March 2023

Collectively Central Eastside Together, Downtown Portland Clean & Safe and Go Lloyd ESD serve and support Portland’s Central City. From local shops to restaurants, hotels to music and art venues, these three ESDs create vibrant and economically healthy districts by supporting the people who live, work and play in the districts. Known as Business Improvement Districts in other cities, Portland’s ESDs provide “enhanced” services that go beyond the City of Portland’s basic services, including sustainability and economic development, non-emergency safety teams, transportation access, along with graffiti and trash removal.  

Together, we serve as a voice to advocate for neighborhood improvements, boost the vitality of small businesses, activate store fronts and host community events to attract visitors and Portlanders to their districts.  

Executive Director of Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, Mark Wells, Operations Director, Steve Wytcherley, as well as Vice President of Public Affairs, Jon Issacs, and Board Chair, Terrence Paschal, joined by city and county officials, visited Los Angeles to tour some of the Safe Sleep Villages ran by Urban Alchemy. These camps are a model for the proposed City of Portland's Temporary Alternative Shelters.

“The most significant takeaway was seeing the surrounding areas of the villages,” said Downtown Clean & Safe’s Chair, Terrace Paschal. “They were safe, clean, and instilled a sense of ease among the neighbors. The team also maintains an open line of communication with the surrounding residents and businesses to address any concerns or issues that may arise. This is in stark contrast to what we have observed in Portland.” 

Downtown Portland Clean & Safe’s team is optimistic about Urban Alchemy's success and implementing their best practices here in Portland. 

On Friday, March 17, Downtown Portland Clean & Safe Executive Director, Mark Wells, was an official witness as Paddy's Bar & Grill successful attempt to beat the Guinness World Records for the "Largest Irish Coffee."

It may be cold right now but Spring is coming! Retailers in the Downtown and Old Town area are hosting large scale floral installations throughout the city and offering a whole host of floral and botanical products, drinks, and offerings. So come explore each unique floral piece of art, April 14-June 30.

This is brought to you by the Visit Downtown campaign, a program of Downtown Portland Clean & Safe and the Portland Business Alliance.

Please save the date for the 2nd Annual Pride Ride on Friday, June 2 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., hosted by Poison Waters. In celebration of World Bicycle day and Pride Month, this bike ride will pass significant Downtown Portland locations for the LGBTQ+ community. More information will be coming soon, so keep an eye out.

This is brought to you by the Visit Downtown campaign, a program of Downtown Portland Clean & Safe and the Portland Business Alliance.

Meet Buddy, our honorary Sidewalk Ambassador! Make sure to stop and say hi when you see our Sidewalk Ambassadors on the street. Also, in April and May our sidewalk ambassadors are passing out coffee on Wednesdays as part of the Every Wednesday campaign so come by an event and get a free coffee.

Downtown SOLVE Clean Up

April 20

Hosted by the

Downtown Retail Council

Old Town SOLVE

Clean Up

April 29

Hosted by the Japanese American Museum of Oregon

We’re excited about these new businesses opening in downtown Portland. Make sure to support our local community by visiting the businesses below: 

• 365 Sushi: 625 SW 4th Ave.
• Din Tai Fung: Pioneer Place, 700 SW 5th Ave. (opening soon) 
• Energy Iz Everything: Morgan's Alley, 515 SW Broadway
• Fabos Tacos: 121 NW 5th Ave.
• Meet Fresh: 230 SW Ash St. (opening soon) 
• Milk + T Mini: 827 SW 2nd Ave. 
• Venster Coffee: 600 SW Pine St.
• Xin Ding Dumpling House: 71 SW 2nd Ave. (opening soon) 

If you have opened in 2023 or plan on opening a retail business downtown this year, please reach out to our Downtown Retail Advocate, Chase McPherson.

If you are a business or property owner located within the

Clean & Safe District, please call 503-388-3888.

Our SAFETY coordinators,

can help with:

• Disorderly behavior
• Public drinking
• Individuals sleeping in doorways or blocking access
• Advice on a security issue

Our CLEANING crew,

can help with:

• Cleaning the sidewalk
• Removing graffiti on the building walls facing the street, no higher than 8'
• Picking up needles or other biohazards

Hours of operation:

7 Days a Week, 24 Hours a Day.

For an emergency, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. Call Clean & Safe AFTER you have confirmed a police officer is on the way to your location.

For non-emergencies, call the Portland Police at 503-823-3333.

The Downtown Retail Council (DRC) is the voice for Downtown Portland’s consumer business. Meetings are open to retailers, restaurateurs and hoteliers within the Downtown Portland and Old Town areas.

The DRC meets on the second Tuesday of each month (January - October) from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

See you April 11! For more information, email Sydney Mead.

Our team wants to support your business!

If you would like to be featured in an upcoming write-up, please email Sydney at [email protected].

Portland is a hotbed of innovation and economic growth. A center of culture and creativity. A gathering place for Portlanders and visitors. It’s also the center of national attention for issues related to houselessness, safety, and tourism. Here’s what’s new:

• Apple finally begins removing metal fence from downtown Portland store, Mar. 22 
• One of Portland’s Top Real Estate Families Owns a Building That Contains a Fentanyl Market, Mar. 22 
• Paddy’s Breaks World Record for Largest Irish Coffee, Mar. 20
• 'A new Portland': PBA president talks downtown's post-pandemic recovery, Mar. 17 
• Ticket to Dine encourages locals to support Old Town, Downtown Portland restaurants, Mar. 16
• Portland City Council approves incentives to help convert office buildings into apartments, Mar. 15 
• National Education Association picks Portland for national convention, the city’s biggest, Mar. 14 
• Not-so-rosy economic outlook for Portland, Mar. 3 

Learn the Latest from our Affiliates

Downtown Portland Clean & Safe is a private, nonprofit organization that contracts with the Portland Business Alliance to provide enhanced cleaning and security services, marketing and economic development programs to downtown property owners.

The Downtown Portland Clean & Safe District provides extraordinary essential services to the people, places and businesses within a core 213-block area of our unique city. Operating since 1988, the district is one of the oldest, largest and most successful enhanced service districts in the nation.

Hours of operation:

7 Days a Week, 24 Hours a Day. 

Download District Map (pdf)

For service, call 503-388-3888.