Blogtown, PDX: Meet the Contenders - Question #5

The Portland Mercury's Blogtown, PDX site has been producing a weekly series of questions for the various candidates running in the Portland mayor and city council races. This series is a great way to meet the candidates and learn about the issues affecting the public and Portland city government. We're reproducing (with permission) Chris's responses here, while also providing links to the original Blogtown posts.

Question #5:

(Original Post from Jan. 17, 2008)

This week’s question—from reader Jasun Wurster—tackles the PDC’s urban renewal areas.

What are your thoughts on the Portland Development Commission’s eleven Urban Renewal Areas? More specifically, would you support extending the following Urban Renewal Areas when they reach their expiration date (dates are from the PDC’s website)—three would expire during your term:

• Downtown Waterfront - 2008
• South Park Blocks - 2008
• Airport Way - May 2011
• Oregon Convention Center - June 2013
• Lents Town Center - 2015

Also, why would they support to extend or let the above URA’s lapse?

Chris's Response:

I think we’re asking the wrong question. District-based Urban Renewal is no longer working for Portland. The City certainly needs to continue to make investments, but they don’t fall conveniently into ‘blighted districts’. Indeed the definition of blight is now so flexible that I think we can declare any property blighted!

And the needs for investment don’t just fall in the 15% of the City (a statutory limit) covered by districts, they are all over the city. This is a huge matter of equity.

I would like to lead the conversation to shift to a City-wide capital budgeting process as a replacement for Urban Renewal. In such a system the School Districts and County would be voluntary partners, not dragged along for the ride. As we design the replacement for Urban Renewal, we can work out the transition process that will phase out the current districts. In general I do believe the first three districts have largely accomplished their missions and should close soon, although I am not committed to exact dates as I know there is still considerable discussion in the community about the specifics. And some portion of the two downtown districts may be appended to the River District.