With the expansion of light rail projects in Portland, Oregon, an inconspicuous town center may finally find an identity and truly become a center of activity.
"'People drive through not even realizing it's a town center,' said Jess Laventall, a Lents resident. 'It has no identity. It has nothing attractive.'"
"But all that is changing, in large part because of TriMet's I-205 light-rail line project, which includes a station stop near the intersection."
"The nearly abandoned town center is now the focus of an urban renewal effort led by the Portland Development Commission, which has been steadily pouring money into the Lents neighborhood since the City Council designated it an Urban Renewal Area in 1998."
FULL STORY: Lents town center awaits its reclaiming
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie