Leftbank is conceived as point in the city where many of the great threads of Portland culture weave together… early on there was a sketchbook, and a scribbled list within whose first word was “bikes”. Many moons later there are stamped drawings of showers and locker rooms, and loads of space dedicated to long term parking… and plans for the framebuilder’s shop, and for the school where she learned to do her thing. Somehow connected to that came the so-called ‘big event’, too, which should probably have another posting on here somewhere. Our hope is to make a tangible contribution to the nascent conversation about what buildings and bikes have to do with each other. more

On the second floor of the Hazelwood building, one finds the single most iconic space in the entire Leftbank district. It is a triangular shaped room flanked by half moon arched windows on its’ northern and western ends. These windows make up the top of A.E. Doyle’s great brick archways; visible to any eyes traveling from downtown today (or southbound on the flint avenue bike sneak) and trace the same elegant lines undoubtedly taken in by Thelonious, Satchmo and so many others in times past. They’re what make this building a landmark in Portland. The space was originally the site of the bakery in the Hazelwood Creamery, and houses a man sized safe, among other things. Maple floors, exposed rafters and high ceilings… and then there’s the view. It’s good. more

Seen from above, Leftbank, Greenroom, and the triangle lot in front of them form a wedge-shaped island that splits traffic into 2 directions just east of the Broadway Bridge. The plans to bring the Portland Streetcar across the river have marked the tip of that triangle as the first stop on the east side. It’s true now that a walk from Leftbank to the Pearl District or Old Town takes just minutes, but the easy connection that the streetcar makes is bound to affect how people think about that distance. more

What a lovely floor. It’s the top of the old Hazelwood building and the 1950’s ‘storage’ building. Two large rooms, one triangular (about 6,000 square feet) and with a tasty panoramic view of the west hills and north Portland; the other, 5,000 sq.ft, with not a single column… clear spanning beams make for one contiguous maple floor, nearly 50′x100′. An exposed ceiling w/ an uncharacteristically deep hue + some new skylights equals something that’s really nice. more

In the Leftbank, the lobby is imagined to be more of a living room than anything else. It’s a place to gather, connect with a visitor, or just sit down and have a drink (we’d like to see a cafe in there). It’s adjacent to the ballroom space, but as different as can be. The space was historically used for packing and shipping, it’s garage doors on the west opening up onto Wheeler street to allow the exchange. As a result, this space was never finished out beyond the most utilitarian standard. We intend to keep it that way, but add some soft furniture and good coffee, and probably sweep the floors a bit more often. more

Aside from housing the most iconic (and public) spaces in the building, the 1st floor has some great tenant spaces, as well. The main floor of the garage building is a (roughly 5000sq.ft.) room with access to both Vancouver and Wheeler streets. Originally an auto garage, this one was built to last. Concrete walls and floor and heavy timber posts and beams above. Clean light from southern clerestories make for an energetic yet introspective space. more

The spaces dedicated to retail in the Leftbank are a diverse lot. The first one to talk about is, of course, the ‘ballroom’. It was originally a family restaurant - a part of the Hazelwood Creamery operation - and built out in the high style of the roaring 20’s. A ceiling adorned with plaster relief work (lit with inspired wall sconces) was, and remains, the show stopper. The space later flipped into a bar, and then a post-war black and tan jazz landmark called The Dude Ranch. …Not to be outdone, some 30 years later Multicraft Plastics turned it into their plastics showroom. Of course it’s hard to blame them - it is the most visible space in the building. Situated on the Northwest corner, alongside Broadway, the space is hard to miss. more

the details:

approx. 4793 square feet

suite 129 is now the offices of Portland Farmers Market…

in their words:

Portland Farmers Market was founded in 1992 by a small group of community activists who wanted “to bring the best of the country to the heart of the city.” The original Saturday market at Albers Mill had 13 vendors. Several of those first vendors still sell at PFM. By 2006, PFM had grown to 3 downtown weekly markets with vendor sales in excess of $5 million. In 2006, the market organizers added the management of a fourth market – the Eastbank Farmers Market.

The goals in 1992 were the same as the goals are today – to create venues where local farmers can connect directly with Portland consumers, to build community in an urban setting, and to provide public education on regional farming, gardening and food preparation.

suite 128 has been leased.

800 sq. ft.