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"We are excited for sure. And it's very nice-looking," said Denise Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association

(City of Cambridge)

Just look at how the Portland Loo has made something of itself: It's going to Harvard!

The Boston Globe reports that the city of Cambridge, Mass., has purchased a Portland-made "shiny, oblong structure made of stainless steel" to be used as a public toilet.

Portland Loo now has 21 fully armed and operational public toilets located in eight states and British Columbia, including seven in its home town.

According to the Globe:

Efforts to bring the public bathroom to the busy city square have been in the works for years, and were prompted by the closure of the public restrooms at Christ Church Cambridge in 2012. The church was having issues with people dealing drugs or overdosing in the bathroom. The church's decision to close it forced tourists and visitors to seek relief at businesses in the square.

A grassroots group called "Advocates for a Common Toilet" had long fought for the "right" to have a restroom near the Cambridge Common that would be available to the residents, visitors, and the homeless population in the area.

"We are excited for sure. And it's very nice-looking," said Denise Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, which was part of the Advocates for a Common Toilet group. "A lot of thought went into it."

-- Joseph Rose

503-221-8029

jrose@oregonian.com

@josephjrose