The fifth Portland Loo, located at NW Couch and 8th, will be debuted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 1pm. Commissioner Randy Leonard, a contingent of Emerson School children and faculty, and project staff will be on hand to celebrate the First Flush.
The new Portland Loo location was chosen to accommodate the needs in this high foot-traffic area of town for tourists and locals visiting Powell’s Books, and conveniently located between the MAX/bus lines and the streetcar. This Loo also replaces a problem-plagued bathroom that was recently closed at SW Ankeny and 8th Avenue. This particular installation was accomplished in collaboration with the Portland Parks and Recreation, the Portland Bureau of Transportation and The Emerson School.
Each Portland Loo includes artwork on the door, most of them local photography. Yet, the Couch Loo is adorned with vibrant drawings of flowers by the students at Emerson…it is really quite beautiful.
On World Toilet Day in 2010, the third Portland Loo, at SW Naito & Ash, was unveiled before a crowd of dignitaries and fans. Local filmmaker and blogger Mike Vogel was there. He filed a report on his quest to be the first person to pee in the brand new loo.
The much lauded Portland Loo is attractive, functional, open 24 hours a day and more affordable than any other permanent toilet structure. Portland Loos are cleaned and maintained by Central City Concern staff.
Hey, Dave, I hope you show up for this event so I can meet you. It will be wonderful fun. Plus, for us at least, it’s an opportunity to mobilize pressure on Parks, which has abdicated responsibility, and thank Water for building facilities into the much travelled hardscape.
@Carol – I’m going to miss the First Flush; I’ll be out of town 🙁
Thanks for the information! The arrival of a new public restroom is cause for celebration. They don’t call us “P” town for nothing with all those craft breweries!
Still, I wish that, rather than concentrating on shiny, one-seater space-age Loos, the city would lease existing street level space in buildings downtown or elsewhere (certainly there must be space in either private partnership or city-owned structures), set up a multi-stall restroom and then hire attendants. It’s win/win: families don’t have to wait for the single seater as they do in Jamieson Park and someone gets a much-needed job.