Bike-Based Businesses
What better time of year to feature and celebrate bike-based businesses, than in the middle of winter in Portland, Oregon. In an age of calculating carbon footprints, emerging renewable energy technologies, and alternative transportation options, bike-based businesses stand out as a compelling and fun indicator of a community’s sustainability. If an area is bikable (and walkable), I think it’s fair to say that the sustainability quotient goes way up–not to mention property values. By the looks of the ever-growing network of bike-based businesses in Portland and continuous growth in our bike infrastructure, there are strong efforts in the right direction. Check out this list of bike-based businesses to get a sense of where our strengths are.
- Portland Pedal Power
- SoupCycle
- Portland Pedicab
- B-Line Bike Delivery
- Saint Francis Plumbing
- Spoketown Cargo
- Pedal Bike Tours
- Pedal Fresh
As you can see, this is not a database for bicycle shops in Portland. If you’re interested in supporting or learning more about bike-based business, this is a starting place. For more info and ongoing updates regarding the bike world of Portland, you can’t beat BikePortland.org. Who knows, you may gain inspiration and look at ways that you could integrate a little human-powered transportation in your life, work, and play…
If you do get inspired, here’s a recent “Bikin’ in the Rain” practical guide from the Willamette Week.
If you’re in the market for a home, and want to tour homes by bike, let us know. It’s a great way to see neighborhoods and get a feel for bikability. We’d be happy to work that into your home search.
For other unique Portland resources, you can do a keyword search in the upper left corner of this website, or contact us. The River PDX is a Holistic Source for Real Estate. We’re happy to be a resource or be a helpful link in connecting you to the appropriate local service provider or supplier. If you have any suggestions of other businesses that should be added to this particular list, we’d love to learn about them.
Resources for Market Stats & Analysis
A Bird's Eye View of Portland
This is not for everyone, but at the start of the year it seems fairly common and natural to look back and assess how we’ve fared, to help us determine how we’d like to proceed in the new year. With real estate being so specific to location, it’s critical to look at local data and analysis, but we are also reliant on financing that is impacted by national and global factors. As we read articles and reports throughout the year, we continually check the “big picture” against what we’re experiencing with buyers, sellers, and investors here in Portland, Oregon.
This is a quick set of resources for homeowners wanting to look a bit closer at data and analysis, for investors wanting to evaluate their positions and their current return on equity, for buyers and sellers contemplating a move in 2012, or for the general public looking for insight into our current real estate market. We’ve assembled a balanced reading list that will help you find your place in today’s real estate market. We wouldn’t call it required reading for anyone owning real estate, but for those who like to learn more, it is the abridged “table of contents” to our market analysis reading.
- PSU’s Center for Real Estate Quarterly
- CalculatedRisk.com: See their “Housing Analysis: Bull AND Bear” and peruse the sidebar for more recent analysis.
- RealtyTrac.com: A free trial membership will allow you access to quite a bit of information.
- ForeclosureRadar.com
- Clear Capital Reports: as mentioned in the Oregonian
- Businomics.com: offers perspective from a local economist.
- Buy VS. Rent Calculator
- Portland Monthly’s Annual neighborhood report
Rent vs Buy Infographic 2011: Choose the Best Real Estate Investment
What’s your source? If you have recommendations for other sources, contact us. We’d love to find others to consider. Both of us at The River PDX strive to be a resource to those looking for expert real estate services in Portland, Oregon. Contact us for a free, no obligation real estate consultation. We are here to contextualize this data and varied analysis, so you know what it means to you in Portland, Oregon.
A 2011 Guide to Giving
‘Tis the season of giving, and we’re glad to share with you some of David and Steve’s favorite non-profits for personal and business year-end contributions:
- KBOO – Volunteer-Powered, Non-Commercial, Listener-Sponsored, Full-Strength Community Radio for Portland, Oregon, Cascadia & the World!
- p:ear – builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth, ages 15 to 24, through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives
- Willamette Riverkeeper – a non-profit organization, whose sole mission is to protect and restore the Willamette River.
- Oregon Environmental Council – safeguards what Oregonians love about Oregon – clean air and water, an unpolluted landscape and healthy food produced by local farmers. As a member-supported nonprofit more than 40 years, they’ve been a champion for solutions to protect the health of every Oregonian and the health of the place we call home.
- Mercy Corps – Its mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.
- Portland Fruit Tree Project – a grass-roots non-profit organization that provides a community-based solution to a critical and growing need in Portland and beyond: Access to healthy food. Because money doesn’t grow on trees… but fruit does!
- McKenzie River Gathering Foundation - MRG Foundation pools money from Oregon’s progressive community and distributes it back to grassroots groups working on a wide range of social change issues. MRG funding supports the most strategic work unfolding at the local level to address globalization, poverty, war, racism and environmental destruction.
- BTA – a non-profit membership organization working to promote bicycling and improve bicycling conditions in Oregon since 1990.
- ReBuilding Center (a project of Our United Villages) – Inspiring people to value and discover existing resources to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities.
- Portland Gay Men’s Chorus – The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus aspires to expand, redefine, and perfect the choral art through eclectic performances that honor and uplift the gay community and affirm the worth of all people.
- Portland Frontrunners – Its mission is to promote good health and provide an opportunity for positive social interaction through running, walking and club events in a supportive running community
- American Lung Association – The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through Education, Advocacy and Research. As a lifelong asthmatic, Steve is particularly appreciative of the work that they do.
- Portland Track Festival – A community oriented track and field festival open to youths and adults.
- Portland Area Business Association – Portland Area Business Association exists to promote business and offer support to its membership, which is made up of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and their allies in business.
- Equity Foundation- Equity Foundation has existed since 1989 to eradicate prejudice against sexual and gender minority communities as well as other diverse communities around Oregon and Southwest Washington.
(Listed in no particular order and inspired by the Willamette Weekly GIVE! GUIDE)
Whether it’s time, money, or energy that you choose to donate, your contributions matter. To all of these organizations, thank you for all that you do, as you share your gifts, resources, time, energy, and money. All of these organizations are great sources of inspiration and support to our city, state, country, and world. These lists are not exhaustive in the least, but let us know if there’s an organization that you’d recommend.
Locally Responsible Investing
In recognition of Bank Transfer Day, November 5, 2011, we’d like to offer a set of resources to help you locate resources for socially responsible investing and banking. We don’t profess to be experts on socially responsible investing, but it’s definitely an area of interest for us. What are our options for local and socially responsible banking, investing, and insurance? Locally, we’ve worked with some committed professionals who have made it their work to know the local and socially responsible options. Whether you’re looking for an alternative to banking with one of the “biggies”, looking for a mutual fund that doesn’t invest in nuclear development or tobacco, or looking for an investment tool that will allow you to really direct your funds in a new direction all together, here are some local resources to consider. Click on each link for more information about how these resources can help you fine tune your banking, investing, and insurance.
Local Financial Resources in Portland, Oregon
New Outlook Financial is a Portland, Oregon based investment advisory firm offering fee-only financial planning and investment advice for individuals, families and small business people, many of whom are interested in integrating their finances with their values. Unlike other financial advisors who sell products for commissions, we provide our clients with objective advice and guidance so they can be confident that the advice they are getting is in their best interest.
Format Sol
utions is a local business specializing in providing individuals with unprecedented control over their retirement assets and investment options. If you’re frustrated with the lack of control, volatile performance, and ongoing expenses of your current investment portfolio, they can create a Limited Liability Company within your IRA that allows for full checkbook control of your retirement funds and a nearly limitless investment selection.
Mark Strauss of Leonard Adams Company
: An independent insurance agent. Mark works with financially stable and preferred independent Northwest insurance companies such as: Oregon Mutual, Liberty Northwest, Mutual of Enumclaw, Safeco Insurance and National insurance companies such as: Chubb Insurance, Fireman’s Fund Insurance, One Beacon Insurance, Philadelphia Insurance, Travelers Insurance and many more. Mark has thought about the long-term implications of the businesses, homes and vehicles he insures. He’s dedicated to taking the time to spend a little extra money to reduce my environmental footprint as much as possible both in his personal and professional life because he believes that businesses need to be progressive and add environmental and social achievements to their measures of success.
More resources for local and socially responsible financial options
- Oregon Banks Local (for more information on local credit unions and community banks)
- Credit card options and reviews
This is a sampler to get you started. The River PDX strives to provide local and socially responsible resources that can help you align more aspects of your life with your values. If you’d like to know more about how investing in Portland real estate could fit into your long-term investment goals, we’d love the opportunity to explore that with you. Contact us to discuss how our real estate services could facilitate and enrich how you invest.
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Agent Profile
In addition to offering sound real estate services, we bring a broad awareness of sustainable living and design to our practice. We thrive on making connections that help clients live and invest in alignment with their values, while supporting our local community, economy, and environment. Contact David and Steve today to learn how your next realty decision can enhance the place you call home. AGENCY INFO
1902 SE Morrison St. Portland, OR 97214
