Urban Studies Commons^™

Destination: Lents, Andrew Gulizia, Kristen Kibler, Vanessa Meyer, Rebecca Stavenjord, Meganne Steele

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Recognizing these promising new developments in Lents, Crossroads Consulting approached LNA Board Officers with an offer to provide assistance through the 2006 Workshop course. A subcommittee representing LNA's board accepted the Crossroads Consulting proposal to identify quickly implementable improvement strategies to create momentum and foster a sense of optimism about Lents Town Center revitalization. Neighbors would like to see improvements made now to help improve Lents' image as a special place. Three areas were selected for attention: Imageability- The sense of being in a unique, cohesive neighborhood Streetscape quality- Pedestrian comfort and accessibility Getting "feet on the street" in Lents …

Milwaukie Ave Main Street Plan, Sine Adams, Matt Johnson, Lance Lindahl, Kate Marcello, Erin Wilson

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This plan provides an analysis of Milwaukie Avenue as a neighborhood Main Street and provides recommendations for its growth and improvement. Methods of analysis included a comprehensive land use and transportation safety inventory, data collection from neighborhood residents and master of urban and regional planning students, comparison to other Main Streets, and feedback from a technical advisory committee. The analysis shows that Milwaukie Avenue has great potential as a Main Street, although improvements in the existing zoning code and transportation infrastructure will greatly benefit its condition. Other features, including Green Streets and elements that provide neighborhood identity, will also improve …

Going Public! Strategies For Meeting Public Restroom Need In Portland's Central City, Josh Ahmann, Kevin Bond, Warren Greaser, Sarah Selden, Amber Springberg, Kartik Srinivas, Jon Swae

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

PSU Urban & Regional Planning graduate students contacted the Office of Mayor Tom Potter with a proposal to conduct an in-depth analysis of Portland's public restrooms. The PSU team, Relief Works, and the Mayor's Office agreed to explore the issues and potential solutions surrounding demand and supply of public restrooms within Portland's Central City. This report is Relief Works' final product for the Office of the Mayor. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Deborah Howe, Connie Ozawa, and Sumner Sharpe.

Portland Farmer's Market 2006 Site Plan Update, Lesley Barewin, Steven Xuan Gao, Megan Lenahan, Tim Van Wormer

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The team assisted the Portland Farmer's Market in updating their 5 Year Site Plan and to make site-related recommendations for the 2010 Growth/Vision document. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Deborah Howe, Connie Ozawa, and Sumner Sharpe.

The Diggable City: Making Urban Agriculture A Planning Priority, Kevin Balmer, James Gill, Heather Kaplinger, Joe Miller, Melissa Peterson, Amanda Rhoads, Paul Rosenbloom, Teak Wall

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

In addition to an inventory of potential urban agriculture sites, the team also conducted a literature review, held focus groups with relevant stakeholders, conducted numerous interviews, and administered and analyzed surveys. The results of these outreach efforts greatly informed criteria development and recommendations, and expanded our understanding of the potential for urban agriculture in Portland. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Deborah Howe, and Connie Ozawa. A DVD version of this work produced in 2006 can be found at: http://search.library.pdx.edu/PSU:CP71113508690001451

Anti-Displacement Strategies: Nonprofit Organizations In Old Town Chinatown, Jenny Bajwa, Joanne Daunt, Sean Farrelly, Serah Overbeek, Jessica Sladek

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Old Town Chinatown is home to over 40 nonprofit organizations (nonprofits), including social service providers and arts, history, and culture groups. These groups contribute immeasurably to the community through the services and educational opportunities they provide and through their role in the social and economic fabric of the neighborhood. Urban renewal has come to the neighborhood in the form of several large projects that are either currently underway or scheduled to begin in the next several years. While these plans present an opportunity for much needed development in Old Town Chinatown, there is concern among nonprofits that redevelopment and private …

Envision Park Place Neighborhood: Public Involvement For The Concept Plan, Sonoko Endo, Masud Hasan, Lake Mctighe, Ryan Marquardt, Tom Moes, Linda Murphy

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This project provides a framework for guiding future public involvement in creating the Oregon City's Concept Plan and the Park Place Neighborhood Plan. The public involvement process focused on identifying issues and opportunities associated with the possible development of an area adjacent to the neighborhood that, if annexed into the city, will become part of the neighborhood. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Deborah Howe, and Connie Ozawa.

57th & Division Street Community Ownership Project, Brendan Buckley, Clark Henry, Stephen Shane, Simone C. Wolter

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

HBU Consultants identify available resources in the region that could assist the clean up and redevelopment of the SE 57th and SE Division site, ascertained what kind of future use the community desires on this site, and evaluated sources of data to develop recommendations on how the DCOP could proceed. This project was conducted under the supervision of Deborah Howe, Sy Adler, and Connie Ozawa.

Sustainable Development Strategy For Springwater Community - Gresham, Oregon: Recommendations For Sustainable Development Incentives, Gary Albrecht, Laurie Harris, Steve Hansen, Colin Mcconnaha, Darren Nichols, Casey Nolan

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This project researches and recommends alternatives for implementing sustainable development patterns and practices into this largely undeveloped land. The objective of the research is to provide a range of strategies that the City can incorporate into an incentives-based program that facilitates sustainable development. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Deborah Howe, and Connie Ozawa.

The Urban Grind: Skateparks - Neighborhood Perceptions And Planning Realities, Ellie Fiore, Sarah Heinicke, Beth Ragel, Laura Weigel

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Aperio Consulting worked in conjunction with Portland Parks and Recreation (PP&R) on their Skatepark Master Planning process in the spring of 2005.This project was undertaken to help PP&R and their siting committee make informed decisions when siting a system of skate parks for the City of Portland. This document is also designed for use by parks planners and community members in other cities who are considering building skateparks. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Deborah Howe, and Connie Ozawa.

Roseway-Sandy Streetscape Concept Plan, Matt Lasky, Mike Tresidder, Jay Renkens, Morgan Shook

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Roseway-Sandy Streetscape Concept Plan advances the community's vision for Sandy Boulevard from 68th to 80th Avenues as their Main Street. Intersect Planning prepared the Concept Plan for the Roseway Neighborhood Association - creating ideas for how future transportation investments may improve the quality, character, and safety of Sandy Boulevard for all members of the community. This project was conducted under the supervision of Sy Adler, Deborah Howe, and Connie Ozawa.

South Park Blocks Area Development Strategy: Priorities And Actions To Strengthen Neighborhood Identity, Lisa Abuaf, Natasha Detweiler, Steve Faust, Jennifer Mannhard, Dan Zalkow

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Past and current planning efforts by the City of Portland, such as the South Park Blocks Urban Renewal Area and the West End plan, have sought to promote new mixed-use development through increasing the residential density and investment in the area. The West End plan focused primarily on the area north of SW Salmon Street and the urban renewal area currently does not have a standing advisory committee to represent the Downtown neighborhood’s interests. This project consists of a neighborhood analysis to distill the identity of the area, an identification of the opportunities and challenges to development, and a strategy …

New Arrivals: Options For Successful Resettlement Of The Somali Bantu, Aaron Abrams, Kristin Dahl, Ryan Hunter, Jennifer Kenny, Angela Southwick

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The National Somali Bantu Project (NSBP) is committed to pursuing a more comprehensive approach and is interested in connecting the Somali Bantu refugees with their agrarian roots to foster cultural and social ties and provide economic development opportunities. With this goal in mind, the National Somali Bantu Project asked that RefugEEE Consulting investigate the possibility of implementing a comprehensive resettlement approach with an agrarian component that could be pursued once the Somali Bantu refugees have settled into their new environment over the next one to three years. This document serves as a decision-making guide to be used when the National …

Outer South East Livable Infill Project, Debbie Collard, Kristine Dos Remedios, Krista Hornaday, Harper Kalin, Ying Lin, Kris Sorensen

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The City of Portland, Oregon has experienced unprecedented population growth in the last decade, much of which has been accommodated through infill development. Not all infi ll development has contributed to meeting design goals, prompting the City’s Bureau of Planning to launch the Infill Design Project in 2003. The Infill Design Project aims to improve the design of multi-dwelling and rowhouse development outside the Central City. This study supports the Infill Design Project by studying the design of new, multi-family infi ll development in a section of Outer Southeast Portland, Oregon. Through public outreach, this study identifies community design preferences …

The Sullivan's Gulch Trail Study, Michael Hoffmann, Darren Muldoon, Joseph Schaefer, Will Morgan

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This study follows a recent engineering study by PSU students, which offers a potential trail alignment in the Sullivan’s Gulch. Metro Parks and Greenspaces asked for a product that would identify whether and how the trail would meet regional goals if constructed as an off‐street path. This report is intended to research and explain the planning issues that follow from the potential trail alignment. This report provides information to support a decision on whether to apply for funding for further planning and engineering study. It also serves as a practical resource for future action. This project was conducted under the …

Building Active Communities: Linking Lents, Carolyn Bonner, Dan Bower, Heather Marren, Michael Rose, Beth Shuck, Rania Wasfy

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The purpose of the Linking Lents Project is to increase opportunities for physical activity in the Lents neighborhood. Both programming changes and physical changes to the built environment are needed to accomplish this goal. While a trailhead in the Lents neighborhood will attract some new users to the trail, a trailhead alone may not greatly increase trail use. A Lents trailhead constructed in conjunction with improved overall access to the trail, connections to neighborhood amenities and public education of the benefits of increased physical activity will increase Lents residents’ use of the trail. This project was conducted under the supervision …

The Power Of Place: Building Community Character On Se Division Street, Quinn Fahey, Josh Birks, Jeff Caudill, John Mermin, Kenneth Radin

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Power of Place study assists DVC in fulfilling that mission by pursuing an understanding of the street’s character and identifying opportunities for future development or continued investment. Both aspects of this study establish the foundation necessary for the Coalition to become proactive in development processes and maintain the attributes that most significantly contribute to the character of the street. To that end, the study looked to achieve three primary objectives:

1. Develop a body of knowledge that can steer DVC toward community desires and objectives regarding Division St. development.
2. Based on that knowledge, identify sites along Division that hold potential …

Sustainable Options For Division Street, Matt Burlin, William Hawley, Alisa Kane, David Moser, Dana Visse

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

To reflect the Division Vision Coalition's (DVC) desire to promote neighborhood livability through sustainable development, Team Urbanics offered a series of community workshops in May 2004 that explored the concepts of sustainable development. The goals of the "Sustainable Options for Division Street" workshops were to:

• Provide DVC with an educational tool that enhances the public’s awareness of sustainable development options
• Encourage public participation in upcoming redevelopment planning efforts
• Promote sustainable practices, including environmental protection, economic development, and social equity, and
• Create a forum for civil discourse, for neighbors to meet neighbors, and for people to learn new things about their …

Old Town Fairview: A Neighborhood Analysis And Implementation Strategy, Kristen Godkin, Johanna Hastay, Eve D. Pepos, Cathreen Richards, Thomas Soppe, Peter Stiffler

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The purpose of this document is to develop, identify, recommend and prioritize the steps for an implementation strategy that promotes the ongoing revitalization goals for Fairview's Old Town neighborhood that is both tailored to current residents' needs and existing housing costs.

Communities are stronger when residents are actively involved. The Old Town project's effort utilized a community based collaborative approach that included Old Town residents, absentee land owners, the City of Fairview planners and the Portland State University project team. The specific steps included: a demographic profile, a land use analysis, a survey of current housing conditions, a community survey …

An Inquiry Into Portland's Canine Quandary: Recommendations For A Citywide Off-Leash Program, Jeff Gimour, Heather Gundersen, Doug Miller, Emily Moore, Amy Rose

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The City of Portland currently faces a difficult challenge. As the population continues to grow, greater pressure is placed upon the limited amount of public open space available for recreation. As stated in the Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) 2020 Vision Plan, "Demographic, recreational, and funding trends suggest that both current shortages and future needs will intensify and produce inequities in our cherished park system" (PP&R, 2001).

Today, Portland's already strained park system struggles to accommodate demands for the myriad of recreational activities. Competition among park users - joggers, tennis players, picnickers, dog owners, bicyclists, and others - for limited …

Wildlife Crossings: Rethinking Road Design To Improve Safety And Reconnect Habitat, Theresa Carr, Radcliffe Dacanay, Kevin Drake, Charl Everson, Arianne Sperry, Kerri Sullivan

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This guidebook provides Portland-area planners with relevant information about wildlife crossings in an urban context. While information on wildlife crossings and their effectiveness has been available for a long time, U.S. planners have very little experience with them. In addition, existing information is geared towards rural applications and is not easily transferred to urban environments. It is important to organize this information in a way that is useful to local planners for a number of reasons. First, users should be familiar with the range of available options. Second, there are a number of federal funding alternatives that could be used …

Planning At The Roots: Low-Income And Communities Of Color In Portland, Oregon, Allison Parzych, Jennifer F. Porter, Shayna Rehberg, Sarah Ruether, Gwen Sheinfeld

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

In an effort to highlight community-planning efforts in low-income populations and communities of color, a group of Masters of Urban and Regional Planning students conducted interviews with community leaders and wrote this chapter of cases to be incorporated into ONI’s Community Involvement Handbook. These cases are meant to provide inspiration and understanding about the strengths and differences between planning approaches used in diverse communities working outside of the neighborhood association structure. This chapter may also help to inform opportunities for neighborhood associations and other organizations to better collaborate with diverse community groups.

A Road Map For Accessible, Affordable And Adaptable Broadband Telecommunications In Portland, Abdullah Al-Thabt, Jamison Cavallaro, David De La Rocha, Brendan C. Finn, Jonathan Konkol

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Portland needs to plan for broadband development and take steps to ensure these plans are implemented. In order to implement Portland's land use and economic development goals, broadband must be accessible to all users. This means that any home or business must have access to the best available network technology to meet their needs. Currently, broadband service is not provided at uniform levels City-wide. It must be affordable, which requires real competition among providers. Portland's market presently offers too few choices outside the central business district to meet this criterion. In addition, broadband must be adaptable to future uses. Without …

Hosford-Abernethy Bicycle And Pedestrian Connections: An Alternative Routes Analysis Linking Se Clinton Street And The Eastbank Esplanade, Shannon Axtell, Evan Mackenzie, Brady Smith, Allison Wildman

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

SE Clinton is a popular bicycle route for commuter, utilitarian and recreational bicyclists that fails to provide a safe and direct connection to the Eastbank Esplanade and downtown Portland. Furthermore, residents in the Hosford-Abernethy and Brooklyn neighborhoods do not have a safe bicycle and pedestrian connection to access the Eastbank Esplanade. This gap in the bicycle and pedestrian network must be removed to serve the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians.

This project presents four alternative bicycle and pedestrian routes that connect the Eastbank Esplanade and the SE Clinton bikeway through the Central Eastside Industrial District. Each alternative, with improvements, is …

Environmental Middle School Making The Connection: Locally Grown Food And The Portland Public Schools' Meal Program, Paul Bender, Daniela Brod, Lauren Maloney, April Siebenaler, David Stocker

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

A recent "farms to school" movement designed to expand the range and quantity of local foods, especially produce, has taken root across the U.S, with support from the United States Department of Agriculture. After finding a suitable client school willing to introduce this idea in Portland, this project, identifies incremental and feasible steps that can be taken toward including more locally gown food into the Environmental Middle School's meal service. The main objectives of this project are:

• To increase the availability of locally grown foods at EMS, and ultimately in the Portland Public Schools meal service program
• To encourage food …

City Of Sherwood Transit Plan, Keith Benjamin, Gary Berger, Shimon Isreal, Mauricio Leclerc, Ethan Spoo, Carl Switzer

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

In response to rapid population growth and new development, the City of Sherwood is reevaluating its transit provision. Working closely with planning staff from the City, six Portland State University Students (the Project Team) gathered information from residents about transit use and desired improvements to existing service.

Boise Neighborhood Gateway Project, Debra Andreades, Arif Khan, Emily Hughes, Tony Konkol

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This project is a plan to transform an under-utilized parcel of public land into a community asset. Through the analysis of construction, funding, site constraints, maintenance and stewardship options, the project team created a design concept and implementation plan for a parcel of land adjacent to the Interstate 5 freeway. The project team solicited input from community residents through a public involvement process and created an advisory committee consisting of stakeholders to provide guidance for the project. The plan documents the process of project initiation and the selection of alternatives. This plan may be used as a reference for enhancing …

The Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Center Study: Land Use, Transportation, And Design On Ne Fremont Street From Ne 33rd To Ne 50th Avenue, Marta Conkle, Lisa Selman, Beth St. Amand, Diane Sullivan, Greg Theisen

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Beaumont Wilshire Neighborhood Center Study presents a comprehensive overview of NE Fremont between NE 33^rd and NE 50^th. It examines NE Fremont within the context of a neighborhood center or main street, which is defined as a neighborhood or community business district.

This study provides BWNA with information that it can use to preserve the character of the neighborhood and guide future growth. The study examines each issue to determine the nature and extent of the problem, assess how the issue impacts the operation of the neighborhood center, and presents potential strategies or tools to maintain …

A Study Of The Pedestrian Realm And Multi-Modal Access In The St. Johns Town Center, Kate Bowie, Kim Miller, Owen Ronchelli, Sloan Schang

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The residents of the St. Johns and Cathedral Park neighborhoods regard the St. johns Town center as a tremendous amenity. It has successfully served as a destination retail and employment district since the early 1900s but deterioration and a lack of infrastructure improvements are increasingly visible. As a Metro designated town center, the City of Portland is required to conduct a comprehensive planning effort similar to what occurred in the Hollywood Town Center. The project team offers a beginning to that process, with extensive community outreach and data analysis designed to evaluate the pedestrian realm and multi-modal means of access. …

City Of Tualatin Youth Development Plan, Holly Hendricks, Matt Michels, Alison Mielke, Justin Patterson, Jon Skidmore, Jason Tuck, Jason Wachs

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

This project evaluated the recent construction of a public skatepark located in Tualatin Community Park. The skatepark is unique because a group of underrepresented youth initiated the idea of constructing it and helped bring it to fruition. The city has expressed a desire to see this level of energy and commitment duplicated in other youth-oriented initiatives, but needs to have a better understanding of how the skatepark project served as a positive youth development tool. In support of young people, the Tualtin City Council recently named youth issues as a "first tier" priority.