"But I don't see what difference the utility wires make..."

We've lived with wires strung around the neighborhood for over 100 years.  After that long, we who live here hardly notice them (even if we haven't lived here for 100 years).  But take a trip through Portland's suburbs and think about the wires.  In subdivision after subdivision, they simply are nowhere to be seen.  They make a striking comparison with Irvington, where the views of its elegant homes are compromised by the wires..

In case you still aren't convinced, here's a typical comparison.  This is just one of the photos from the Gallery of Irvington Views, before and after the digital removal of the wires.  For a recent utility industry article discussing "undergrounding" of electric wires, which mentions several U.S. cities that have embarked on such a project, follow this link.  For one city's practical approach to eliminating above-ground electric wires without the enormous short-term cost impacts projected by the electric utility industry, follow this link.

Before...

After...

See what we mean?

Go to Irvington Gallery...

The Irvington Community Association also maintains a website to provide services internal to the Irvington Community.  We invite all Irvington neighbors and others interested in NE Portland community affairs to visit that site as well.