A growing Portland has seen many arguments about how to accommodate an influx of residents—recommends the "step back" as a way to add density without adding shadows or creating wind tunnels.
The top of a building can have big impacts on shadows, wind passage, and views. Too often, Portland buildings are just blocks, argues Michael Mehaffy in a piece for Livable Portland. A preferable option would be to build "step backs" (step-like recessions at the tops of buildings) as a way to resolve some of the conflicts between the YIMBY crowd and those concerned about development in the city.
Why don't developers build more step back projects? "Profit-minded developers usually make more money when they go straight up from the street," Mehaffy argues. "But going straight up is precisely what a generation of failed “modernist” projects did in the 1960s, with very unhappy results," he goes on to say. Those who say they're concerned about the look of a project or its potential shadows might not be easily satisfied with this compromise, still the step back seems to be a good option for those that seek to build coalitions and…buildings.
FULL STORY: Is it time for Portland to rediscover the “step-back”?
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
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.