Neighbors should relieve themselves of their fears over a Portland Loo in Boise | Opinion

Do not fear the Portland Loo, Boise.

A proposal to put a type of kiosk-like urban restroom in C.W. Moore Park in downtown Boise is drawing fears of crime, drugs and a gathering of homeless people.

We don’t share those same fears.

The Portland Loo is a different type of restroom, for sure.

The metal structure, designed by Madden Fabrication with the help of the city of Portland, is 8 feet high, nearly 10 feet long and 6 feet wide, with open grates at the top and bottom.

“The Portland Loo is designed specifically to prevent problems that are commonly experienced with public toilets,” the brand’s website states. “The sleek and modern kiosk discourages crime with graffiti-proof wall panels and open grating. And, they’re easy to clean, with commonly used components that are easy to replace or upgrade.”

The same model is already in use in Boise at Cherie Buckner-Webb Park, a city park at the corner of 11th and West Bannock streets.

Parks all over the city already have public toilets. They’re the typical, enclosed design, though, which we would argue would do a better job of hiding crime, drug use and homelessness, if people so chose to do that.

In fact, Boise Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Sara Arkle said sometimes people will camp in an enclosed restroom and not allow members of the public to utilize it.

As Boise grows and as more events come to that area, just next to the Basque Block, we’re going to need more public restrooms in the city.

The nearest public restrooms are three blocks away, in Grove Plaza.

It’s also probably why local businesses support the Portland Loo, as they don’t want nonpaying residents coming into their businesses asking to use their restrooms.

Officials with the city of Bellingham, Washington, are also considering putting Portland Loos around their downtown, according to the Bellingham Herald.

As Jenny Hagemann of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership points out, businesses like them because having more public restrooms around downtown “is the difference between people spending an hour downtown and spending an afternoon.”

And while the Portland Loo might intrude a bit upon the idyllic setting of C.W. Moore park, it’s a sight better than a port-a-potty.

Jennifer Hensley, executive director of the nonprofit Boise Downtown Association, told the Idaho Statesman she has heard “quite a bit” from businesses complaining about having to clean up after people relieving themselves on front stoops or behind buildings, especially after weekends when people stay late at bars in the area.

These Portland Loos are a much more sanitary alternative.

If we have a problem with anything, it’s the price tag for the bare-bones metal structure: $350,000. (Fortunately, it was paid for with a federal community development block grant.)

The Portland Loo has been put into service in cities across the country. Six are expected to go up in the city of Philadelphia, with two scheduled to open this summer.

Philadelphia actually had some fun with its Portland Loos, inviting residents in June to vote for names for the public amenities. Some of the names Philadelphians came up with included Gritty Sitty, Wee the People and the P Stop, with the winner apparently being “Phlush,” close to the city’s metro service, which is called “Phlash.” (No doubt it was Eagles fans who suggested calling the potties “The Dallas Cowboys.”)

What could Boise come up with?

Boise City Council members are scheduled to hear an appeal of the Historic Preservation Commission’s approval of the loo at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at City Hall.

We encourage council members to skip, skip, skip to the loo and approve the facility, and more like it, in the future.

If they do, won’t that be a relief?

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Mary Rohlfing and Patricia Nilsson.