This Week in the Mercury
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Portland What Do You Know...
Posted by Matt Davis on Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 4:27 PM
About this place?
So far I've managed to ascertain that it's on NW Natural Gas property, but that's, like, boring. I've got a call into them, but in the meantime, I was thinking those who have lived here longer than I might have some local knowledge. So: help!
Commenting was not available when this article was originally published.
1
Many of us have been salivating for someone to turn this into the monster of all Portland rock clubs for years.
My only guess is the area was part of a superfund cleanup site and may not be exactly developable just yet.
My only guess is the area was part of a superfund cleanup site and may not be exactly developable just yet.
2
Discussion courtesy of Amy Ruiz:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/78812837@N00/discuss/72157600274529159/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/78812837@N00/discuss/72157600274529159/
3
Exactly! I used to drive by there every day and think to myself "That's the perfect place for a renegade show."
Too bad it's probably toxic.
Too bad it's probably toxic.
4
I'm surprised the McMenamins haven't swooped it up and stuffed it with crappy servers, shitty beer and 10,000 lamps.
7
I remember reading about this before someplace, and the McMenamins suggestion, but I can't find the article now. I think it's a really toxic site. It's right next to this... http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/ph/GASCO
8
here's more... http://micknewton.smugmug.com/gallery/459323_ydkNJ/1/20312314_3Q9UB#20312314_3Q9UB-A-LB
I also remember hearing the clock got moved someplace, but I can't recall where...
I also remember hearing the clock got moved someplace, but I can't recall where...
9
The thing that I find most interesting about this parcel is that there has an assessed value of zero dollars and zero dollars in property tax have been paid on it. You might want to check other parcels owned by Northwest Natural Gas to see whether or not they are paying any property tax on those as well.
10
yeah, +1 on the rengade rockabilly dive featuring zombie strippers and loud cars whipping shitties in the parking lot.
12
As I recall, a number of ears back a film production wanted to shoot there (which I think is an old school), but that the ground was so polluted there was no way it could happen. Hope that helps.
13
It's one of those places that people have been getting a kick out of for years just driving past it, the mind racing with daydreams of Scooby Doo adventures.
That means it'll have to be torn down soon because it's too spooky and lowbrow.
That means it'll have to be torn down soon because it's too spooky and lowbrow.
14
http://www.salemhistory.net/commerce/northwest_natural_gas.htm
"Changing its name to Portland Gas & Coke Company, it built its third and last gas manufacturing plant, Gasco, on the West Bank of the Willamette River in 1913. The new plant made gas from oil, not coal."
Apparently they dumped the waste from turning oil to gas in a pit on the site. It is still an uncleaned toxic waste site. From searching the web, it sounds like they were working on stopping the waste from moving into the river as recently as last year.
It's a cool monument to an old Oregon company, sitting on top of a pile of their own shit, waiting for a handout to cleanup their mess. It's the equivalent of a spent nuclear plant of a century before.
"Changing its name to Portland Gas & Coke Company, it built its third and last gas manufacturing plant, Gasco, on the West Bank of the Willamette River in 1913. The new plant made gas from oil, not coal."
Apparently they dumped the waste from turning oil to gas in a pit on the site. It is still an uncleaned toxic waste site. From searching the web, it sounds like they were working on stopping the waste from moving into the river as recently as last year.
It's a cool monument to an old Oregon company, sitting on top of a pile of their own shit, waiting for a handout to cleanup their mess. It's the equivalent of a spent nuclear plant of a century before.
15
Smiley,
My dad always told me it's where you go if your a bad boy. Some kind of a home for juvenile delinquents. Are you sure there are no children in there?
My dad always told me it's where you go if your a bad boy. Some kind of a home for juvenile delinquents. Are you sure there are no children in there?
16
I make a point to look at that building every time I go out to Sauvie. We always joke about turning it into a rock climbing gym on the DL.
18
That is a happy thought dumpy. By day it may be a home for wayward children, and from dusk till dawn it's vampires.
19
Yeah, it would be a great historic preservation project but the site is still filled with nearly 100 years of nastiness.
the clock in the tower was salvaged and moved to OSU's campus.
Portland tribune did a short column about it not too long ago. in fact, I think the Oregonian did too.
the clock in the tower was salvaged and moved to OSU's campus.
Portland tribune did a short column about it not too long ago. in fact, I think the Oregonian did too.
22
I always thought it was an old train station.
A few weeks back myself and a friend were trying to get a bit closer to it super late at night and got thwarted by some security pretty.
A few weeks back myself and a friend were trying to get a bit closer to it super late at night and got thwarted by some security pretty.
24
Growing up in Portland required seasonal trips to Sauvies Island and driving past that awesome building. I never knew who owned it or what it was but I remember fondly daydreaming horror movie plots. My mom had recently sent me this link:
http://www.portlandground.com/archives/2006/09/an_old_train_depot.php
http://www.portlandground.com/archives/2006/09/an_old_train_depot.php
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