[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The Tigard Downtown Alliance represents the interests of Downtown stakeholders for the benefit of the entire community. TDA President Steve DeAngelo, owner of DeAngelo’s Catering and Events, and Vice President Mike Stevenson, owner of B&B PrintSource, overviewed the goals and achievements of TDA to date.
Tigard’s Main Street Green Street project helped kick-off the revitalization and renewal by rebuilding the southern half of Main Street from 99W to the railroad tracks. In 2015 the TDA installed streetscape features including 10 decorative bike racks, 9 benches, 2 bike tune-up stations, and 20 promotional banners.
The year started out right with the 2nd annual Art Walk featuring 22 artists, 10 graffiti art panels, a pop-up gallery and artist receptions. Mike and Steve noted that art brings people Downtown and they are looking at various other success stories, such as improvements in the Hawthorne, Division, and Mississippi shopping/dining areas in Portland, as models. The installation of several public art pieces, such as “Mobius” in front of Symposium Coffee House and eye-catching glass hanging basket sculptures, is helping to improve the overall look of Downtown Tigard. Installation of the sculpture “Perch” is underway and other public art pieces are planned as funding is available.
In September, the 4th annual Tigard Street Fair was held Downtown. This year’s event boasted the best numbers yet with approximately 3,000 in attendance, 90 vendor booths, a Kids’ Zone, beer and wine garden, and a main stage with musical entertainment.
Upcoming Downtown events, including Trick or Treat Main Street at the end of October and the Holiday Tree Lighting in December, will round out the year’s events.
The next steps for the TDA are to go beyond creating events to include a new mixed-use housing/commercial development (ground breaking expected this fall), and new street lighting, sidewalks, and bio swales the full length of Main Street. The organization needs to obtain a 501(c)3 non-profit status to be eligible for additional grants and donations. It also needs to grow the number of staff and volunteers and garner greater stakeholder engagement. The TDA is also looking at long term projects such as transit in the SW Corridor.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]