Notes, updates, and interviews by Planning Commissioners Journal & PlannersWeb Editor Wayne Senville
You see the silver, ovoid-shaped aerial trams high in the air heading up towards a hill. Is there a ski slope on the other side? Unlikely in a city that averages under five inches of snow a year. So just where are those trams heading? And why?
Orenco Station is both an actual light-rail station and the name of a 209 acre “transit-oriented” development adjacent to the station. They’re both in Hillsboro, Oregon, a fast growing suburb of Portland, and home to the state’s “Silicon Forest.”
One of the most remarkable aspects of Oregon planning law is the “urban growth boundary” (UGB). A look at how it works.
Hillsboro, Oregon — a fast-growing western suburb of Portland — is seeking to revive its downtown “main street” district by focusing on arts and culture.
What can residents do with that narrow strip of grass or plants and sometimes also trees usually located between the curb and the sidewalk. In Portland, homeowners have come up with some creative answers.
What do street intersections have to do with strong neighborhoods and empowered citizens? Aren’t intersections just for dividing up blocks, and getting traffic through? Take a look at a program that’s turned intersections on their head.
What’s the matter with kids today? In large part it’s that we’re not providing them with a child-friendly built environment. That was the message at the heart of Suzanne Crowhurst Lennard’s talk at the International Making Cities Livable conference in Portland, Oregon.
“The built environment is health policy and social policy in concrete,” says Dr. Richard Jackson, in documenting the connection the public health impacts of how we plan and build our communities.
Comparing two neighborhoods: the older, streetcar era neighborhood (discussed in the last two posts) with a newer post World War II area with a low-density, auto-centric, pattern of development.
We continue our walk, discussing Portland’s innovative design regulations; the boom in bicycle parking; and the condition of city sidewalks.
A look at how Portland has gone beyond “Walk Score” in using a detailed rating system to evaluate neighborhood “walkability” — and why one older neighborhood fares quite well.
One of the Portland, Oregon, metro area’s most ambitious goals is to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Significant progress has already been made, but much more remains to be accomplished.
The 3 D’s of Portland’s 20-minute neighborhoods concept: Distance: how far can you walk in 20 minutes? Destinations: is everything you need on a daily basis within that distance? Density: are there enough people in the area to support the businesses and facilities you need for daily needs?
