Montavilla Public Plaza: Redecorated!

INCLUDES ALL-VOLUNTEER VIDEO | Take a look at the new design that was created at this Portland Public Street Plaza – and why they did it …

Two years after it was established, the Montavilla Public Street Plaza is repainted, with a new design.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

About two years ago, volunteers from the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) painted a half-block of SE 79th Avenue, north of Stark Street, on July 22 of 2021. This was to signal that the Neighborhood Business District had a new “Portland Public Plaza” of their own.

> CLICK HERE to read our article about this first painting, and to see the photos and a video!

After volunteers had time to recover from mounting the successful 2023 Montavilla Street Fair, they were at work on the hot, sunny Friday afternoon of August 11.

Watch volunteers at work as they “redecorate” this Public Street Plaza:

“We are completely redesigning and repainting our Public Plaza for a whole new look,” explained METBA’s District Organizer, through Venture Portland, Ross Garlow.

Helping out with the design is Montavilla East Tabor Business Association District Organizer Ross Garlow.

“This design is as fresh as it gets; it’s brand-new,” Garlow pointed out as the paint quickly dried.

“We had a very different design there for the last two years,” he added.

The paint dries quickly in the afternoon sun, permitting the painters to touch up spots that need more coverage on the same day.

“We were presented a few options by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT),” Garlow told East Portland News. “Looking at the designs that we could go with, we also gave free reign to have the business owners nearby – like Sara Szymanski, co-owner of Threshold Brewing Company –make the final decision of which design to choose for the Plaza this year.”

“We all thought that this design matched the vibe of the neighborhood; we think they chose something really fun,” opined Garlow.

This painter is Calvin Ecaruan, from SymbiOp Landscaping.

A total of about ten folks showed up to wield a roller and brush to bring the new design to life on the street that day.

“We’re grateful for the Bipartisan Café providing us with early morning coffee – and Threshold Brewing; Flying Pie Pizza for providing pizza to fuel our event’s workers,” commended Garlow.

This Public Street Plaza is ready for events in downtown Montavilla.

Find out more about the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association by visiting their official website: CLICK HERE.

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