Maplewood Neighborhood Association

I am not a Cully neighbor, but I am however an Alameda neighbor. I try to stay informed regarding my local surrounding areas, most specifically the Cully and Fremont area, since I do the bulk of my shopping and local dining in these two areas.
I had a prior obligation for your last meeting so I was unable to make it. It was a fairly monumental meeting due to two rather important topics being covered. 1. The Cascadia Rehab facility. I heard that the vote was very favorable, and I think that is a good thing. I support these type of facilities in the area as they are always maintained in a very responsible manner. no barking dogs, junk cars, garbage, chickens etc. I have dealt with all of those problems at one point or another with neighbors, believe it or not. 2. The Loading Zone Tavern. Being in the Mortgage industry I wholeheartedly support new local businesses and welcome new neighbors with open arms. This being as long as they are responsible people. I got an update on the meeting from a friend of mine who attended. I have a little inside information regarding the tavern. I happen to know that there is a gentleman looking at it with great interest. He is trying very hard to find out who the new owner is and wants to buy it from him. This worries me because this man owns a chain of adult bookstores and several lingerie modeling shops. From the information that I was relayed, I am understanding that the new owner seems responsible and conscientious. Also, that he plan to clean up the outside and make it look nice, which it never has in the 10 years I have lived in the area. My concern is with the hand full of people that seem to be objecting to a bar. I can't think of anything else a person with a track record of owning bars/restaurants would put in there. And for as long as I can remember, it has always been a bar.
Now the person I have seen showing interest in finding the owner is in the porn industry. If someone like that were the owner I can tell you that wouldn't be good. There is virtually no recourse or action available to us as a neighborhood regarding that type of establishment. They are not regulated by the OLCC and Lottery like bars are. This specific gentlemen has put these types of businesses in right next to schools, church's and daycare centers. These adult businesses are open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Even on Christmas and Easter! I sincerely hope that neighborhood opposition doesn't drive out a solid citizen with a positive business plan and make room for others to bring their Pornography into our area!

Looks great!

Obviously, someone has invested a lot of time and money in the Spirit bar and I think it looks fabulous! If you read this...GREAT JOB and thank you! I can't wait for it to open I would love to see the interior. Does anyone know when it will open? I seem to keep missing the people I see in and out of there lately.

By Campaign

I went I saw I liked!

The Spirits bar (is open) looks great inside as well, antiques and fun stuff on the walls. The owner and staff are very nice! I will go back. I think this neighborhood is on an upswing for sure!

By Campaign

Rose Colored Glasses?

Neighborhood on a upswing? A Portland Police Officer recently told me that the Cully Neighborhood is ''Gang Central'' for Latino gangs. Have you seen all of the graffiti all over the area? This neighborhood is full of abandoned autos on the street, neglected autos in yards, garbage in the street all around the low income apartments at Cully and Killingsworth. There have been a number of shootings in the area in the last two years. My dog frequently wakes me at night because of the various criminal activity outside such as prostitution, car prowls, illegal drug activity, petty vandelism and so forth. All of the illegally parked motorhomes on the street (Roselawn and 72; Washington plates) and on people's yards make this area look like a giant recreational vehecle parking lot. The house on the west side of 72; a couple of blocks north of Prescott with a mattress, three neglected autos, a broken fridge, overgrown bushs and grass, garbage in the front yard is just one of many examples of neglect and decay in the Cully area. The Cully Neighborhood Ass. should take a picture of this house and proudly display it on their homepage of their webside; it truly represents the spirit and pride of our neighborhood. Now I have to go outside and pick up all the the trash and car parts that some young black men left in the street down the block after working on an old beater car. How is throwing trash in the street part of being a ''man?'' Your emails are a bit transparent; you own the bar and are trying to get free publicity on this website? I can assure you that this neighborhood is not on a upswing!