I'm not talking about drug houses or a place owned by the weirdo that doesn't cut the grass and has three boarded-up front windows, this is a thought about some of the more prominent annoyances around Portland.

Specifically, the burned-out Taylor Electric building, just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. How long is that going to sit there with a fence around it? It's not keeping the lousy graffiti morons out, adding to the blight factor. I know, it's in an industrial district - however, if they owner isn't going to do anything with it, then they should find someone who will. I'm sure there's someone out there who'd like to rebuild the block and move in.

Another example - the former Tom Peterson's building at 82nd and Foster. Wasn't Dave Stone on here a while back raving about the owner having 'big plans' or whatever for the building? Well, it's sitting there empty, doing nothing but contributing to the blight of the neighborhood.

Is this what we get from the 'free enterprise/let the marketplace decide' mentality? While the facifrauds are demanding the Urban Growth Boundary get either pushed way out or eliminated completely (yeah, like I really want to see strip malls and fast food places go up in an endless line down I-5 throughout the Willamette Valley), they're turning the existing establishment into an abandoned tax write-off.

Why is all of this being allowed to happen? And has anyone in broadcast media done anything to highlight this issue?

Yes, the old Whitaker Middle School is gone - but how long did that stay standing after the building was declared unusable? I hope that waste of space isn't being used as a benchmark for the other places around town.

"Is this what we get from the 'free enterprise/let the marketplace decide' mentality?"

Yes. When sellers ask for an arm and a leg, and buyers balk, we get eyesores.

Did Tom Petersons go out of business? if so, when? I don't get out to the east side much, and obviously missed any posts on here about T.P.

he moved. into a cheaper building, no doubt. (across the street)

Tom moved in with Gloria!

Tom Peterson & Gloria's Too
8225 SE Insley St
Portland, OR