There’s a lot of new construction in Portland.  But for some reason, it doesn’t feel all that new.  Which got me thinking, why is that?  And what does that mean I subconsciously expect from “new construction”?

Ultimately, I decided that a big part of it was nothing more than the pedestrian’s perspective on a crowded city grid.  As long as you have a consistent wall on your right or left, you’re already about 50% of the way to continuity.  From a distance, the city skyline is a mismatch of styles and forms, but as long as the base of each building touches the sidewalk, the city dweller is at home.

The other major reason I decided nothing felt new is that, generally speaking, I expect a vast majority of new construction to be of poorish quality.  But here, simply because most of the newer buildings are of similar quality to their more historic brethren, it all sort of works in harmony.  And with that foundation of quality materials and craftsmanship, style is again allowed to roam freely – within the boundaries of form of course – giving each building its distinctive, but cohesive look.

A few more of Portland’s newer residential buildings after the jump.

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Watch out Public Works.  Andisheh’s brainstorming…

I love the concept and the result of Decatur’s pay-as-you-throw residential garbage system. I have some problems with the practice, however.

Of the three available garbage bag sizes, none fits the trash can in my kitchen. As a result, our household garbage typically gets disposed of in two bags – we take the plastic bag from the kitchen and dump it in one of the bigger Decatur bags.

It’s wasteful to double-bag garbage. I’m wondering if there isn’t a solution.

a) Maybe Decatur could expand its range of garbage bags to include the most popular sizes.

b) Better yet, Decatur could get out of the trash bag business and get into the trash bag stamp business. Let us use our own trash bags, but pay for their pickup by affixing stamps to them. We have an eight gallon can in our kitchen. How hard could it be to develop a system that lets residents purchase eight, 10, 13 or 35 gallon stamps to affix to bags or cans. Just sell the stamps in 10, five, two and one gallon denominations.

And if people want to stick with the current system, why not keep it, too.

I’m sure there’s a downside, but I thought I’d throw it out there.

#10 in Quality of Life?  Impressive!

From Agnes Scott’s Megan Terraso…

Agnes Scott College has been ranked one of The Best 373 Colleges for 2011 by The Princeton Review, publisher of college guidebooks and provider of other education services.

Agnes Scott’s other rankings included:

• No. 3 – Easiest Campus to Get Around (ASC’s second consecutive year in Top 10)
• No. 8 – Town Gown Relations Are Great (ASC’s third consecutive year in Top 10)
• No. 10 – Best Quality of Life
• No. 19 – Don’t Inhale
• No. 20 – Stone Cold Sober (ASC traditionally places Top 20 in this category)

I’m not sure how people generally feel about the Princeton Review guides, but back in the day, they became my go-to book to decide which campuses to tour and which to skip.

Reagan forwards along this message about Decatur Arts Live, a new “day of performing arts” at Glennwood Academy on Saturday, August 21st.  The event is scheduled to move along with the 4/5 Academy to Fifth Avenue next year.

A Day of Performing Arts, Just for the Family – Decatur Arts Live!, August 21, 10am-2 pm

Flamenco dancers, jugglers, puppets, and comedians will be just some of the fun and entertainment for children and adults alike at Glennwood Academy, as they host Decatur Arts Live on August 21, from 10:00am – 2:00pm.  The event is a joint venture between the Glennwood PTO and Young Audiences, Woodruff Arts Center (YAWAC).  It is designed to support the Cultural Arts enrichment program at Glennwood and to showcase the diversity of professional artists working with Young Audiences.

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