(this page still under development)

Starting a City Repair Site (in Portland):

You’ll want to read our Placemaking Guidebook. Talk with people who have done similar projects about their experiences, especially those who have taken a leadership role. Basic steps include talk with your neighbors about what you want to do, work together with them on a project proposal, join the Village Building Convergence if it fits your needs and schedule, and proceed with designing, building, finishing, and maintaining your neighborhood project. More information is available on the VBC section of our website, or by emailing your questions to vbc at cityrepair.org.

Spreading the Word:

Do you want to tell your neighbors, family, and friends about us? Would you like to include this in a school report, community meeting, or other project? We love that. You may want a copy of something fancy to show them – check out our books and DVD's. For articles and information requests, contact our Publicity team pressteam [at] cityrepair.org. For speakers, ask the office staff (office [at] cityrepair.org) to connect you with Outreach folks.

Guidebooks, DVDs, and Other Resources:

Our Placemaking Guidebook is a great resource for organizing community projects. It includes examples of successful projects, tips from experienced organizers on common obstacles that may arise in any community project, specific suggestions for how to talk to your neighbors (and how to reach the ones who are never there), and much more. We also have an excellent 12-minute DVD entitled “Space into Place” that makes a great introduction to our work. Available Books and DVDs

Building with Natural & Recycled Materials:

There are many natural builders working in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Natural Building involves working with what’s at hand: often, based on traditional building techniques such as cob, rammed earth, and adobe. Natural Building methods tend to increase hands-on involvement and creativity, while decreasing environmental impact due to processed materials and transportation. We help communities find and hire these builders as contractors and consultants for community projects.

If you are interested in creating a private project such as a cob oven, sauna, or backyard bench, please understand that our mission is to serve community and public projects first. You can use our links page (or your local listings) to find a builder / consultant who can answer common questions about sourcing and working with natural materials. This is a skilled profession, so it’s good to get in the mindset of offering value for service. Natural Building Questions

Taking a Tour of City Repair Project Sites

Many visitors to Portland (and many locals) enjoy taking a tour of the quirky, charming, community-built structures that City Repair folks have helped to create. We now have a map available (which includes almost all the Portland-area sites as of 2006), for you to download and print. We can also provide you a copy if you stop by the office at 2122 SE Division St. Enjoy!

Other Questions

If this didn’t answer your question, or point you in the right direction, you can always call us. 503-235-8946.