A mill town in transition. For 166 years downtown Oregon City has been a place that reflects Oregon’s roll up your sleeves work ethic. Call it what you want — throughput, results, tenacity, persistence and an unwillingness to surrender no matter how great the pressure. That’s Downtown Oregon City.
If you are a creative professional, entrepreneur or small business owner pursuing your labor with passion, perseverance, and unflinching dedication to your craft. Then downtown Oregon City is the right place for you.
Over the last three years, we’ve seen:
41 New businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs locate into downtown.
More than $2.5 million in streetscape enhancements.
More than $1 million annually invested in private property.
Affordable rents ranging from $0.88 – $1.25 per square foot.
Four new special events that attract visitors downtown.
Click on the link on the right to see the energy and excitement building up in downtown Oregon City, or contact Lloyd Purdy, Director of MSOC for details about locating your business downtown.
The non-profit Main Street Oregon City is a volunteer led non-profit created to make our 166 year old downtown a better place to live, work and visit.
Working together through volunteer led projects and programs we’ve helped attract new business downtown (40 new business have joined the downtown marketplace since we started in 2008), improve public infrastructure like a two way Main Street, new sidewalks, and streetlights (over $2.5 million since we started in 2008), promote downtown’s character (visit www.bluecollarcreative.org for one example) and improve downtown’s buildings (take a walk down the street and you’ll see the changes).
We’d like input from downtown stakeholders (you). Please click on the link below that is most appropriate to you and help us get a better feel for the opportunities and challenges facing downtown Oregon City. These surveys are very brief and will take just a minute or two to complete.
Last year, two-way traffic flow was restored to Main Street in Downtown Oregon City as the first part of a $2.5 million streetscape enhancement project that will ultimately include new street lighting, sidewalks, and ADA accessible crosswalks.
It’s time to look both ways on Main Street — another change will soon be made to traffic patterns in order to make downtown a better place to live, work and visit. The video animation below, created by Funnelbox Production Studios located in downtown Oregon City, illustrates the upcoming traffic pattern change on 7th Street, Rail Road Ave. and 6th Street.
Upon completion of intersection work at 7th Street and Rail Road Avenue at the base of the Municipal Elevator:
Seventh Street will carry traffic in both the east and west directions.
Rail Road Avenue between 7th and 6th will also carry two-way traffic.
Traffic flow on 6th Street will be reversed to allow drivers to better navigate around downtown.
The downtown circulation/traffic flow animation above was created to communicate to drivers and downtown visitors these changes.
In early March, Downtown Oregon City’s BDC Advertising began working with Funnelbox Production Studios on a 30-second broadcast television commercial for Yakima Bait Company.
The result of the collaboration is a high production value TV spot with a story line that uses a CSI-esque approach to solving the mystery behind what ultimately slayed a pile of fish.
BDC Advertising developed a concept and script for their client, Yakima Bait Company. For this national marketing piece, Funnelbox Production Studio hired actors, worked on a tight two-day production schedule and found a very specific location for the shoot. Mt. Hood Community College’s Funeral Services and Mortuary program provided the setting for a commercial that seeks to understand what could have happened to all these fish. The camera shows several fish on a large bed of ice, as the sheet is pulled down and the coroner examines the fish and finds that it was indeed a “Rooster Tail” that was their last meal.
This collaboration also included involvement from another downtown Oregon City business. The script required a variety of whole fish that weighed in around 30 pounds. These were purchased from Tony’s Fish Market on Washington Street. A 12 member production crew shot the video on location at Mt. Hood Community College during a 10 hour shoot.
A Signature Event for Oregon City on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Celebrate summer in Downtown Oregon City at the First City Celebration Street Festival on Saturday, July 28th. This signature event in historic downtown Oregon City is focused on celebrating the unique character and identity of Oregon City – a city of firsts and Oregon’s “First City”.
Now in its third year, the First City Celebration is evolving into a street festival style event that mixes art, music, food and beverage tasting all together on the street. We expect to feature more than 60 local artists, live music and entertainment all afternoon, games and crafts for kids, as well as wine, beer and food from area businesses.
Join us downtown on Saturday July 28th and celebrate the unique heritage, identity and spirit of Oregon City.
Artists interested in participating may download an application via this link.
Four-Part Concert Series to be Hosted at Pacific Crest Grant Ballroom, 610 McLoughlin Blvd. Beginning May 18th.
Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom, the 12,000 square foot event space at 610 McLoughlin Boulevard, now under management by Portland Catering Co. is planning a four-part summer concert series to celebrate Oregon City and Portland Catering Company’s recent acquisition of this ballroom.
The concert series, produced by Todd Passerini of Littil Brown Bird for the Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom is called “Alive in Oregon City”. It will feature as its first guest musician Blues artist Norman Sylvester, with special performances from Sarah Billings, and Oregon City’s High School Jazz Band at the Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom.
“Downtown Oregon City needs great entertainment and another reason to visit and stay awhile,” said Todd Passerini, of Littil Brown Bird. “This venue and this quality of music will be a real draw to downtown Oregon City.”
The Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom will host Oregon Music Hall of Fame 2011 Inductee “The Boogie Cat” Norman Sylvester of the Northwest with a new young & beautiful artist the soulful Sarah Billings, in concert on May 18, 2012 at 7pm, seating at 6pm, 21+.
The concert will be held at Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom, 610 McLoughlin Boulevard Oregon City, OR. Tickets for “Alive in Oregon City” are $8.50 with proceeds going to the Oregon City High School Jazz Band and available at www.portlandmercury.com/tickets & www.tickettomato.com.
“Alive in Oregon City” is scheduled monthly and will end in late August. The concert series will showcase top names and upcoming new artists, while benefiting good causes in the Oregon City, West Linn, and Willamette communities.
The Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom is a 12,000 square foot event space on the Willamette River next to the historic Oregon City Arch Bridge. The ballroom can host up to 490 people with full catering, audio/visual and media services. Parking is available on and off site. The ballroom can be rented for use from 6:30 am to 2 am.
APRIL 14th is Winestock’s official 6 year anniversary. Celebrate with Carlos and Sarrah all week long with a visit to Winestock at 820 Main Street, Suite B off of 9th Avenue in Downtown Oregon City. New visitors and long-time patrons will be treated to:
“Our Favorites” TASTING AVAILABLE ALL WEEK, WED-SAT
15% DISCOUNT ON 6+ BOTTLE PURCHASES, ALL WINES NOW thru SATURDAY, the 14th!
THURSDAY, APRIL 12th: LIVE CLASSICAL GUITAR + Artist Reception with David Berkvam (artist for Ken Wright wine labels and many other things!) 7-9pm
FRIDAY the 13th: LIVE MUSIC with TRI-TONES JAZZ TRIO 7-10pm
SATURDAY APRIL 14th: is WINESTOCK’S 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! Celebrate 6 years of success! Stop by for some sparking wine and birthday mini cupcakes.
The photo below highlights the 2011 sculpture “moontrap” by Lee Kelly . It was photographed by Devin Conroy Groves with black and white film at night with Oregon City’s Municipal Elevator in the background.
Lee Kelly's moontrap in downtown Oregon City photographed at night
According to Devin Conroy Groves, Downtown Oregon City’s photographer in residence and baristador at Coffee Rush, “This photo juxtaposes an intellectual continuity between Lee Kelley’s “Moon Trap” and Oregon City’s historic public elevator. Although contrasting in purpose, they share a fundamental statement of cultural relevance to Oregon City.”
Downtown Oregon City is undergoing transformative change with 40 new business opened in the last three years, an average of $1 million in private investment in property annually, and more than $2.7 in streetscape enhancements. Keep an eye on downtown Oregon City – and its art.
Oregon City’s Urban Renewal Commission authorizes $150,000 matching grant program for adaptive reuse of commercial property.
Property owners as well as innovative adaptive reuse and infill focused development professionals now have access to an innovative development tool in partnership with Oregon City’s Urban Renewal District. Matching funds are now available for adaptive reuse projects for internal improvements to property. $150,000 in grant funding is now available for projects that significantly improve and upgrade the value of existing commercial property. Full details and an application can be found via the link below:
This program is a result of more than eight months of work with Oregon City’s Economic Development Department and through the leadership of Eric Underwood, Oregon City’s Economic Development Manager. It is also a program unique to Oregon City. Few other cities in the Portland metropolitan region have both facade improvement funding at the high level that Oregon City offers to property owners, and an adaptive reuse program to encourage redevelopment of commercial property for new uses.
The program requires a private match in funding and rewards projects that show higher levels of private investment. It encourages the addition of residential capacity and mixed use development. It rewards innovative projects led by experienced development and adaptive reuse professionals and it supports projects that add value to existing property.
Father and Son Team Fulfill Their Dream and Plates with Mexican Style, Seasoning and Flair.
Javier and Javier Gonzalez, are opening a new restaurant in downtown Oregon City. El Compadre Mexican Restaurant will occupy 1,700 square feet of fully remodeled space at 705 Main Street.
These entrepreneurs have 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry and have decided to fulfill their dream of running a restaurant of their own. “Right now the economy is tough, but this is a family dream,” said Javier Gonzalez. “My father started with this dream and he’s shared it with me. We seized the opportunity to create a restaurant that allows us to share our family, culture and heritage with people who love good food.”
El Compadre is an authentic Mexican style restaurant with a full menu of favorite dishes and family recopies from around that country. While most of the family originated in the Baja California area, the menu will reflect cuisine from around the country. The Gonzalez’s plan to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. An authentic signature dish, and favorite of Javier, is the ensenada fish tacos. “These fish tacos will have you coming back for seconds,” said Javier Gonzalez, owner and manger of El Compadre at 705 Main Street.
The father and son team spent 6 weeks fully renovating 705 Main Street in order to present a totally new restaurant, style and theme to this downtown location. “The Gonzalez family and El Compadre is a welcome addition to downtown Oregon City,” said Lloyd Purdy, Director of the downtown revitalization program MSOC. “My stomach is rumbling just thinking about the flavor and cuisine they’re adding to the menu of downtown restaurants.”
During the last three years more than 40 new business have opened in downtown Oregon City. El Compadre will be the 6th new restaurant/eatery to open in that same time. “When a resident or visitor wants to go out to dinner, but they’re not sure where to go, now they know a trip to downtown Oregon City offers a choice of at least 18 different options,” said Lloyd Purdy.
El Compadre Authentic Mexican Restaurant is focused on fresh, healthy and full flavor food choices inspired by family recipes from Mexico. The Gonzalez family will also look to inspiration from customers to keep the menu as fresh as the ingredients.
Watch this video for a glimpse at the activity and vibrancy of downtown Oregon City. Visit us in person for the full downtown experience.
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Teddy Bear Day Parade
May 19th 2012 10 am.
8th Street Farmers Market
Wednesdays, June – October, 3 to 7p.m. on 8th Street
Saturdays in the City
Second Saturday of the month June through August 4 pm to 7 pm.
Cars and Coffee
Every Saturday June through August, corner of 8th and Main 8 am to 10 am.
First City Celebration
Saturday, July 28th 2012 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Oregon City Antique Fair
Sunday, August 26th 2012 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Car Show
Saturday, September 15th 2012 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Festival of the Falls
Mid October Bridge Opening Event.
Trick or Treat
Wednesday, October 31st 2012 5 to 8 p.m.
Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 1st 2012
See You Downtown!
Event sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 503.522.1564 for details.
First City Celebration
Join us downtown on Saturday, July 28th 2012 for the First City Celebration Street Festival -- a day long event celebrating the unique heritage and identity of Oregon City. Art, music, food and entertainment make this a signature summer event. This event is free and open to the public.
See You Downtown - on July 28th 2012.
Bettencourt's Taekwon-Do Styrkers Arcade
Executive Copy and Printing
Green Key Locksmith
River Crossing Professional Center
Mings Automotive Repair
Modele Salon
Nail Spa
Oregon City Awards
Advantage Optical
Accurate Collections
Endres Northwest
Phil James CPA
Edward Jones - Kaci Hall Premier Choice Insurance Agency
ZKS Engineering Wildish Construction Wallis Engineering Nutter Corp
Santi Insurance
Fournier Insurance
Superior Radiator
Providence Willamette Falls Community Center
US Bank
If you’re ready for business, we’re ready for you. Let’s meet on Main Street. Here's a short list of space available in downtown Oregon City. Call your commercial real estate agent for details.
900 Main Street
River Crossing Professional Center,
503.349.9629
1,500 sq ft with parking.
Property fronts 99E and Main Street.
509 Main Street
Harding Building
Nick Veroske, 503-617-7662
1,600 sq ft street level
514 Main Street
Tim Tofte, (503)329-1713
1000 square feet +/-
$1200 per month
Old high ceilings and an internal brick wall as well as a private bathroom and loft office. Front and back doors and a parking space are also part of the deal.
615 Rail Road Ave.
Glenn Butler, 503-524-9695
1,000 sq feet. square feet +/-
on Rail Road Street across from Municipal Elevator.
Two Way Main Street
The animations below shows the upcoming and already in place traffic circulation changes to downtown Oregon City.
Watch this 2011 animation about two way traffic flow in downtown Oregon City - part of more than $2.5 million in downtown improvements .
A mill town in transition. For 166 years downtown Oregon City has been a place that reflects Oregon’s roll up your sleeves work ethic. Call it what you want — throughput, results, tenacity, persistence and an unwillingness to surrender no matter how great the pressure. That’s Downtown Oregon City.
