PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland’s downtown office vacancies are now among some of the highest in the country.
In Old Town, those struggles come into sharp focus — where empty buildings stand alongside a dense network of social services and visible homelessness. But one group is working to show that the neighborhood is much more than its challenges.
A self-guided walking tour is transforming vacant storefronts into a vibrant, open-air art gallery—free and visible from the street.
Matthew Claudel with Field States, an urban design and real estate firm, says they’re focused on the Old Town/Chinatown area, where he says the city’s struggles are the most visible.
“(We) got to take care of the problem where it’s the worst,” said Claudel. “It’s got great history. It’s also one of the places where you see the highest vacancy rates and the most boards on windows.”
Claudel hopes this project helps attract more people and businesses back to the city.
“A space that looks vibrant, a space that looks creative, a space that you can peer into and imagine their future in that space is a lot easier to lease than a space with boarded-up windows,” he said.
Building owners recently donated 17 storefronts to showcase 17 local artists. Organizers are covering the insurance costs, with the goal of demonstrating how art can spark neighborhood revitalization.
“When you make a commitment, you know that’s really when you start investing,” said Laura Lesueur, owner of Elle Gallery.
Lesueur’s gallery is one year into its five-year lease, and also serves as a starting point for the tour. She sees this project as a way to uplift the neighborhood through art, especially as so many businesses across the city are struggling.
“I wanted to be able to learn the neighborhood, and contribute and invest in the neighborhood,” she said.
While similar models exist in San Francisco and Seattle, artist Kim Smith Claudel says having her art displayed at the Starlight Affordable Apartments is especially meaningful.
“To create art that’s on the street that is accessible for all people is a gift,” she said.
The free, open-air gallery runs through Dec. 1. There are already plans to expand to more Portland neighborhoods soon.
