Slabtown Square Survey

In 2009 and 2010, NWDA led a community-driven planning process that resulted in an urban design concept for the Slabtown neighborhood in Northwest Portland. Based on the results of an online survey and five workshops, the neighborhood’s priorities were defined as parks, squares, and open spaces; pedestrian- and bike-friendly streets; and creating a historically significant iconic focal point. In 2011 and 2012, to advance the goals and priorities of the neighborhood, NWDA participated in the development of a masterplan for a 17-acre parcel of land owned by Con-way.

The masterplan was approved in August 2012. Roughly 25% of the masterplan area is dedicated to a park, square, and pedestrian walkways. Portland Parks & Recreation will lead a pubic process to design and develop the public park. The square will be part of a private development site, which will be located on the western half of the block between NW 20th and NW 21st and NW Pettygrove and NW Quimby. As part of the masterplan agreement, the public will have an enhanced role in the design of the square once a developer is identified.

In anticipation of this design process, Don Genasci, an NWDA Board member and architecture professor at the University of Oregon, has arranged to have roughly twenty students design a vision of the Slabtown square for a their student project. NWDA is excited to review a wide variety of creative student ideas and designs to help inform the future design of the square.

NWDA would like to supplement the formal masterplan guidelines and design standards with your opinions and ideas about what would make a great neighborhood square. Please take a moment to complete our short online survey. We will share your suggestions with the student designers.

Question Title

* What design elements would most enhance the beauty and appeal of the square?

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not Very Important	Not At All Important
Beautiful Architecture	Beautiful Architecture Very Important	Beautiful Architecture Moderately Important	Beautiful Architecture Not Very Important	Beautiful Architecture Not At All Important
Attractive Paving	Attractive Paving Very Important	Attractive Paving Moderately Important	Attractive Paving Not Very Important	Attractive Paving Not At All Important
Public Art	Public Art Very Important	Public Art Moderately Important	Public Art Not Very Important	Public Art Not At All Important
Fountain or Water Feature	Fountain or Water Feature Very Important	Fountain or Water Feature Moderately Important	Fountain or Water Feature Not Very Important	Fountain or Water Feature Not At All Important
Trees and Natural Elements	Trees and Natural Elements Very Important	Trees and Natural Elements Moderately Important	Trees and Natural Elements Not Very Important	Trees and Natural Elements Not At All Important
Steps, Benches, and Seating	Steps, Benches, and Seating Very Important	Steps, Benches, and Seating Moderately Important	Steps, Benches, and Seating Not Very Important	Steps, Benches, and Seating Not At All Important

Other (please share your ideas)

Question Title

* The community has expressed a desire for a fountain or water feature in or near the square? Do you have any suggestions on the character of the water feature?

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not Very Important	Not At All Important
Artistic and Visually Appealing	Artistic and Visually Appealing Very Important	Artistic and Visually Appealing Moderately Important	Artistic and Visually Appealing Not Very Important	Artistic and Visually Appealing Not At All Important
Provide Water to Play In	Provide Water to Play In Very Important	Provide Water to Play In Moderately Important	Provide Water to Play In Not Very Important	Provide Water to Play In Not At All Important
Historic Significance	Historic Significance Very Important	Historic Significance Moderately Important	Historic Significance Not Very Important	Historic Significance Not At All Important
Diminish Highway Noise	Diminish Highway Noise Very Important	Diminish Highway Noise Moderately Important	Diminish Highway Noise Not Very Important	Diminish Highway Noise Not At All Important
Support Environmental Objectives	Support Environmental Objectives Very Important	Support Environmental Objectives Moderately Important	Support Environmental Objectives Not Very Important	Support Environmental Objectives Not At All Important

Other (please share your ideas)

Question Title

* The ground floor of buildings around the square must have active retail uses. What types of shops and businesses would you like to see on the square?

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not Very Important	Not At All Important
Cafes	Cafes Very Important	Cafes Moderately Important	Cafes Not Very Important	Cafes Not At All Important
Restaurants	Restaurants Very Important	Restaurants Moderately Important	Restaurants Not Very Important	Restaurants Not At All Important
Specialty Food Stores	Specialty Food Stores Very Important	Specialty Food Stores Moderately Important	Specialty Food Stores Not Very Important	Specialty Food Stores Not At All Important
Grocery Store	Grocery Store Very Important	Grocery Store Moderately Important	Grocery Store Not Very Important	Grocery Store Not At All Important
Bakery	Bakery Very Important	Bakery Moderately Important	Bakery Not Very Important	Bakery Not At All Important

Other (please share your ideas)

Question Title

* What activities, events, markets, and festivals would you like to see on the square on a regular basis?

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not Very Important	Not At All Important
Farmers or Public Market	Farmers or Public Market Very Important	Farmers or Public Market Moderately Important	Farmers or Public Market Not Very Important	Farmers or Public Market Not At All Important
Music & Concerts	Music & Concerts Very Important	Music & Concerts Moderately Important	Music & Concerts Not Very Important	Music & Concerts Not At All Important
Festivals	Festivals Very Important	Festivals Moderately Important	Festivals Not Very Important	Festivals Not At All Important
Food Carts	Food Carts Very Important	Food Carts Moderately Important	Food Carts Not Very Important	Food Carts Not At All Important
Art Shows	Art Shows Very Important	Art Shows Moderately Important	Art Shows Not Very Important	Art Shows Not At All Important
Movies	Movies Very Important	Movies Moderately Important	Movies Not Very Important	Movies Not At All Important

Other (please share your ideas)

Question Title

* What civic needs and uses should be the highest priorities for enlivening the square?

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not Very Important	Not At All Important
Local Government Offices	Local Government Offices Very Important	Local Government Offices Moderately Important	Local Government Offices Not Very Important	Local Government Offices Not At All Important
Non-profits or Charities	Non-profits or Charities Very Important	Non-profits or Charities Moderately Important	Non-profits or Charities Not Very Important	Non-profits or Charities Not At All Important
Day care or schools	Day care or schools Very Important	Day care or schools Moderately Important	Day care or schools Not Very Important	Day care or schools Not At All Important
Community Center	Community Center Very Important	Community Center Moderately Important	Community Center Not Very Important	Community Center Not At All Important
Library	Library Very Important	Library Moderately Important	Library Not Very Important	Library Not At All Important
Museum	Museum Very Important	Museum Moderately Important	Museum Not Very Important	Museum Not At All Important
Meeting Rooms	Meeting Rooms Very Important	Meeting Rooms Moderately Important	Meeting Rooms Not Very Important	Meeting Rooms Not At All Important

Other (please share your ideas)

Question Title

* How important are the following safety and livability issues on and around the square?

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not Very Important	Not At All Important
Automobile Restrictions	Automobile Restrictions Very Important	Automobile Restrictions Moderately Important	Automobile Restrictions Not Very Important	Automobile Restrictions Not At All Important
Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety	Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety Very Important	Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety Moderately Important	Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety Not Very Important	Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety Not At All Important
Eyes on the Street from Housing	Eyes on the Street from Housing Very Important	Eyes on the Street from Housing Moderately Important	Eyes on the Street from Housing Not Very Important	Eyes on the Street from Housing Not At All Important
Lighting & Security	Lighting & Security Very Important	Lighting & Security Moderately Important	Lighting & Security Not Very Important	Lighting & Security Not At All Important
Litter & Graffiti Control	Litter & Graffiti Control Very Important	Litter & Graffiti Control Moderately Important	Litter & Graffiti Control Not Very Important	Litter & Graffiti Control Not At All Important
Maximize Solar Access	Maximize Solar Access Very Important	Maximize Solar Access Moderately Important	Maximize Solar Access Not Very Important	Maximize Solar Access Not At All Important

Other (please share your ideas)

Question Title

* If there were a street car extension, bus service, and bike and automobile parking, how would you plan to arrive at the square?

Walk

Drive Car

Bike

Street Car

Bus

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* NWDA and Con-way are working toward a good neighbor agreement (GNA) that would enhance best practices to minimize nuisance and maximize quality of life during construction. What impacts are you most interested in addressing?

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not Very Important	Not At All Important
Enhanced Clean Diesel Measures	Enhanced Clean Diesel Measures Very Important	Enhanced Clean Diesel Measures Moderately Important	Enhanced Clean Diesel Measures Not Very Important	Enhanced Clean Diesel Measures Not At All Important
Minimize Street Closures	Minimize Street Closures Very Important	Minimize Street Closures Moderately Important	Minimize Street Closures Not Very Important	Minimize Street Closures Not At All Important
Limit Noise	Limit Noise Very Important	Limit Noise Moderately Important	Limit Noise Not Very Important	Limit Noise Not At All Important
Restrict On-Street Parking for Construction Workers	Restrict On-Street Parking for Construction Workers Very Important	Restrict On-Street Parking for Construction Workers Moderately Important	Restrict On-Street Parking for Construction Workers Not Very Important	Restrict On-Street Parking for Construction Workers Not At All Important
Limit Delivery Trucks' Routes and Hours	Limit Delivery Trucks' Routes and Hours Very Important	Limit Delivery Trucks' Routes and Hours Moderately Important	Limit Delivery Trucks' Routes and Hours Not Very Important	Limit Delivery Trucks' Routes and Hours Not At All Important
Protect Trees	Protect Trees Very Important	Protect Trees Moderately Important	Protect Trees Not Very Important	Protect Trees Not At All Important
Remove Litter and Graffiti	Remove Litter and Graffiti Very Important	Remove Litter and Graffiti Moderately Important	Remove Litter and Graffiti Not Very Important	Remove Litter and Graffiti Not At All Important

Other (please share your ideas)

Question Title

* In the 2011 Slabtown Plan, the community indicated a strong desire for a “historically significant iconic focal point” in the neighborhood. If you have any ideas or suggestions on ways to accomplish this goal in or near the square, please share them below.

Question Title

* Thank you for participating in our survey. We will share your input and ideas with the student designers. If you are not already on the NWDA email list, please provide your email address below so we can include you in the design process as it moves forward.