Posted Nov. 18, 2008
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Is Portland about to become the world’s leading public toilet manufacturer?
The city says it is in the process of patenting a design for public restrooms that it hopes to install all over the city and potentially around the country or even the globe at a minimal cost. From the city’s press release:
“The concept of the design is to minimize security concerns (that often necessitate an attendant) through reduced privacy, which naturally minimizes comfort and thus reduces any desire to spend excessive time there to engage in illicit activities. The design is utilitarian yet attractive and will allow for anybody to take care of their business (ADA accessible).
It utilizes CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) features to make it easier for police or passersby to monitor the restroom if somebody is inside for an excessive amount of time or if two people might be in there engaged in drugs or prostitution.
Still, it is designed with the realistic knowledge that people might abuse the restroom, and thus compartments of the structure can easily be replaced. The hand washing station is on the outside to discourage bathing, and it is more of a spigot, flush against the wall, so that a sink does not provide a step for easy access to the roof. It will have a hard connection to water and sewer and solar panels to power the light that will come on in the evening and warm the pipes to prevent against freezing.
It will be open 24 hours a day and be cleaned/maintained through a contract with Portland Clean & Safe that will service it at least twice a day. These bathrooms are sorely needed in Portland, especially in the downtown core, as there is scare access to bathrooms 24 hours a day, leading to a current common practice of urinating and defecating on sidewalks and private property.”
Posted by Joanne Zuhl