https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo Finding relevant articles to Urban Planning in Portland's Metropolitan area. en-us 2023-01-20 23:44:29 UTC 2023-01-30 02:19:36 UTC hello@padlet.com milesgrube https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo/wish/2451634092 This article describes how a white majority decision making apparatus has led to policies directly harming Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. The long history of cruel and callous exclusion and indifference to these communities has had devastating impacts, and Portland is now facing protest and genuine commitment to ameliorating the conditions that past decisions have created. For example, the Oregon Metro Council has banded together community organizations and labor / advocacy groups to advise Metro on transit projects they undertake. The purpose of this is to bring unheard voices to the table, and to undermine the dominant hierarchical way planning decisions have historically been made.]]> 2023-01-20 23:54:29 UTC https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo/wish/2451634092 milesgrube https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo/wish/2451635247 This Portland Mercury article addresses conflict between planners with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and a pedestrian safety advocacy group called Oregon Walks. ODOT was tasked by the Oregon Legislature to tackle the issue of congestion on the Rose Quarter I5 corridor, and they have decided to expand the highway adding on / off ramps to reduce merging - this may help with traffic, but it simultaneously makes it a much more dangerous area for pedestrians and cyclists. Many in the surrounding community are outraged by this prospect, especially so as the amount of money being spent on this project is inordinately large. Nevertheless, ODOT plans to build in the coming months.]]> 2023-01-20 23:58:50 UTC https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo/wish/2451635247 milesgrube https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo/wish/2451635895 This article looks at a possible solution to the affordable housing issue that is well-recognized in Portland. The remedy, some developers and planners of the sustainability commission say, is to rezone areas in Portlands northeast neighborhoods, allowing three story, multifamily buildings with no elevators - this is known as up-zoning. This seems logical to me, and as the city council announced a housing emergency in 2015, which has since only gotten worse, it’s imperative that solution-based ideas are followed through. 

]]> 2023-01-21 00:01:20 UTC https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo/wish/2451635895 milesgrube https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo/wish/2451636610 This Willamette Week article focuses on the complicated obstacle that downtown Portland and the businesses within it face. Namely, the resistance of city workers who are refusing the commute to offices and working in-person after having worked remote due to COVID. The lack of their foot traffic has had consequences for the cities core, so officials are attempting to revitalize the area by reeling people in. As confirmed by the mayor’s office, their solution is to require 20 hours of the week to be worked in the office starting in April. ]]> 2023-01-21 00:03:53 UTC https://padlet.com/milesgrube/ajmbepjwjmhwliuo/wish/2451636610