Ecotrust Building to raise its profile

Once a center of Pearl District activity, the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center is waking up

Autumn Sharp, assets operations manager for Ecotrust, stands by Hot Lips Pizza, which has been slinging slices and whole pies for 25 years in the Ecotrust Building at 721 NW Ninth Ave.

Autumn Sharp is the new assets manager for Ecotrust, aka the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center. We met in the lobby of the building, where not much is going on except a young father feeding his daughter Hot Lips Pizza, who in turn feeds her doll.

The long-empty restaurant space (formerly home to Laughing Planet, República and World Cup Coffee) across from Hot Lips will be leased soon, Sharp says. “We’re excited, but can’t talk about it yet.” If you find out let us know.

The Pearl Culinary Market might have brought even more excitement to the Ecotrust parking lot, but Pearl neighborhood association leaders were steered away by mistake.

Outside, photographers gravitate toward the Ecotrust Building’s remnant wall, an edifice of metal, brick and paint that is part of the original McCracken warehouse dating back to 1900. Vines and espaliered pear trees grow along Northwest 10th Avenue entrance that were planted during the building’s extensive renovation in 1991.

Spencer B. Beebe founded Ecotrust 35 years ago with a mission-driven vision to sustain nonprofit businesses that intersect at the corners of capitalism and environmentalism.

Ecotrust owns a second building, the Redd on Salmon Street in the Central Eastside has a vast event space, which has become a hub for food innovation and sustainability. A film series about our region’s rivers “Headwaters to Horizons” runs Aug. 19, Sept. 26 and Oct. 21.

The Pearl Ecotrust tenants include Coldwell Banker; the Pearl Church; The UTI Clinic, a new women’s health clinic; and Bassetti Architects. Hot Lips Pizza, which turns 25 this year, enlivens the front of the house. Savvy people know about the all-day, every-day slice and beer or cider special for $10.50.

Upstairs is a large conference room named for native American fishing activist Billy Frank Jr., who was arrested when he was 14 for fishing. He went on to become a towering figure in the movement to restore tribal land rights.

Even on a hot day, the beautiful old building stays cool. The Ecotrust rooftop patio offers panoramic views of the present day Pearl District. It’s a popular spot for weddings and celebrations— including the NW Examiner’s annual community awards ceremony on Oct. 20.