News today for Mayor Adams website - the Gibbs St.Bridge design is nearly complete - getting us ever closer to construction!  There is an Open House coming up on March 18th, 5-7pm at Umpqua Bank in the South Waterfront.  Here is the full article:

Come see the Gibbs St. Pedestrian Bridge Design.

PCC and South Waterfront Community Relations have teamed up to bring continuing education classes to the South Waterfront! Sign up today for one of these three courses being offered during the spring term:

Container Gardening: Hands-on instruction to create lush floral arrangements for your garden or patio. Go home with one planted pot completed in class! For more information: Click Here.

Tai Chi, Beginning: A gentle approach to exercise emphasizing mind/body harmony, relaxation, centering and coordination. For more information: Click Here.

About Your Dog: Gain insight into your dog’s behavior and leave with tried-and-true tools to communicate effectively for a long, happy life with your dog. For more information: Click Here.

Dates and times vary by class.
All classes will be held in the John Ross Plaza Studio.  PCC code: JROSSP
3623 SW River Pkwy., Portland, OR 97239 map it

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - enrollment through PCC is required

The Daily Journal of Commerce gave us an update last week about the next block to be developed in the South Waterfront.

“A new, mixed-use development has been designed by Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects for the South Waterfront District.  The Tamarack, which will have affordable apartment units as well as ground-floor retail and office space, will occupy what is known as Block 49 at the south end of Portland’s South Waterfront District.”  For the rest of the article, click here.

At the end of January the South Waterfront Community Relations office invited all of the movers and shakers of South Waterfront to participate in a District Update.  They host these meetings twice a year and it gives everyone a chance to hear from the folks in charge how the district is progressing.  For those of you who did not or could not attend they have released a summary from that event - click Here for a PDF.

Friend of Ross Island (and South Waterfront) Mike Houck was recently interviewed for Portland Spaces’ Burnside Blog  by author Tim DuRoche who is currently working on a series of interviews called “If I Were King of the (Urban) Forest.”  Mike has a great perspective on what sustainable development should be and he has some very nice things to say about South Waterfront.  Thanks Mike!  To read the blog post: Click Here. 

Our neighborhood park is finally on it’s way!  Portland Parks and Recreation sent out a new advisory on the state of the neighborhood park today.  It essentially details that due to the economic climate the construction bids came in UNDER projected costs, thus freeing up additional funds to add back in amenities that were originally cut due to the price tags.  Here are the amenities being added back into the South Waterfront Neighborhood Park:

> Formal Bocce Ball Court.

> Movable tables and chairs.

> Plant larger, more mature plants than originally planned.

> Apply soil amendments to all lawn areas.

>Steel edging for plant beds to help retain their form.

So - most importantly - here is the current construction schedule for the park:

March - July 2009: Construction

August 2009: Construction Complete - Urban Garden, Naturalized Area and paths open

August - Sept 2009: Lawn Establishment Period

October 2009: All Park Areas Open!

For more information and the full a release from the Parks Buearu please visit the project website at: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=45404