Terwilliger Plaza Hosts Parkview Groundbreaking Celebration for Members and Friends
The construction site near the existing Terwilliger Plaza Campus will be home to 127 apartment homes.
Community was a central theme at the Parkview Groundbreaking ceremony held on Thursday, July 15 celebrating the start of construction on Terwilliger Plaza’s newest expansion to the campus.
With remarks that embraced history, gratitude, legacy, pride, and excitement, the program was hosted by Wesleigh Ogle, the weekend morning anchor and weekday reporter for KATU news. Speakers included, Representative Earl Blumenauer, Terwilliger Plaza Member and Board Chair, Linda Mather, Terwilliger Plaza CEO, Bob Johnson, and members of the design and development team including, Matt Ledding, President, Walsh Construction and Dan Purgiel, Principal, LRS Architects. The program had a special feature with live music before and after the ceremony featuring Terwillger Members, Jerry Lindgren and Blanche Abram on piano, with Joanne Rannells leading the Invocation and Allen Dobbins leading the Pledge of America.
“I have long admired the strength of the Terwilliger community,” said, Representative Blumenauer. “We are an aging society, and we need to figure out how to do it right. Terwilliger has done that in terms of a community that is as strong as any neighborhood in Portland. I am honored to be here with you today to mark this moment to create what will become a Portland landmark in years to come.”
Linda Mather, Terwilliger Plaza Board Chair, spoke to the legacy of Lesta Hoel who founded Terwilliger in 1959. “The audacity and chutzpah that Lesta and the board had to lay the foundation for not only the Tower, but what became Terwilliger Plaza with the Heights, the Terrace, the Metcalf and now with Parkview. As I look forward to that legacy, I am both honored and awed to continue.” In the spirit of leadership, Linda recognized the work of the Board and Resident Council. Linda emphasized their heightened role in a community of shared governance, while offering an extended definition of community at Terwilliger to include all the people who live here, the people who work here every day, and now, including the people who are building Parkview for us.
“This is a day that we have been working on for a long time,” remarked Bob Johnson, Terwilliger Plaza CEO. “Living Forward is more than a motto. Today signifies the continuation of a vision that first started with the Members more than sixty years ago and continues with the membership today.” With a commitment to the health of our planet, the Members wanted an environmentally sound building. The Parkview building is designed to meet and accomplish Passive House certification upon opening and will be one of the largest Passive House buildings in the country.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer addresses Members, friends, and invited guests during a short speaking program in the Tower Auditorium.
Matt Ledding, President of Walsh Construction extended his appreciation to the Terwilliger community for being great stewards of the neighborhood and their ongoing commitment to senior housing. While Dan Purgeil, Principal and LRS Architects told a little-known achievement regarding the pedestrian bridge across 6th Street connecting Parkview to the Terwilliger campus. It almost didn’t happen, when first the request was denied – not allowed by zoning regulations. Terwilliger and the design team began working with the City and State to establish an exemption for Life Plan Communities from the new inclusionary zoning requirements. Their efforts were successful. Parkview is now recognized as instrumental in the city allowing these bridges for senior communities.
As Wesleigh noted in her remarks, it is appropriate that we call this a groundbreaking ceremony. Parkview is innovative – on the leading edge of sustainable building and challenges pre-conceived notions of what continuing care retirement communities can be. What an extraordinary project. Redefining the standards for independent living – respecting the environmental impact – forwarding the vision of your community – and demonstrating your ongoing commitment to be an active participant within the city of Portland.
Congratulations to all our Members and extended community.