Stark Street
Stark Street is an east-west-running street in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. The street is named after Benjamin Stark, and Southeast Stark Street and Southwest Stark Street are divided by the Willamette River.
![](../I/East_Portland-Grand_Ave_Historic_District_SE_Stark_St.JPG.webp)
In late 2017, activists proposed renaming Southwest Stark Street for gay rights activist Harvey Milk, noting that Stark was an unapologetic racist who advocated for slavery.[1] In June 2018, the city council approved renaming that 13-block stretch of Stark, which is entirely within downtown,[2] as SW Harvey Milk Street.[3] The name change took effect immediately upon the council's approval of the ordinance enacting it.[4]
In Washington County, West Stark Street acts as the dividing line between the streets prefixed with Northwest and those with Southwest.
On January 26, 2021, a man went on a vehicular rampage on Stark St., killing an elderly woman and injuring 5 other pedestrians.[5][6]
References
- Griffin, Anna (December 29, 2017). "Supporters Want to Rename a Portland Street for Harvey Milk — And Send a Message". Oregon Public Broadcasting.
- Griffin, Anna (June 14, 2018). "Portland Leaders Rename Downtown Section of Stark Street for Harvey Milk". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
- "City to rename part of SW Stark in honor of Harvey Milk". KGW. June 14, 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
- "Ordinance 189020 – Rename SW Stark St to SW Harvey [sic] St". Auditor's Office, City of Portland. June 13, 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
- "Driver hits 'multiple pedestrians' in SE Portland; 1 dead, 5 hurt". KOIN.com. 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- Staff, KATU (2021-01-25). "Driver kills pedestrian, injures several others in SE Portland; neighbors say intentional". KATU. Retrieved 2021-01-26.