12 noon. Jackson Street; nestled between 6th and Broadway. Lowest level of Broadway Building, outside Starbucks coffee, facing south:
It is the first of April and the weather is dreary. Unlike most of downtown Portland, Jackson Street is a two way road. Tucked between the I-5 and 405, Jackson acts as a vein for those wishing to travel out of the city. Still, traffic is very light; the majority is small commuter sedans and compact SUVs occupied by business men on lunch break, hoping to catch prime parking on an often neglected corridor. The asphalt is uneven and in poor condition, suggesting multiple renovations over a long period of time.
Most of the action on Jackson Street is due to the meandering of college students. Three bicycles resting against a chipped black steel bike rail enforce this assumption. A young college age male, with one pant leg rolled up, approaches his black Cannondale road bike with red messenger satchel, removes the U-lock, and rides towards 6th avenue. Across the street, on farthest left, a large tope colored apartment building stands gloomily, it looks new, but the white trim is beginning to crack and splinter with age. Adjacent to that, a student housing complex stands quite stoically, it is two tone redbrick and tan, its looks institutional and is symmetrical. Beyond the redbrick dormitory, two similar buildings stand tall and narrow. One proclaims “PS Styles” inscribed on a large wooden sign, with traditional barber pole ribbon wrapped around the columns, assumedly, this is a hair stylist. The 2nd of the similar dwellings is most likely a fraternity house, as characterized by the three, four foot tall Greek characters affixed to the outside. It appears to be in decent condition, yet shows little sign of activity.
Two large streetlights watch over the thoroughfare, as a large purple “local and organic delivery” truck maneuvers into a parking space blocking my view of the street.
It is the first of April and the weather is dreary. Unlike most of downtown Portland, Jackson Street is a two way road. Tucked between the I-5 and 405, Jackson acts as a vein for those wishing to travel out of the city. Still, traffic is very light; the majority is small commuter sedans and compact SUVs occupied by business men on lunch break, hoping to catch prime parking on an often neglected corridor. The asphalt is uneven and in poor condition, suggesting multiple renovations over a long period of time.
Most of the action on Jackson Street is due to the meandering of college students. Three bicycles resting against a chipped black steel bike rail enforce this assumption. A young college age male, with one pant leg rolled up, approaches his black Cannondale road bike with red messenger satchel, removes the U-lock, and rides towards 6th avenue. Across the street, on farthest left, a large tope colored apartment building stands gloomily, it looks new, but the white trim is beginning to crack and splinter with age. Adjacent to that, a student housing complex stands quite stoically, it is two tone redbrick and tan, its looks institutional and is symmetrical. Beyond the redbrick dormitory, two similar buildings stand tall and narrow. One proclaims “PS Styles” inscribed on a large wooden sign, with traditional barber pole ribbon wrapped around the columns, assumedly, this is a hair stylist. The 2nd of the similar dwellings is most likely a fraternity house, as characterized by the three, four foot tall Greek characters affixed to the outside. It appears to be in decent condition, yet shows little sign of activity.
Two large streetlights watch over the thoroughfare, as a large purple “local and organic delivery” truck maneuvers into a parking space blocking my view of the street.
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