Dear Portland Japanese Garden community members,
I am writing to you today to share an important update from the Board of Trustees regarding the Japan Institute campus. With a vision to reinvest in the community of Portland, the Board of Trustees, with the support of Portland Japanese Garden’s leadership, has decided to sell the 3.65-acre Japan Institute campus site located in northwest Portland, adjacent to Forest Park. As you may recall, our organization purchased this satellite property in 2022. This will have no impact on the Garden itself in Washington Park.
This may come as a surprise, especially to those of you who have been following along on this endeavor. Four years ago, when we started the process to acquire the campus, it felt like an ideal fit. The location and natural spaces were beautiful, and we could envision how Japan Institute’s artistic, garden, & cultural programming could come to life on those grounds. Fast forward to 2024, conditions have changed significantly. The pandemic altered the landscape – from the broader economy to escalating construction costs to the wellness of our city. On top of this, the campus, while beautiful, is representative of the time that it was built more than 100 years ago. With each inspection, we learned of the significant environmental and structural improvements that were needed for the safety and habitability of these buildings.
The Board of Trustees did not make this decision lightly but did so in answering our responsibility to ensure the long-term health of this organization we all hold so dear. Fortunately, Japan Institute was never just defined by its physical property. As the programmatic arm of Portland Japanese Garden, it is defined by its people and the passion they have for sharing culture, art, and nature. We have just the right people to help move us forward on this important journey, including members of our community like you. Alongside your support, the Board of Trustees and I have great confidence in our staff and leadership’s ability to steward this organization and continue to advance our mission through the Garden and its programs.
We don’t have an estimated timeline for its sale yet. However, we wanted to share this shift in strategy, explain our reasoning, and reaffirm our excitement for the long-term vision of Japan Institute.
As we serve our mission of Inspiring Harmony and Peace, we’re excited to be part of a larger effort to bring vibrancy and vitality back to Portland. This means focusing on our programming – such as cultural festivals, our coveted workshops, and bringing back the Japanese Garden Training Center’s programs in 2025. As for spaces, in the short term, we are looking for satellite location(s) in the Portland area that will allow us to be a creative incubator to bring our programming to life. For the long-term, knowing that our ties to Japan and our connection to nature is at the heart of who we are – we remain committed to finding an outdoor space where we can continue to thrive.
I’d also like to provide a brief update on the CEO transition. As you may recall, our CEO, Steve Bloom, will be retiring as of January 2025. The Board of Trustees is actively discussing the qualities and leadership we seek in our next CEO. This deliberate evaluation includes input from key stakeholders to ensure we select the right candidate to lead us into the future. We anticipate this careful process will continue into 2025. In the meantime, as you are all likely aware, our stellar Executive Director, Lisa Christy, has assumed day-to-day oversight of the organization for a seamless transition. I look forward to updating you further when we have news to share.
Portland Japanese Garden is an organic place evolving with each generation, and with nature itself. I’m excited to step forward into the future with you and know that with our passion, energy, and commitment, we will do amazing things for community here in Portland, and all around the world.
Onward!
Paul Schommer
President, Portland Japanese Garden Board of Trustees