An excellent photo looking south on NW 2nd Avenue towards Couch Street. Most of these buildings still exist, and I’d be willing to bet those tracks and Belgian blocks are still under today’s pavement, too.
(City of Portland Archives)
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Vintage Portland 
A view from todays NW Portland
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=45.524426,-122.672413&spn=0.000003,0.00142&t=h&layer=c&cbll=45.524339,-122.672409&panoid=M3bfUhFUvpuZnzEtScfDHQ&cbp=12,194.49,,0,-4.86&z=20
What are the rectangular panels leaning up against the store fronts on the right side of the street ?
Streetcar or heavy rail? Why only one set of tracks?
It was a switching lead for freight (notice single overhead wire). In the old days they used both electric and steam switch engines, depending on who owned the tracks or what other railroad was delivering the freight.
Rectangular panels could be daily chalkboard menu if that’s a café.
I would not mind seeing that Hotel Northern sign recreated on that building today. Also note a portion of the Merchant’s Hotel on the right…