Elements of Urbanism: Portland

[Metro Jacksonville]

Elements of Urbanism: Portland



Portland was founded along the banks of Oregan's Willamette River and quickly grew as a port city.  In 1979, the city adopted an urban growth boundary.  Since that time, a city that was more spread out than Jacksonville in 1950 is twice as dense than Jax today.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/753

[vicupstate]

Jacksonville still struggles to understand the importance of preserving existing building stock in the urban core.

This needs to be changed to ...

Jacksonville FAILS to understand the importance of preserving existing building stock in the urban core.

[second_pancake]

Portland is the ideal city for any city in relative population and size to model.  Not only do they have the city planning piece down in regard to mass transit and pedestrians, but it's been voted the most bicycle-friendly city year after year by Bicycling magazine.  There's only one problem with Portland that I can see.  It's wet and cold.  A lot.

[zoo]

First and last images of Portland building stock shows good example of urban art. If only our downtown signage ordinance and suburban-thinking ddrb could appreciate the place-making effect.

[Steve]

We've done a lot of comparison articles, but this one is particularly good.  It really shows how we have screwed up the idea of downtown development, yet on the other coast, Portland has a completely different mindset, and look what they have.

[Lunican]

This building actually looks like a caricature of the design guidelines for downtown. I wonder if the Design Review Board knew they were being mocked when they approved this?

Next up for approval:

[thelakelander]

This would be an improvement.  It properly addresses the corner and engages the sidewalk.  The LaVilla project does neither.

[jbm32206]

Now that's a very cool looking building! I'd love to see something of that nature downtown, sure would add some character to it!

[thelakelander]

Yeah, it wouldn't hurt.  At least it makes someone want to get out of the car or walk an extra block to see what's going on in the place.  It sure beats starring at overgrown vacant lots.

[jbm32206]

It just amazes me, that all the trips our city leaders have taken to other cites (and countries) that they just don't seem to 'get it' and have been knocking down old buildings that could be restored and brought back to life as something new, yet keeping the beauty of history

[Bike Jax]

Wow. Finally a comparison of the US bike/ped Mecca. If is wasn't for the weather in Portland and the rest of the Pacific Northwest for that matter. I would have left Jacksonville along time ago for those great cites. And ironically we (Jacksonville) have had an influx of Portlanders moving here over the past couple years. The majority list the sun as their number one reason for the move.

Another major reason for the success of mass transit in Portland is that it a true functional alternative. Prior to the arrival of the new rail system in Portland. The buses arrive at every stop every 15 mins. Unlike here, JTA takes great pride if they can get a route to hit stops under an hour to a hour and half.  Oh, and you can take bikes on the trains, also unlike here.

One of things I have been enjoying reading on the Portland blogs is the discussions of the building of the new I-5 bridge that crosses the Columbia River and connects Portland with Victoria Washington. They already know it will include Bike/Pedestrian access (as does the current bridge) . The big question is of whether to include rail or not. How nice would it have been to have bike/ped access with Fuller Warren connecting Riverside and San Marco? Don't you just love a city and state leaders that think?

[thelakelander]

One of things I have been enjoying reading on the Portland blogs is the discussions of the building of the new I-5 bridge that crosses the Columbia River and connects Portland with Victoria Washington. They already know it will include Bike/Pedestrian access (as does the current bridge) . The big question is of whether to include rail or not. How nice would it have been to have bike/ped access with Fuller Warren connecting Riverside and San Marco? Don't you just love a city and state leaders that think?

We had a chance to do something like this with the old Fuller Warren and Acosta Bridges.  Unfortunately, both were torn down. 

[SL32205]

The physical similarities between Portland and Jacksonville are really obvious.  A similarly scaled river runs through the middle of town and is the major asset to the city's central core.

But - Jacksonville will never be Portland - and the differences are systematic and culturally ingrained...

1. Portland has a more educated population, which demands forward-thinking & innovative leadership.

2. Portland has multiple significant & well-regarded colleges and universities in it's city (Portland State, Univ. of Portland, Lewis & Clark State, Reed College, etc.) which further adds to the intellectual make-up of the city.

3. Portland emphasized environmental consideration long before it was commonplace or popular.  Consequently, they have given their most valuable/sensitive land to public/civic use, and have respected the value of land by managing unfettered growth and sprawl.

4. Portland demonstrated a commitment to quality public transportation.  It is a viable (desirable) option for all segments of the population through all age, income, and demographics.  Great urban/suburban neighborhoods are linked to downtown by light-rail & bus (Eastmoreland, Beaverton, Gresham, etc.).  This would be like Deerwood, San Jose, Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, Springfield, and Ponte Vedra being efficiently connected via light rail.

5. Portland has a respectable public educational system - not perfect.

6. Portland does not suffer from the same degree of civil rights "hangover" as is found so prevalent in the south, which manifests itself in obvious and not so obvious ways.

7. Portland has a great climate (but they'll never admit it) for outdoor recreation - and has made the public investment to promote biking in the urban environment.  Refer back to #3.

8.  Portland made a great commitment to urban parks - which has created positive public activity downtown, and gave the ENTIRE downtown riverfront to the public, which translated into enhanced value deeper into the downtown core.

The differences aren't about preservation of individual or a collection of individual historic buildings, or even a particular development pattern.  The biggest difference is the mentality - which, unless you've lived both places - it's not possible to understand how broad the gap is...

[thelakelander]

SL32205, great post.  So are you assuming that unless Jacksonville's mentality changes, the dream of a vibrant downtown is a lost cause?

[SL32205]

The mentality is the place it would have to start, yes. 

But, the mentality of a place is part what makes it what it is...  Jacksonville is full of "southern pleasantries", shall I say - which partially make it what it is.  These cultural norms would be as out of place in Portland as can be imagined.

Unless each city's history is forgotten and the south's populations were swapped with that of the northwest, I don't see a paradigm mentality shift on the horizon. 

Plus, those northwesterners hate mosquitos too much to let it happen...!