Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Community Solutions: Moving Toward Brownfield Redevelopment, Matt Anderson, Scott Chapman, Martin Custred, Kirsten Krane, Camron Parker

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Urban growth boundaries are intended to encourage more development within the existing developed areas and save rural lands from urban sprawl. If this is true, why are there so many large areas of vacant land in the very heart of Portland? It is very likely that these vacant parcels of land are associated with the term "brownfields."

Brownfields are properties where expansion or development is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination on the site. Current owners, prospective purchasers, prospective lenders and neighbors have concerns about redeveloping brownfields. In many cases, these concerns cause properties to become abandoned or put …