Portland Downtown Housing's Front Yard
| Portland Downtown Housing's Front Yard | |
|---|---|
| |
 Portland Downtown Housing's Front Yard | |
| Team Organizations | Green Urban Design |
| Point of Contact | Charles Kelley |
| Participating Municipalities | Portland OR |
| Sectors | Buildings |
| Initiative | |
| Status | Concept only Stage |
| Last Updated | April 8, 2025 |
Summary
Portland Downtown Housing's Front Yard This presentation was given during the City of Possibility panel presentation, Waterfront of Possibility, in Portland Oregon. March 10th, 2025. The presentation proposes a concept centered on making improvement to the Portland Waterfront that stimulated activity downtown and increased access to housing. The concept was based on the retelling of the "Portland Story" that Japan used to help communities recover from their economic malaise, population decline, and super aging by regenerating the economy found along active and vital streets connecting neighborhoods. This regeneration of economic and social vitality in Japan using the principles of the "Portland Story" was due to:
- The streets must promote connectivity,
- The character of places must reflect community values, and
- The continuity of experience between places along the streets must make accessible the services and activities that are needed within a 15-minute walk or bike ride.
These principles as applied in Japan have regenerated neighborhood economies. This has induced resilience and community cohesion around improvements in community livability in harmony with nature.
This presentation was intended to promote faith in a story that can help to accelerate the reactivation of Portland’s Downtown. Perhaps it is a new Portland Story that will be worthy of retelling in the future.