Abbott can't stop writing, learning about Portland Continued from p. 1 Abbott devotes a good deal of his book to the evolution of the major planning decisions of the past two decades, such as the South Auditorium Urban Renewal Project, the revitalization and expansion of the downtown core, development of the city's waterfront, the transit mall, and neighborhood preservation. What he discovered, he said, is that "if you don't have political support, planning doesn't mean anything." Portland has been fortunate at some critical times to have both public and political support for key decisions. A current example, one that Abbott believes will help further revitalize downtown, is the Pioneer Square development. "This is an example of a real public-private effort. There are people who have questions about the design or about the entire project, but the square is completed and I believe it will be used." He pointed out that Pioneer Square organizers are being careful to schedule a lot of public events in the space early in its existence. "People will get into the habit of using that space, particularly as the weather gets better, and it will be a real addition to the area." The Pioneer Square development is one kind of effort which every city must make, Abbott says. "A city can live indefinitely if it does two things: If it maintains a diversified economy; and if it keeps recycling and reinvesting its older sections." He feels Portland is doing both. A joy to receive news from Alma Mater I am handicapped and alone in my room most of the time. It is always a joy to receive news of PSU-my Alma Mater. My PSU days were made memorable by the wonderful and intellectually stimulating times I had with friends among student.s and faculty. My studies-as I earned my SA degree in SOCiology-have been invaluable in helping me face times of almost insurmountable difficulties and severe physical pain. I am grateful to PSU, Ada May Page ('69) Kent, WA Widely read Thank you for a lovely article in the PSU Perspective (Winter 1984, 2 "You have to improve transportation and rehabilitate older buildings while redeveloping downtown. You have to keep up the older parts of the city, maintain them physically and SOcially to make them serve another generation." "That's what we did here during the 1970s," he says.'''We made sure that downtown Portland and the older neighborhoods would be useful and attractive for anolher generation, for people during the 19805 and 19905, But, we'll have 10 do it again, and again. Each generation, I think, has to look at what is needed to keep the city alive." The "we" in his discussion of Portland is conspicuous. Abbott admits that he and his (amily now are "confirmed Portlanders." And it is with obvious pride Ihal he speaks of Portland's "extraordinarily successful downtown." He is similarly enthusiastic about the place and potential of Portland State "There aren't many schools like PSU," he says. "This is the kind of school that I think is on the frontier of American higher education. This is where educational change is likely to occur." Portland State's stTength lies in its ability 10 "serve the various clienteles of the city with the kind of flexibility you don't have at more traditional campuses," believes Abbott. A tireless, energetic scholar and a prolific writer, Carl Abbott already has produced half a dozen books and "Headmistress comes late to French, starts school children early"). You do a superb job in presenting information and photos and are to be congratulated on a fine newspaper. realize and can appreciate the amount of time and energy you devote to the newspaper and have come to find out how widely read it is. Jane Josselyn (,69) Portland Quite impressed My interest was caught by your articles on bilingualism and French in the most recent Perspective (Winter 19B4). This is the first issue of Perspective I have read, as my husband is the Portland State graduate in the family and he only recently registered with the Alumni Office. I am quite impressed! You produce a very readable publication. Andrea Mack Davis, CA numerous articles and scholarly papers concerned with urban history. And he has more to write about Portland. While the ink still is drying on Portland, he has begun work on another book, this one a popular history of the city to be published by Windsor Press under the auspices of the PSU Foundation. "This will be an entertaining, coffee table type book," he says. "U's an exercise for me in writing for a more general audience and it will have to be concise, more focused Ihan a text." "Of course every professor thinks that his subject is endlessly Writer wanted Perspective is looking for a creative. reliable writer, preferably a graduate of Portland Siale. to take assignments as well as to generate original ideas for stories. We offer a competitive per-word rate, but no one gets rich on a quarterly, so the job would be partly a labor of love. Please contact editor Cynthia Stowell at News and Information Services, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, Oregon 97207; (503) 229-371 1, fascinating. Whatever it is, you're convinced that every detail is of immense value." Those feelings can't be indulged in a popular book, he noted. The book. Portland: Gateway to the Northwest, will be completed nexl year. The subject - the city Abbott calls home - may never cease to hold his interest. "You know, one of Portland's problems always has been that it hasn't thought big enough. II'S as if Portlanders don't believe that this is a major city ... but it is." A major city which, the urban historian says with a laugh, he finds "endlessly faSCinating. " Editor's note Perspective now taking ads Beginning with this issue, PSU Perspective opens its columns on a limited basis to outside advertisers. By presenting tasteful and interesting advertisements, we hope to provide a service to alumni while defraying part of our publication costs. Perspective has carried ads for the University's Alumni Office and other University programs featuring trips, classes and programs specifically for alumni. Now, community businesses are also invited to advertise. And. to further serve our alumni, Perspective will offer a 10 percent discount on ad costs to businesses owned or operated by PSU alumni. For a Perspective advertising rale card. call or write: News and Information Services, PSU, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, (503) 229·3711. We also welcome your comments on the appearance of advertising in Perspective. mIT ~ r s p e c t i v e PSU f'enptdive ~ published q .... fit'rlv dur'"8 !he )'eoiU by News .nd Inform.aIlOl SeNKn for .Iumnl, '.cully..-.d st.ff ¥1d friends d PorIland S t . t e U n ~ r s i t y . ldilor C vnltli.1o D. SIoweIl C o n t r i b u t O l 1 C t . 1 o I l ! O C ~ H e i n '65 CliffJol!o!lOfl ~ E d i t o r P . l t S c o t i Chante of .todd..-: Send bach _ ;and old a d d ~ ~ w , o s 10 PSU I'etspect'", P.O. Bolt 751, PorIi.1ood $t.1ole Univemty. Portto!nd. Oreson, 97207 'oIIreqls: If this is'Wt' i ~ a d d r e s ~ 10 vour 'lOll 01' daughter who no longer molllr\tair'l!l 011 ptmUoenI .toddrffl.llt your home. p I e ~ l1OI:i,..,. the PSU Alumni O f f k ~ ISO)·229-4948) of the new /TI.1oihnlJ ....... , PSU supportS equ.l1 to.x:oiIooo;1I opportUnity Wlthoul .n:llo _. r.lCe. ~ n d l a p , • • ~ 1 1 O r \ , ) 1 Ofi8ln, mMlliIl SWUs.. 01' ~ , g i o n .
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