Southeast Uplift staff took our bi-weekly Bigtime Lunch Tour to the Eastmoreland neighborhood on December 17, 2009. This was a great opportunity to visit some great points of interest in the neighborhood.

Our first stop was the Parker House, which has been a point of conflict between Reed College and the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association(ENA) for the past few years.  Reed College bought this house in 2004 and began remodeling, with permits to use the home for residential purposes.  This became an issue with neighbors when Reed proposed to use the house for college-related events and over night guests.  They proposed 3 meetings with 40 guests a day and no more than 500 guests a month, which would total 5000 guests per year.  The new proposal for the Parker House concerned immediate neighbors who signed a petition along with the ENA.  At the hearing, the City approved Reed’s plan for the Parker House, with stipulations to notify neighbors of events, ban parking and driving on Moreland Lane, limit the number of guests, etc.  This decision didn't satisy the ENA, which opted to appeal the decision, however their appeal was denied.

We continued our tour with a stop at the Eastmoreland Garden, SE 27th & Bybee.  The Garden was the result of a tireless five year effort to turn an unsightly parking lot into a useable community space.  The garden was completed October 30, 2004.  In order to fund the garden, the neighborhood embarked on a huge fundraising effort, selling engraved memorial bricks and benches.  The Garden incorporates historical pieces such as art deco light pillars from the original 1934 Bybee Bridge, and trolley tracks and bricks from the electric street car that was abandoned in 1926.  Portland Parks and Recreation continues to own the land, but the ENA has set up an annual endowment to cover maintenance costs.  The Garden has a ton of interesting elements to check out!

After that, we headed to the Eastmoreland Market & Kitchen at SE 36th & Knapp, to meet with ENA board member and former SE Uplift Board member, Kurt Krause.  For those of you that have never been to this historic spot, you're in for a treat. "The Little Store" has been part of the neighborhood since 1923.  The first owners, Mr. & Mrs. Pete Stoinoff remember threshing wheat on the land that is now Duniway School.  New owners, Pat & Colleen, have expanded the grocery store into a great cafe for neighbors to enjoy coffee, soups and sandwiches.  We were all blown away by the selection, in particular their Reuben sandwich and soup.  If you're in the neighborhood, SE Uplift staff highly recommend this spot!

After lunch, we drove along Reed College Place to discuss the neighborhood's current plans for a restoration project, before heading to the future site of the Bybee Max Station.

Our lunch and tour of Eastmoreland was terrific! We are looking forward to our next tour in Foster Powell early in the New Year!

Click here to read about the Creston-Kenilworth lunch.