The International Downtown Association conference was here in Portland last week.
One delegate from South Africa, Neil Fraser, came away impressed with Portland (including our transportation system) and wrote about it back home.
Now if only our local downtown association were as impressed.
8 responses to “Someone Came Away Impressed”
portlanders are expert complainers. (which is probably what keeps the city gov’t relatively straight)
its nice to see an outside opinion now and again.
Prophets get no respect at home (or something like that).
But George is almost right; i would say that Portlanders have high expectations (“things can be better”) rather than being complainers. We are not satisfied that past decisions are necessarily the best. There is always more that can be done to make this a more livable and more just community.
The challenge in Portland and the region is to take what we have done in the Central City….transit, bike and pedestrian friendly streets that accommodate motor vehicles as well…and move it out into the neighborhoods and surrounding cities and towns.
We know it works, indeed works wonders, but even PDOT clings to the “got to move vehicles” mind set of pre-70’s Portland when they get out of downtown.
“many people collect used cooking oil from restaurants.” Oh, really? Where? I would like to do this, as well, so I could get a diesel powered motorhome. When I have asked, I have been told that the vegetable oil is repeatedly used, until it is almost non-existent, once you strain out the animal-related particles. Anyone know?
Also did he mention that Oregon has one of the most regularly depressed economies in the US?
A “The challenge in Portland and the region is to take what we have done in the Central City….transit, bike and pedestrian friendly streets that accommodate motor vehicles as well…and move it out into the neighborhoods and surrounding cities and towns.”
B What downtown has become is a totally subsidized economy. What Portland needs is more motor vehicle capacity through better free flowing and functioning streets, roads and highways, and a requirement that alternative modes of transport be directly charged for specialized infrastructure and transport service. Only this type of mindset change can return Portland to a market based economy that spills over with family wage jobs.
“What downtown has become is a totally subsidized economy. What Portland needs is more motor vehicle capacity through better free flowing and functioning streets, roads and highways, and a requirement that alternative modes of transport be directly charged for specialized infrastructure and transport service. Only this type of mindset change can return Portland to a market based economy that spills over with family wage jobs.”
So I’m not the only person that understands this? Awesome! :) Got my fingers crossed, but I’m not holding my breath.
“What Portland needs is more motor vehicle capacity through better free flowing and functioning streets, roads and highways.”
and what would building those take????
SUBSIDIES!
While urban renewal has been used extensively in the Central City for things like Waterfront Park (who needs it?), Pioneer Courthouse Sq (yuk!)…(and I think its time to terminate the older URAs,) the neighborhood revitalization in NW, SE, and now North Portland has occured almost exclusively with private investment.