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Blog: Understanding planning, part 8
Last time, I discussed the walkable, compact, equitable communities that are the key land use element needed to put cities on a more sustainable path. A balanced transportation and circulation […]
Blog: Understanding planning, part 7
After outlining, in the previous parts of this series, the scale of the problems our communities face, let鈥檚 look at what has to happen to make positive changes to their […]
Blog: Understanding planning, part 6
In the previous five posts in this series I鈥檝e laid out the primary reasons that the auto-driven development patterns of the past 70 years have been so destructive. In the […]
Blog: Understanding planning, part 5
As is true about so much in life, how governments acquire and spend money is a major issue in the development of cities. When urban policy was set in the […]
Blog: Understanding planning, part 4
Transportation vehicles developed throughout the 20th century 鈥� autos, trucks and buses, airplanes and huge cargo ships 鈥� have been the single largest source of climate change and other forms […]
Blog: Understanding planning, part 3
As I discussed last time, the planning profession had a role in facilitating mid-20th century suburban, auto-oriented development. As it turns out, we now know the extent of the damage […]
Blog: Understanding planning, part 2
Last time, I introduced this series by pointing out the complexities of making planning-related decisions and the need to be cognizant of all of the interrelated factors that go into […]
Blog: Understanding planning, part 1
In writing this planning blog over the last seven years I have often discussed the problems associated with our auto-dominated urban/suburban landscape. But it鈥檚 a challenge to communicate the full […]
Blog: House Bill 2001 and the Residential Infill Project
A few months ago I discussed the pros and some cons of the city of Portland鈥檚 Residential Infill Project (RIP), but House Speaker Tina Kotek has also weighed in with […]
Blog: Keys to successful public engagement
One of the great challenges in the planning world is determining how to truly engage the people most affected by the decisions that are made on their behalf. The traditional […]
Blog: The perils of uncontrolled and unplanned growth
I just returned from Mexico City, and it鈥檚 always interesting to compare the ways foreign cities have been planned (or not) and developed over time and the effect that has […]
Blog: Nonprofits and long-term housing affordability
There is a seemingly endless search for solutions to the housing affordability crisis we鈥檙e experiencing in our region. Given the nature of the problem, there is no single solution. So […]
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
