DESIGN + PLANNING TOOLS FOR GROWING COMMUNITIES

Support for DOZA Design Overlays with changes for main streets.

We support bigger buildings and increasing affordable housing, but with greater power, comes greater responsibility - this means doing density sensitively without dominating or damaging local identity. We can grow support for density if done well.

We're advocating for: (see our Top 3 Recs)

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• Main Street Design Standards.
  Without good tools, many of our valued undesignated historic streetcar neighborhoods are at risk.  In 2016, the City identified a long list of main street centers at risk of redevelopment - 19 out of 21 had no preservation tools (e.g. Hawthorne, Belmont, Division, Alberta, Montavilla, Sellwood-Moreland,.etc), instead of downzoning, it was recommended DOZA add main streeet standards and guidelines. The City has already identified possible Future Work in the DOZA Staff Report (p. 51-53) for these places but without your advocacy, these areas may not get the tools to guide their growth with context. View the Main Street Centers Study (i.e. the Low Rise Commercial Storefront Analysis).
   

• Sustainability Scorecard
  Many areas have experienced gentrification and displacement, rising rents and loss of neighborhood identity. We need better tools that track impacts and can support redeveloping communities to have a voice in shaping their future. We can't manage if we don't measure.
   

• Equitable Design Review
  We have a different standard of care for Central City at 45' for Design Commission Review but 65-75' trigger everywhere else, ignoring impacts to our vintage main street "centers of centers" that lack preservation tools. Most of our main streets are not designated with historic or conservation districts so are very vulnerable to loss. We aren't suggesting neighborhood design review, just equal treatment from the City Design Commission for this side of the river in our centers.
   

• Affordable Design Standard is missing
  Many newer buildings are un-necessarily unaffordable due to "fast fashion', ignoring time-tested affordable design practices. PDX Main Streets is advocating for a new "Design for Affordability Standard" based on what we've learned about cost-efficient design. That means stacking your floors, aligning openings, not cantilevering buildings out using expensive structural steel, avoiding large extraneous overbuild elements, and investing in good materials and energy efficiency. It's not an either/or debate: EVERYONE DESERVES GOOD DESIGN, and it doesn't have to cost more.
   

• Community Based Planning Policy
  We believe there is a minimum standard of care and responsibility of good governance to consider community work that can demonstrate these two criterion are met (best planning practices, widespread community support) and to help assist them toward a pathway for communities to have a meaningful voice in shaping their future. A community based planning policy is an opportunity for the City to lead in being a model for others, showing they are listening to communities and really care about the values they espouse of government of, by, and for the people. 

Since 2013, we've been working with communities to respond with positive tools and resources to make better density with less impacts and greater fit with context. We care about ensuring ALL communities have a voice in shaping the city and tools to clarify community design goals, and create opportunities to overcome divisive debates around development politics.

Opponents don't care about impacts, spreading false narratives or community voices that have worked to clarify goals for new density through years of public engagement when no City help was available. Tell the City that a one-size fits all approach and silencing community voices isn't the Portland Way. We need to hear from you!

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• Sign up to testify in person (by 4:00 on 5/11)

• Submit written comments

We encourage everyone to speak out now Portland City Council online now and/or sign up to testify today to provide your valuable feedback on this important process. 

Learn more: View our webinar presentation to Venture Portland on DOZA. (Slides, video recording) 

late.