Portland's Planning Challenge: Better Jobs-Housing Balance

The Oregonian editorial board writes an op-ed that sums up Portland's many perks as well as the challenges. At the heart of the op-ed's concerns: how to bring jobs closer to where people live (and vice versa).

1 minute read

October 25, 2014, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Oregonian editorial board gets to the bottom line about he challenges of planning in the Portland metropolitan area: "Portland's walkable, urban environment helps draw migrants – and not just baristas – to the area. But many of the largest employers, especially outside of health care and government, reside in the suburbs – especially Washington County. Changing this dynamic and easing congestion on U.S. 26 will be a lot more difficult than maintaining the city's culinary and cultural reputation or convincing residents to embrace weekly compost collection."

The op-ed cites the Metro Residential Preference Study released in September to explain the dynamics at work in the metropolitan area.

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