Portland faces a housing shortage. And many Portlanders don’t like McMansions going up on their streets, especially when they replace otherwise good structures.
Portlanders also wonder sometimes why more neighborhoods in the city aren’t being built to resemble the now-expensive ones within a few miles of downtown that are in such high demand.
The reason is that it’s currently illegal to build neighborhoods like those.
In 1959, Portland banned most new small multifamily dwellings like duplexes, four-plexes and internal home divisions — the same small, efficient homes that continue to make corner stores and frequent buses viable in Portland’s most beloved, walkable neighborhoods.
Join Portland for Everyone for a talk about Portland’s brief window of opportunity to re-legalize aspects of the city we love. A representative from the Portland for Everyone campaign will present, followed by a discussion and Q&A. Pizza and beers are available for purchase!
August 10th
Doors/bar open: 5:30 pm
Presentation: 6:00 pm
Q&A & Social Hour: Until 7:30 pmLucky Lab, 1945 NW Quimby
This will be the final week for public testimony about the Residential Infill Project, a once-in-a-generation chance to once again allow more types of “missing middle” housing in more of the city: more affordable, lower-profile, energy-efficient homes that would help more of us age in place and give developers something better to build than another McMansion.
Please RSVP here so we know to plan for you.
Can’t make it? Chime in at this link instead. The city needs to hear from you!
2016-2017 presents a rare but brief window of opportunity: Portland will be making critical land use and policy decisions over the next 18 months that will impact our city’s livability for decades. To ensure a Portland that is affordable and accessible for all residents, our civic leaders can and must do more.
Sign up soon, there is limited seating. With all the attention on housing in Portland right now, we expect seats to go fast. If you miss this one, however, don’t worry: You can also contact Madeline to see if Portland for Everyone can come and present or discuss with your neighborhood, community, or workplace.
About the campaign: Portland for Everyone, a project of 1000 Friends of Oregon, is a growing coalition of organizations and community groups that support diverse, abundant, and affordable housing options citywide, and connecting them with opportunities to share their stories and take action.
Portland can learn from both the successes of other cities and regions that face similar challenges. We can and must make the right choices on landmark land-use decisions: One set of choices will strengthen the ability of all to live, work, and play throughout Portland, with increased access to reliable transportation and open spaces. Another set of choices will squeeze those of middle and low incomes out of the city and increase homelessness, with disproportionate impact on people of color, immigrants and refugees, and the elderly, taking them away from employment centers, transportation options, and their communities. Together, we will encourage the City Council and other civic leaders to make inclusive and equitable decisions that will enable Portland to become a more equitable and affordable place. Visit the P4E website to take action now