Community goals in action

Thank you for your interest in the West Portland Town Center Plan! We’d like to hear your thoughts about some of the ideas in it that respond to community needs and desires.

This questionnaire should take about 10 minutes to fill out.

Vision statements

Working with the community over the past year, we developed two vison statements for the WPTC:

1. Great Places with Equitable Access: A natural and built environment that enhances environmental and community health through public amenities, new commercial services, and a supply and variety of housing options for an increasingly diverse population.

2. Strong Communities and People: A thriving and interconnected community that includes diverse households that are resilient in the face of displacement pressures and supported by strong social and cultural institutions, as well as human services that benefit all residents.

Goals

The vision statements helped identify more issue-specific "community goals" for infrastructure improvements, community growth strategies, and development regulations that improve the health of the community. The community goals also address which community assets need to be preserved or strengthened.

Big ideas

The vision statements also guided the creation of several “big ideas” to realize these visions. Below are a few of the big ideas in the draft plan to support or meet community goals, as well as approaches to meet them.

We’d like to hear what you think about them. Did we get it right or did we miss the mark? Do you like it or think it's just OK?

Your input will help us refine these proposals before we head to the Planning and Sustainability Commission (and, ultimately, City Council) for public hearings and adoption.

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* 1. Safe, comfortable, and accessible ways to get around

Goal: Fund and build a multi-modal and multi-ability circulation system – considering pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and transit – across the town center that is safe, comfortable, accessible, and meets the community’s daily needs.  
 
Big idea: Plan for a new “green ring,” a multi-modal circulation network combining elements of Neighborhood Greenways, off-street paths, pedestrian bridges, and sidewalks that connect destinations and green spaces throughout the center.

Tell us what you think. I …

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* 2. More housing choices

Goal: Increase new housing choices, tools, and programs for all household types and incomes throughout the Town Center. 

Big idea: Create a shared growth plan to provide more multi-dwelling housing in the area over time, including affordable units. The densest development would be near commercial areas, corridors, and transit lines; other areas of existing single-dwelling homes would transition to lower scale multi-dwelling buildings.  
 
Tell us what you think. I …

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* 3. Multicultural hub

Goal: Create opportunities for community and cultural spaces to thrive. 
 
Big idea: Develop a multicultural hub located in and around the Barbur Transit Center (BTC). This hub would include market rate and affordable housing co-located with human services; indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces for cross-cultural events; office space for immigrant-serving organizations; and affordable space for Black, Indigenous, people of color, and immigrant-owned businesses. A redeveloped BTC would maintain its function as a major transit hub.   
 
Tell us what you think. I …

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* 4. Address displacement

Goal: Minimize residential and cultural displacement by providing low-income households and communities of color the choice to remain in place and build wealth.  
 
Big idea: Encourage the retention of existing apartment buildings serving low-income households. Promote their continued affordability and quality, and support nonprofits to purchase and maintain these buildings.

Priorities 
 
In addition to the values, goals, and big ideas, the project is working on how to implement the plan. And we want to hear from the community on your priorities for the next phases of the project. Please complete the next section to tell us about your priorities for the West Portland Town Center.

New investment in light rail and increased development potential from zoning changes will create significant value for landowners. In the plan, this additional new property value comes with an expectation to provide public benefits. These benefits would be focused on equitable growth that benefits all people – but centers the needs of low-income residents, workers and small businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).

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* 5. The plan prioritizes public benefits in future privately developed mixed-use buildings, starting with the mandatory provision of a minimum amount of affordable housing and improved infrastructure.

How would you prioritize additional public benefits? (rank in order of importance to you):

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* 6. Funding for community and economic development projects is currently limited in SW Portland. However, if new funding for community and economic development were secured, how would you prioritize its use? (rank in order of importance to you):

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* 7. Funding for transportation improvements is limited. Please help government agencies prioritize their spending. Which of these transportation projects are most important? (rank in order of importance to you):

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* 8. Which of these ideas are most important to you for building and maintaining community cohesion? (rank in order of importance to you):

Character and design in the area

The design of new buildings and public spaces in the West Portland Town Center will help shape the area’s emerging character.

Community members have told us they would like future development to support and foster the town center’s diverse multi-lingual and multi-generational community. They also want the hills and green spaces of the area to be considered as more people call it home.

Share what you think about West Portland’s community, architecture and nature that contributes to its character.

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* 9. Are there special landmarks or places (such as social centers, artwork, buildings or open spaces) in the community that should be recognized or referenced by future development?

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* 10. What features, materials or spaces should future development incorporate to foster diversity and inclusivity? Examples could include water features and fountains, murals, or plazas.

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* 11. Other comments?

We'd like to know more about you!
Voluntary and optional demographics information

To improve our community outreach and engagement efforts, we’d like to learn more about you and your household. You don’t have to answer the questions, but if you do, we will not share your information with anyone else.

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* 12. What is your age?

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* 13. What languages are spoken at home?

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* 14. How do you identify yourself? (Check all that apply)

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* 15. Do you live with a disability or identify as a disabled person?

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* 16. If yes to the question above, what accommodations do you require for accessibility?

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* 17. Does your family rent or own your home?

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* 18. Do you live in a:

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* 19. How many people live in your home?

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* 20. What best describes your household income?

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