Portland's 'Community-Led Urbanism' Tackles Displacement and Sustainability

A grassroots plan seeks to cultivate a sustainable, affordable center of Black culture in the neighborhood of Albina.

1 minute read

July 12, 2018, 8:00 AM PDT

By Elana Eden


Keep Portland Weird

Tony Webster / Flickr

As the city of Portland launches new housing and investment programs, a coalition of community organizers, urban planners, and design professionals has proposed its own vision for inclusive economic development in the Albina neighborhood. The Right 2 Root plan fuses housing affordability, environmental sustainability, and the preservation of Black history and culture, Patrick Sisson reports in Curbed, calling the initiative "a framework for community-led urbanism."

The proposal would establish an ecodistrict—the city's sixth—where new community assets would foster health and wellness. It calls for walkable corridors connecting needed facilities like a food market, a community education center, and a daycare. "Other ideas include tiny home communities built around a shared garden plot, and the introduction of small accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to provide extra space for larger families and multigenerational living," Sisson writes.

Over the decades, planning policy has driven out Albina's historically Black population through a variety of means, Sisson explains. The neighborhood was targeted for urban renewal in the post-war era, paving the way for redevelopment at the end of the century. Today, revitalization programs are raising housing costs and fueling displacement.

Later this year, the collective plans to release a blueprint aimed at connecting Albina with its displaced Black residents throughout Portland.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 in Curbed

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

July 10 - The Markup

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?

The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

July 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial of rainbow painted crosswalks at large intersection in Castro District, Sna Francisco, California.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts

Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.

July 10 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA