7 Ways Portland Is Better Than Your City

On a recent trip to Portland, land use attorney Bill Adams couldn't help but make comparisons to redevelopment efforts elsewhere. He found 7 tangible areas in which Portland shines through its copious clouds.

2 minute read

August 1, 2013, 9:00 AM PDT

By wadams92101


Portland Streetcar Bike

David Wilson / flickr

Upon visiting Portland, land use attorney Bill Adams, came away with the impression that his own city, as well as other western cities, missed the memo on how to redevelop well. In particular, Portland's redevelopment efforts either produced or preserved the following livable urban characteristics: 

"1) Portland puts street level before skyline. Portland’s skyline is unimpressive. . . In contrast, at street level, Portland seems more an urban environment than its bigger West Coast brethren.

2) Tolerance. . . While signs in other cities speak of banning . . . activities in various locations, Portland appears more ready to embrace, or at least tolerate, all segments of its population.

3) Preservation and adaptive reuse. . . the city appears to have not simply preserved 'landmark' buildings, but preserved neighborhood and urban fabric as well.

4) Priority rather than equality for non-auto transportation projects.

5) Grid relief. . . Portland has embraced its few existing alleys (and by appearance, created some new ones) by making them small linear parks, retail arcades, or outdoor patios.

6) Parks. Portland was seventh on a recent ranking of best . . . cities for parks. . . if the ranking was limited to downtowns, Portland would fare even better and some of the other cities in the top ten wouldn’t be there.

7) Trees. Portland, thanks to its abundance of rainy days, is very green. This green extends right into its downtown. Not just little plants and trees but big shade trees. These trees soften downtown’s hardscape and create a park-like feeling in most of downtown."

Saturday, July 27, 2013 in UrbDeZine.com

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 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business