Is Portland’s Growth Sustainable?

Portland is bursting at the seams with exciting new restaurants, shops, apartments, and PEOPLE!  But, the quality of life has remained consistently, well, GREAT!  City leaders and community members have been teaming up to ensure that the future of the city stays on course with the standards that everyone has come to expect and appreciate.

Coffee isn't the only thing on the tip of everyone's tongue these days. Portlander's are pooling together and taking an active role in our city's growth.

Coffee isn’t the only thing on the tip of everyone’s tongue these days. Portlander’s are pooling together and taking an active role in our city’s growth.  The Portland growth plan aims to nurture our “micro” communities.  Image courtesy, Sean Savage.

Currently, the city is updating the Growth Scenarios Report, which forecasts expected distribution of future growth, as well as the benefits from infrastructure investments identified in the Citywide Systems Plan (CSP) and Transportation System Plan (TSP).  This information, coupled with community input, allows the city to refresh the grand finale, 2035 Comprehensive Plan.

So, what kind of growth can we expect in Portland?

Well, the statistics from the Growth Scenarios Report show that in the next 20 years, there will be roughly 142,000 new jobs to support 123,000 more households.

What’s the Strategy?

Portland’s unique mix of urban amenities, chummy, locally-owned businesses, and gregarious neighborhoods have been nurtured by the city’s “Centers and Corridors” growth management strategy. 

“By focusing growth in vibrant centers and along bustling corridors, the draft 2035 Comprehensive Plan helps us reduce carbon emissions, gets people closer to jobs, provides more affordable housing, and creates demand for stores and restaurants. It also makes better use of our existing infrastructure like streets, transit systems, parks and pipes.”portlandoregon.gov

Hot Spots To Keep Your Eyes On:

1. The hot new Williams Corridor in Northeast Portland. This vibrant area is also the location of our new office.  Come visit Home Sweet Home, located at 4555 N. Williams Ave! 

2. Interstate Corridor running through Northeast into North Portland. This home for sale at 1606 N. Holman St. is located in one of North Portland’s best neighborhoods, Arbor Lodge.

3. Woodstock Blvd in Southeast Portland.

What about jobs?

Outside of the “Centers and Corridors” strategy, the city is focusing major job growth in the industrial areas of Portland, with sensitive attention being given to environmental concerns.  These warehouse and heavy manufacturing jobs support a balanced economy by providing decent wages to the non-college educated population.

According to the Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA), which monitors and sets strategies for land use in conjunction with employment goals, Portland is on track in meeting their 2035 target.


Portlander’s give their take on life here and the Portland Growth Plan.

A vote is tentatively scheduled for mid July to recommend the draft Comprehensive Plan to City Council. The Recommended Draft will head to Council in August, opening the next period for public comment.

Check and confirm times and locations by visiting the Comprehensive Plan’s Update calendar.

N Portland

Saturday, July 11, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Peninsula Park Community Center

700 N Rosa Parks Way

E Portland

Saturday, June 13, 12 – 3 p.m.

Midland Library

805 SE 122nd Ave

Thursday, July 9, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

East Portland Community Center

740 SE 106th Ave

SE Portland

Thursday, July 9, 4 – 7 p.m.

Mt Scott Community Center

5530 SE 72nd Ave

SW Portland

Tuesday, June 16, 4 – 7 p.m.

SWNI at Multnomah Arts Center

7688 SW Capitol Hwy

Wednesday, July 22, 3 – 6 p.m.

Capitol Hill Library

10723 SW Capitol Hwy

Written by Jennifer Kane, Expanded Exposure LLC.