Learning From Portland, Oregon: Creating Vibrant Cities

From the Coalition for Smarter Growth:

A Conversation with Rex Burkholder, Oregon Metro Councilor
Tuesday, January 15
6:00pm Refreshments, 6:30pm Program
National Capital Planning Commission
401 9th Street, NW - North Lobby, Suite 500, Washington, DC ( Metro Center/Gallery Place /Archives Metro stations)

Portland, Oregon, wasn't always the walkable, streetcar riding, bicycling community it is today. Counter to all other transportation trends across the country, driving miles in Portland are actually declining as more and more people find better ways to go about their daily routine. What are the keys to creating such a successful region? How can the DC Metro region learn from Portland’s experience? Join us to discuss how Portland transformed into a national model for smart growth and balanced transportation. Hear from Councilor Rex Burkholder, long time bicycling & walking advocate, and Councilor on Portland Metro Council, the regional planning and transportation agency for Portland.
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Also see this past blog entry "A summary of my impressions of Portland, Oregon and planning (reprint)" originally published in October 2005. A key point: Portland had a plan, a plan focused on maintaining the value and primacy of the central business district. That drove a variety of linked land use and transportation planning policies and initiatives. From the entry:

Portland Oregon's Downtown Plan (from material distributed for a walking tour)

The Downtown plan, adopted in 1972, was intended to maintain and strengthen downtown's central role in the city by reinforcing its mix of uses--including office, retail, cultural, governmental and residential. The major concepts included:

1. Creating a North-South spine of high density offices served by public transit. The (bus) Transit Malls on SW 5th and 6th Avenues, completed in 1978, provides this spine and supported private office developments.

2. Creation of an East-West retail spine along Morrison Street that would lead the city back to the river. The MAX light rail line and rebuilt streets on Morrison and Yamhill implement that concept.

3. Recognition and support for the subdistricts in downtown. The Skidmore and Yamhill Historic Districts are two premier examples of those subdistricts and zoning regulations were modified to protect them and funds were invested by the public and private sectors for rehabilitation.

4. Emphasis on transit and alternative modes for downtown access and limitations on parking. The plan prohibited new parking unless associated with new development and it prohibited the demolition of historic buildings for parking lots.

5. Design regulations to promote active street level storefronts--with retail space, public lobbies, and other pedestrian features typical of historic commercial buildings.

6. Policies to maintain the historic, fine-grained street grid and blocs. Vacating streets to form larger blocks and skybridges are rare in downtown. This helps to maintain an active street life.

7. Policies and programs to protect and promote fragile uses like housing, retail and hotels through public and private investments and regulation.

For great photos of Portland, check out Portland Ground.