1) OKNA Board meeting on Tuesday
2) Overlook during pandemic – The Overlook Mile
4) The Census Bureau is hiring
5) Interstate Bridge lanes will close in September
1) OKNA Board meeting on Tuesday
The Overlook Neighborhood Association Board will meet virtually on Tuesday evening to discuss several items important to the neighborhood. The agenda includes appointing members to the Grievance Committee, a noise variance for adidas to remove cranes, a discussion about upcoming meetings, a presentation about developer Q&A rules, and discussion about issues related to homeless camps and the OKNA Homeless Outreach Committee.
Members of the public are welcome to call into the meeting and may participate in the conversation when recognized by the chair. Zoom call information is on the agenda.
2) Overlook during pandemic – The Overlook Mile
OKNA continues to share stories about how neighborhood residents and businesses are dealing with the pandemic.
First this week is an update from Jenna McCracken about Atomic Pizza after last week’s story. She wanted to let everyone know that since the original interview, they finally began receiving unemployment benefits and have been approved for two loans. Atomic Pizza plans to reopen soon for to-go orders and will continue to monitor the situation for a full reopening after Phase 1. “We are doing OK and trying to roll with it,” she said.
For this week, we have a story from Overlook resident Ike Marin. He writes:
When my young family moved to the Overlook Triangle about six years ago, I started running around the neighborhood. My kids were very young and I had very little time in the day for exercise. It was great to be able to start and finish a workout steps from my front door.
The area around the Overlook Triangle is such a great place to run because it’s flat with little car traffic. I prefer to run in the road as to not rush up behind people with dogs and kids walking on the sidewalk.
One evening I set out for a run on a simple loop around the neighborhood and my Garmin watch beeped — indicating a mile — exactly when I got back to my house. I examined my route on Google maps and determined that there was a perfect mile loop with only one stop sign. I purchased a rolling tape measure to double check. It was within a few feet of being perfect.
I painted an orange logo with a stencil (MILE) on the loop at all the various intersections, and then created a “segment” called Overlook Mile on the Strava app. Strava keeps track of the leader board over time. There happens to be a start mark on N Colonial Avenue, but because it’s a loop, you can start anywhere. I encourage anyone to run the Overlook Mile as many times and at whatever pace feels good.
3) Real estate recap
After OKNA decided not to circulate the normal summer issue of the Overlook Views, several residents asked if we could share the Real Estate Recap for the past quarter. We’re happy to provide that information below. Thanks to LivingPDX Real Estate for providing the data again this quarter and to Views Designer Chelsea Snow for putting it together.
The following listed homes sold in Overlook:
4) The Census Bureau is hiring
The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring for the 2020 Census. The positions are temporary and flexible with varying pay ranges. For Census Takers in Multnomah County, the pay starts at $18/hour.
By working for the Census Bureau, people can help ensure that this once-per-decade count is accurate and complete. The results will influence how hundreds of billions of dollars are distributed to states and localities by more than 100 federal programs. Programs include Medicaid, school lunches, road and school construction funding, and community development grants.
If you’re looking for a temporary job, consider helping to ensure that Overlook, Portland and Oregon get their fair share.
Visit the Census Bureau job site to learn more or apply.
Finally, if you haven’t completed your Census form, why not? Make sure you count by self-responding to the online 2020 Census questionnaire, by phone at 844-330-2020 or by mailing in the paper questionnaire you received in the mail.
5) Interstate Bridge lanes will close in September
The Oregon Department of Transportation wants to give everyone a heads up that the northbound span of the I-5 Interstate Bridge will close will close Sept. 12-20. Crews will replace mechanical parts that help lift and lower the bridge. The southbound span will remain open to traffic in both directions. Traffic impacts will occur throughout August and September of 2020.
Closing the northbound bridge reduces the amount of traffic that can travel across the Interstate Bridge. Heavy traffic, congestion and long delays are expected on I-5, Interstate 84, Interstate 205, and local streets in north Portland and south Vancouver throughout construction.
During the closure period, travelers crossing the Interstate Bridge in both directions will share the three existing lanes and sidewalk on the southbound bridge. Movable concrete barriers will allow two lanes of traffic to travel in the heaviest direction.