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Concentrating Housing Near Freeways Is Bad, Even In Portland

Posted by: Nate Berg

22 April 2007 - 7:00am

An atmospheric scientist is telling local officials in Portland, Oregon, that the concentration of new housing in existing high density areas may be a bad practice, as these areas tend to be located near freeways, and therefore high pollution.

"City, regional and state land-use policies call for new development to be concentrated in existing urban centers and along major transportation corridors. But as Portland State University professor Linda George sees it, motor vehicle-related pollution is significantly worse along such corridors, potentially threatening the health of everyone who lives near them."

"The closer you are to the source of pollution, the more you are exposed to it,' said George, an associate professor at PSU’s Environmental Science and Research Program."

"'We should be asking whether land-use policies should be encouraging people to move closer to where we know pollution is the worst,' she said."

Full Story: Housing, cars don't mix
Source: The Portland Tribune, April 20, 2007
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