RESOURCES

The following list is a collection of planning documents, reports and other resources that provide important background, examples to draw from and other related research that will be considered in the process of creating future design recommendations and possible tools for helping shape future Division development.

• Next Portland | www.nextportland.com/map | Provides a snapshot of development proposals around the City of Portland including recently built, projects under permit review, or under construction. Projects tagged as “Early Assistance” have some of the best potential for community input.

• PDX Main Streets Design Guidelines | www.pdxmainstreets.org/designguidelines

• Portland "Vintage Buildings Study" (2016) | This important study documents many of the unprotected historic streetcar main streets in Portland. Officially titled as the "Low Rise Commercial Storefront Analysis", this was developed by the Bureau of Planning  & Sustainability as part of the 2016 Mixed Use Zoning Project. This study is an excellent resource for areas needing further consideration for historic protections. Note, the study is incomplete as it does not include blocks with 3-story buildings nor blocks with only partial special character.

• Division Green Street/Main Street Plan  (2006)  | Good history and background for Division land use and development including the never built Mt Hood freeway. Note the pearls of development framework, vision, and segmentation of lower, middle and upper character; and specific characteristics and development opportunities at key intersections. Design concerns are expressed throughout the document, however transportation-related funding and focus of this plan precluded detailed attention to this aspect beyond the Division Design Standards in the Main Street Overlay that were a result of the plan.

• Main Street District Design Handbook | Published by the Portland Development Commission. Good resource for streetscape and building design. Note section on “New Development”, pages 59-60.

• Metro Main Street Handbook (1996): A users Guide to Main Streets.

• Infill Design Toolkit | www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/49254  | Prototypes, townhouse examples, some Clinton examples to draw from, good design principles for residential also apply for the commercial corridor with minor adaptation.

• Good Infill & Compatibility Resources |  http://mrsc.org/Home/Explore-Topics/Planning/Development-Types-and-Land-Uses/Infill-Development-Completing-the-Community-Fabric.aspx

• Older, Smaller, Better: Measuring how the character of buildings and blocks influences urban vitality | Executive Summary, Full Report |  Authored by Preservation Green Lab (part of National Trust for Historic Preservation), this important research shows that neighborhoods containing a mix of older, smaller buildings of different ages support greater levels of positive economic and social activity than areas dominated by newer, larger buildings. These benefits include higher walking levels, greater diversity of ages and incomes, minority owned businesses, larger number of creative jobs, greater number of jobs in small businesses, greater affordability, less chain stores and more ethnic diversity, etc.

• Urban Design Toolkit: An Example of the Urban Design Process Looking at the Division Street Corridor | A  Portland State University Spring 2014 urban planning student project report on the Division Corridor. This was intended as a start for developing design guidelines and a framework for a possible future “Toolkit for Neighborhood Design” that might be developed later by the Division Design Committee. Please note, the concepts in this report are based on based solely on student work and have not included input or feedback from the community. 

• Building Blocks for Outer SE Neighborhoods | Good diagrams and illustrations to draw from.

• Sunnyside Neighborhood Plan (1999)  www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/91052Includes Sunnyside Design Guidelines within the appendix; good historical descriptions and architectural style descriptions are useful references.

• Richmond Neighborhood Plan (1994) | www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/94112 | Good housing policy language to reference regarding diversity, affordability, identity and character, retention of existing housing and protection from encroachment by commercial development.

• Boise Neighborhood Design Guidelines |  A local Portland neighborhood design guidelines example; includes good photo collection of desired/undesired characteristics.

• Inner SE Community Plan – 1996? Addressed zoning issues not included in the Richmond Plan

• Division Clinton Business & Residential District Surveys (2013) – DCBA surveys includes some relevant interests and concerns from local residents and business owners. DCBA Resident Survey; DCBA Division Business Report

• Growing Better  | Published by the City of Portland in 1993.  It was adopted by the Planning Commission but NOT the City Council. In it there is strong language about the needs for collaboration in developing parking standards for both Commercial and Main Street areas. It also includes a focused design study of Division Main Street.

• Photography: Good resources available via the Oregon Historical Society. BPS also has a collection of all new buildings built since in the last 5-10 years. Architectural Heritage Center also has historical photos – http://www.visitahc.org

• Mapping & GIS – The City of Portland has full modeling data for the city.