the historic parkrose mission
Historic Parkrose is committed to the growth and preservation of the Historic Parkrose Business District and its surrounding neighborhood.
We promote economic growth and community building through engagement of our neighbors.
We celebrate and respect our unique diversity, and are focused on our future while remembering our historic past.
Historic Parkrose offers storefront improvement grants, technical assistance, and support to businesses located in our target area of 99th to 121st on Sandy Blvd. We curate community events, like Summer Nights, and support other associations working to enrich Parkrose, like the Parkrose Neighborhood Association, Parkrose Educational Foundation and Elevate Oregon.
Historic Parkrose History
On April 9, 2012, Historic Parkrose was founded (under the name Parkrose NPI) by a broad cross-section of people representing the area’s business community, residents, property owners, district organizations, and community groups because they saw a need for Parkrose and the surrounding community.
The Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative (NPI) is a program initiated by Prosper Portland (formerly called Portland Development Commission/PDC) to strengthen the economic competitiveness of neighborhood business districts through community-planned and community-implemented actions and projects. Historic Parkrose has been on a mission since then to strengthen our business district and build a culture of community and economic opportunity around Sandy Boulevard.
Historic Parkrose was founded to focus on:
- Increasing the visibility of the business district
- Growing job opportunities
- Strengthening existing businesses
- Filling vacant spaces
- Storefront improvements
- Community projects
How does it work?
Historic Parkrose has a board of directors and a small staff. Businesses in our designated district can apply for grants and assistance. We use our tax increment financing (TIF) funds to provide funding for capital improvement projects such as:
- Improvements to business exteriors and interiors
- Street furniture
- Trash cans
- Lighting
- District signage
- Gateway markers
- Other small-scale, permanent capital improvements
Our Accomplishments
Historic Parkrose has a lot to be proud of. Since 2014 we have funded over a dozen district improvement projects. We have offered technical assistance for businesses and co-founded the annual Taste of Parkrose. We’ve supported projects like the Immigrant of the Year Award, neighborhood clean-ups, mural paintings, and so much more.
Our Founding Members
Founding Chair: Joe Rossi
Founding Board Members and Future Executive Board Members:
- Marcy Emerson-Peters
- Mark Gardner
- Colleen Gifford
- Tamra Jones
- Mark LaCroix
- Dominic Moran
- Maggie Nelson
- Ken Poirier
- Amelia Salvador
- Luke Shepard
- Loretta Stites
- Gail Volk
- Steve Voorhees
- Mary Walker
PDC / Prosper Portland Representative: Dana DeKlyen
Thank you to these businesses who sponsored our founding!
- Parkrose Hardware
- Rex Heating and Air Conditioning
- George Devita/Service Plumbing
- Eastridge Development, LLC.
- Portland Paint and Supply
- Western Pacific Building Materials
- Jack Menashe/Surface Tile, Carpeting
- Painters and Allied Trade Union
- Allied Waste Services
- Rossi Family
- Rodda Paint
- Junk Away Hauling
- Tile For Less
- L.A. Signs
