January 11, 2004
(Updated) Bring Back The Great Light Way
Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.
SW 3th Avenue and Morrison Street, 1934
Courtesy Portland Remembered 2004 Calendar
According to Portland: A Pictorial History by Harry Stein, Kethleen Ryan, and Mark Beach: "Third Avenue merchants in June 1914 financed the Great Light Way of arches similar to the earlier wooden and plaster structures used for civic decoration. Sometimes illuminated, the arches remained in place until the last 1930s."
Courtesy Portland: A Pictorial History
As part of efforts to revitalize downtown transit and pedestrian livability, the City of Portland should bring back such illuminated arches, perhaps as part of the reconsideration of the transit mall through the project to bring light rail onto SW 5th and 6th Avenues, although I wouldn't be adverse to using them elsewhere.
Musing upon these two old photographs of the Great Light Way, it's easy for me to imagine that such potentially elegant forms might help tie together opposing street sides, unite street-level sightlines with upwardly-drawn gazes at surrounding buildings and architecture, as well as provide lighting for pedestrian crossings at night.
There are, of course, issues of much greater and more pressing concern. But since, for instance, the principles of "great pedestrian streets" of the world (as determined by a study by a local architecture, interior design and planning/urban design firm) are being taken into consideration during the transit mall project, this could be worth adding to the mix.
Update
There are also postcard views of these arches, including representations of what they would have looked like at night.
Comments (6)
Xor Bitwise on 12 Jan 2004
This, of course, reminds me of City Repair's "Intersection Repair" project. Perhaps this suggestion might even be worth pursuing through them? (Maybe at the Village Building Convergence?)
Cat on 12 Jan 2004
YES!
Ever since I discovered the history of these arches a few years ago, I have wanted them back. I understand many of them were melted down for WWII, but I'm betting there is an original or two sitting in a warehouse somewhere.
The One True b!X on 12 Jan 2004
Having been at the downtown Stumptown today (it's at SW 3rd and Ash), I've changed my vote in favor of returning the arches to their original historical location along SW 3rd. The street is wider than those of the transit mall, and there is more open sky above.
I submitted this idea to the "Perfect Portland" thing that the Tribune is doing, so maybe it will get some exposure.
Bob Richardson on 12 Jan 2004
I, too, have longed for the return of these arches since I first saw photos of them about ten years ago.
I would be opposed to them on the transit mall for various reasons, but as B!X pointed out, the historical location of 3rd avenue would be a suitable location.
I imagine that one of the reasons they may be gone would be an issue of maintenance. There were a lot of light bulbs in each arch, and besides energy costs, a few burned-out bulbs can ruin the look and require constant attention.
Fortunately, with today's advances (cliche, I know) in LED lighting, we can have bulbs that last 10+ years and consume a fraction of the energy of conventional bulbs, making the arches concept more practical. (LEDs are now used in most traffic signals for this reason.)
I don't know the original dimensions of the arches, but consideration may have to be given to modern clearance requirements for oversized trucks and equipment. (I don't recall any manufactured homes going down 3rd avenue lately, but a tall construction crane needing to get through wouldn't be out of the question). I hope a design that meets modern clearance requirements but retains the graceful quality of the originals can be worked out.
- Bob Richardson
The One True b!X on 13 Jan 2004
The height/clearance issues is tricky. While they appear to be higher than the existing traffic light poles (the lights hang off of an arm which juts out into the street), those armed poles don't stretch all the way across the street, therefore allowing clearance above at least part of the street.
TGW on 18 Mar 2004
YES! Bring these arches back! However, the City goverment won't bring them back. We have overcrowded freeways/roads, Bridges ready to fall into the river and they have no plans to fix these, so what are the chances they will bring these beautiful arches back....