Portland is picking up momentum on fitful long-term planning efforts along the east bank of the Willamette River.
According to Andrew Theen, "for the first time in a dozen years [Portland] is moving forward with plans to improve the waterfront, including developing a public beach." The momentum is "part of an overall plan to map the future of the Central Eastside."
"City planners…say the river has never been cleaner, thanks to the $1.4 billion Big Pipe project finished in 2011 to divert sewer overflows. That, they said, has been a game-changer for public perceptions. They also say the new Tilikum Crossing bridge and a new light-rail station make the area ripe for development."
Theen describes the current plans as less ambitious than an unrealized 1994 plan for a waterfront park including a restaurant, public market, and amphitheater.
The article provides a lot of context on the area, including past planning efforts and the years of local action that has led to the current moment. In 2015, the city is working on a plan for the Central Eastside focused on welcoming new jobs, especially in the information economy.
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