege is...

Fortis Construction in Portland hires three, two employees become LEED-certified.
June 10, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Fortis Construction, Inc. has hired Rick Troop as senior project manager, Craig White as MEP coordinator and Conan Doherty as project engineer. In addition, project engineer Landon Winter and superintendent Darin...

Gentrification a concern along MLK Jr. Boulevard in Portland.
June 11, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf As the Portland Development Commission moves to refine its long-term redevelopment plans for Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, stakeholders who have met with the commission have said they're concerned about...

Oregon minority firms take aim at change, launch nonprofit diversity program.
June 11, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker After months of planning and recruiting business partners, the National Association of Minority Contractors of Oregon (NAMCO) has launched its new nonprofit agency aimed at growing minority participation on...

American Institute of Architects' Portland exhibit demonstrates art's versatility.
June 11, 2008... Byline: Sam Bennett At Hotel Modera, Janelle Fendall Baglien put a nude drawing in every bathroom. For good measure, she also placed a few in the lobby of the recently opened downtown Portland hotel. Hotel Modera has a modern shape with...

Beaverton firm inducted into safety program.
June 11, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff Beaverton design/build firm Alliant Systems will be inducted into Oregon OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program during a presentation at the company's headquarters on June 27. The SHARP program...

New calendar to benefit Hawthorne Bridge's 100th birthday.
June 11, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff The Friends of Multnomah County's Willamette River Bridges will hold an event on Tuesday, June 24 to celebrate the release of its first calendar, the 2009 Portland-Vancouver Bridges Rivers Calendar. The calendar...

Oregon BEST invests in green research teams.
June 11, 2008... Byline: DJC Staff The Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Center has announced that it will invest $480,000 in 10 Oregon university faculty teams who are working in the sustainability and renewable energy sectors. ...

A changing skyline for Portland's Pearl District?
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tyler Graf Buildings in the Pearl District may get taller, due to a Portland Planning Commission recommendation that will scrap height limitations in some parts of the Pearl District in favor of a system that regulates heights...

Portland's east-side Big Pipe project progresses, still under budget despite rising costs.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Libby Tucker Portland's east-side Big Pipe project is nearly halfway complete and so far project costs are coming in significantly under engineers' original estimates, according to general contractor Kiewit Bilfinger-Berger. ...

Portland State University's graduate program could open doors.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Sam Bennett Anson Morris wants to be connected with the local architecture scene. As an undergraduate architecture student at Portland State University, Morris said he appreciates the chance to study under adjunct faculty and be...

Ex-hotel in Portland gets a seismic upgrade.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Dan Carter The Lyndon Musolf Manor in Portland's Old Town/Chinatown District was built in 1910 as a working class hotel. Seismic and utility upgrades as well as cosmetic work on the interior and exterior are turning the structure...