EMPTY GRASSY LOTS

There are many empty grassy lots in Portland, Or. These are some that I want to talk about.

Many of you may already be familiar with this lot. North Fremont & Mississippi, one of my favorite lots in Portland. When I showed up there were some people playing frisbee that lived next door to the lot. They told me that it was sited for development - another apt. building going up.

I feel like I am in a park when I am here.

I start to think of the idea of public vs. private and how empty spaces are reserved for different things. I could not help but wanting to look around at what bordered the lots in considering their identity. There used to be houses here. I found out from a reliable source that they were torn down about 7 years ago. Now only the stairways are evident.

This tree in the lot had ivy and holly growing on it.

Lots of things are growing in this lot - mostly weeds, some blackberry and dandelion.
I found a couple of daffodils and was fond of this one.

I suppose they are really not that empty.

My classmate Valentine recommended this one. It is next to a North I-405 on ramp on North Fargo & Kerby. It looks like the neighborhood was divided by the freeway or by the bridge. The side walk ends here.

Here is a house that borders the non I-405 side. I keep thinking about progress and how sometimes people think things get in the way, like houses. At one point in time there was a proposition for a freeway to go through SE, up Clinton and Division to Mt.Hood. It is strange to think about it being there.

This is at 1825 SE Franklin next to Powell Blvd. It is kind of hard to get to and only visible by Powell.

It looks like someone's backyard but it is behind an industrial building. It borders the train tracks. I find with a lot of the grassy lots that I find, they occur in areas that have been divided by industry - the railroad, freeway, development. Their absence reminds me of the fact that they can be filled with something at any time. I wonder how people decide to value empty space and the events than can occur in them vs. the object that visibly states its importance.

This is one on 25th & Cora near Holgate. It might be owned by the house next door but I did notice that the yards of both houses that border it were very well kept where the lot was quite overgrown. I really like the overgrown quality.

There was a strange mound of dirt in the middle that grass and weeds had started to grown over. I like how plants take over when left alone.

This is in St.Johns at North Edison & Charleston. These are reminents from a house and a garage.

This is the inside of the lot. It was shaped like an "L." Houses bordering it.

This lot is on 22nd & Powell. I live near by it and some friends and I started a garden in this lot.

Here is a closer shot of the garden

If you are interested in this garden and gardening, I am looking for people who want to particpate in a collaborative garden project. Also if you are interested in empty grassy lots in general, you can contact me and we can talk about it.

Emily

emptygrassylots@gmail.com