A new street greening project in North Portland that seeks to reduce stormwater runoff is fueling a debate between the area's young, eco-conscious businesses owners and older owners who are worried about interruption from the project.
The project will update the street with concrete and line it with planters to help absorb stormwater. It's located in the Kenton Neighborhood of North Portland, an area within the city's urban renewal boundaries that has seen an influx of investment and development in recent years.
"The $2.85 million Denver Avenue Streetscape Project aims to turn four blocks of the Kenton artery into the city's first fully retrofitted green main street. The project - a joint venture between the Portland Development Commission, the city's urban renewal agency, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation - excites some of the area's younger entrepreneurs while leaving some longtime business owners cold.
Project coordinators acknowledge that Denver Avenue extending south from Paul Bunyan and Interstate Avenue to Watts Street will be a mess for the next few months. Workers will remove a center turn lane, broaden the sidewalks and bike lanes, and install benches and vegetation. They hope to start construction in early September and have it finished by the end of the year."
FULL STORY: Amid face-lift, Kenton values small-town feel

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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