Three Questions on the North Waterfront URA

In my letter to the City Council, I ask three questions about the North Waterfront URA.

1. Where is the river in the North Waterfront Urban Renewal Area? Despite nearly 6,000 feet of Willamette river shoreline, none of the plan’s six goals are related to the river.

2. Who are the stakeholders and what is the engagement process? The list of potential stakeholders for the diverse, historical and complicated area is potentially long, but the plan provides no information on who will have a voice as the plan unfolds over the next 32 years.

3. Who is designing this area? The north waterfront URA is 421 acres of complexity. A thoughtful design integrates seemingly conflicting uses to create coherence. For this area to become a successful place, home, or community, we need to pay attention to its design.