Ritzy Neighborhoods Struggling Against Infill

The market forces that push developers and landowners to build “more” and “bigger” have cropped up in some of the swankiest neighborhoods in Portland. So far, neighbors who oppose the projects are finding scant legal recourse to prevent the changes.

2 minute read

March 13, 2014, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


“Infill, tearing down an existing structure and putting up one or more replacements, has become common practice in some of Portland’s oldest neighborhoods over the past few years,” reports Anna Griffin. In fact, “[the] number of single-family home demolitions has skyrocketed since the end of the recession and was up almost 50 percent last year from 2011.”

Moreover, infill is even cropping up in “more upscale, established neighborhoods such as Irvington, Eastmoreland and…the pricey stretch of Beaumont-Wilshire along Alameda Ridge.”

Residents of these neighborhoods are struggling to find ways to oppose projects that demolish buildings to replace them with multiple residential units. “City policy allows property owners who simultaneously ask permission to demolish one home and put another to avoid delays. The idea is to prevent land from sitting vacant for too long -- a problem before the Rose City was a real estate hot spot -- but a growing number of Portland neighborhood groups want Mayor Charlie Hales and the rest of the City Council to rethink the policy now that infill is so popular.”

Meanwhile, residents of these neighborhoods are not pleased with the changes in their neighborhoods. Griffin quotes Al Ellis, president of the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association, whose opinion is sure to rile those who don’t believe neighbors should have veto power over the legal rights of a landowner: “At this point, the way the code is written, it’s so easy to get around informing anybody…So the shape and character of our neighborhoods are being determined by owners and developers.”

Thursday, March 13, 2014 in The Oregonian

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

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.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

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.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

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.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

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.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

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.

April 30 - Next City