1990s – Present

As crime and neglect reached intolerable levels, members of the Alberta community took action. The groundswell of activism resulted in two organizations critical to the redevelopment on the street: the North/Northeast Economic Development Task Force and the Sabin Community Development Corporation.

The N/NE Economic Development Task Force was formed in 1989 as a collective group of community members who envisioned a healthier, more prosperous Alberta Street similar to its historic uses. Upon its inception, the organization published an “action plan” that formed the basis of the Albina Community Plan, which was adopted by the City of Portland in 1993 and revised in 2000. The Albina Community Plan highlighted Alberta Street as a corridor that should be centered around the development of small neighborhood-oriented businesses.

The Sabin Community Development Corporation (Sabin CDC) was established in 1992 to assist in providing low-income housing to the residents of several neighborhoods within the Alberta area.

Several additional factors contributed to the revitalization of the Alberta corridor. In 1993, PDC established the Oregon Convention Center Urban Renewal Area (OCCURA) that included the western end of Alberta Street up to NE 15th Avenue. The incorporation of Alberta Street into the OCCURA stemmed in large part from the efforts of the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs. This inclusion allowed for tax increment funds generated from increased property values to be used toward further redevelopment efforts along the street and made properties within that area eligible for the Storefront Improvement Program.

While this public sector involvement was critical to the Alberta renaissance, credit is often given to one individual: the artist and community activist Roslyn Hill. They opened one of the first new businesses in 1993. She purchased a dilapidated building at 14th Place and Alberta from a county foreclosure to maintain black ownership on the street. She sought to establish roots in a community where she saw a future. With the assistance of a Storefront Improvement loan from PDC, Hill transformed the building into a cozy garden cafe for community residents.

Soon thereafter, additional businesses opened, and the revitalization began as others shared similar visions of Alberta’s future. Magnus Johannesson purchased the Rexall Pharmacy building in 1993 and began renting the upstairs space to artists and a small coffee shop on the ground floor. Around the same time, Richard Sanchez opened a small taqueria behind his Mexican grocery store at 28th and Alberta that quickly attracted large crowds. Across the street, Chez What? Served as the local watering hole for residents until it moved down the street to 22nd and Alberta in 1996, and Bernie’s Southern Bistro took its place. Donna and Sal Guardino opened their gallery at NE 30th in 1997. From 1996 to 1999, business activity nearly doubled from 60 to 112 establishments providing services from boutiques to groceries to hair salons. 

Becoming the Alberta Arts District

In 1989, the community focused on Alberta Street. Neighborhood residents and businesses asked the city how to improve the street and fulfill the neighborhood's vision. In 1996 the city’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development, along with the Portland Development Commission, made Alberta Street part of the Corridor Target Area Program to help neighborhood commercial corridors revitalize. Funds were provided to Sabin Community Development Corporation to hire a coordinator and start organizing community members for action.

In June 1996, over 100 community members attended a meeting organized by Sabin CDC. A session on creating a new vision for Alberta Street was coupled with identifying weaknesses and opportunities on the street at the time. That meeting formed three citizen committees: Commercial Revitalization, Street Beautification, and Streetscape. Each took on tasks to clean up the street, make it look better, and attract business and investment. 

The Streetscape Committee wrote a grant for Transportation Growth Management funds to plan infrastructure improvements. After submitting it to the city and the Oregon Dept. of Transportation, the Alberta Streetscape Project was born. Even in those early stages, the community said loud and clear that they wanted art to play a central role on the street through murals, public art, and beautification projects. The Streetscape Project was officially adopted by the City of Portland in 2000.

The first Art Walk was held in May of 1997. Fewer than ten destinations were added to the monthly-published art map that first year. As the years passed, the number of participating art venues fluctuated, but the event grew in participation and attendance. Street vendors, musicians, and street theatre have added a unique element to the atmosphere of Last Thursdays.

More and more foot traffic began appearing on the street daily. There was a sense of community within Alberta Street’s vibrant multicultural community. Monthly art walks encouraged businesses to show art. Slowly the area became known as an art district. The first word, “Art District,” was seen on a local realtor’s brochure. The term stuck.

(Much of the content on this page is based on contributions from Donna Guardino & Elise Scolnick, excerpts from a Master’s thesis prepared by Meredith Rizzari (2005), and conversations with long-time and former residents. Please let us know if you have content to add or correct.)