Free Newsletter
Legislative proposal calls for cap on rent hikes
After failing to advance a rent control bill into law in 2017, Oregon Democrats are optimistic a favorable political landscape will change the result in Salem this session.
Democrats pushing for more middle housing
Sweeping legislation to break the dominance of single-family zoning in Oregon cities has the backing of some of the state鈥檚 most powerful politicians.
LUBA overturns latest bid to rezone agricultural land
Plans to build a fracked-gas-to-methanol refinery in St. Helens have taken a hit: the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals upheld an appeal of a decision to rezone 837 acres for industrial use.
Push for affordable housing reaches state capitol
A bill making its way through the Oregon House could breach a wall in the state鈥檚 urban growth boundaries.
City will decommission two reservoirs
Two of Portland's open drinking water reservoirs will be shut down, following a recent mandate from the Oregon Health Authority.
Group spotlights developments’ long-term costs
Far from Wall Street, a Ponzi scheme is unfolding in Portland鈥檚 backyard, according to Jason Miner, executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon. Many people know it as urban sprawl.
Scappoose voters support urban growth boundary expansion plan
Slightly more than 53 percent of the Scappoose voters who turned out for a special election on Tuesday voted in favor of a citizen-driven referendum that asked whether they supported a city plan to expand its urban growth boundary by 365 acres. The plan is scheduled to now go before the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. Final approval would come from the state Land Conservation and Developme[...]
Central Oregon thinks regionally to attract large lot industrial employers
Facebook's presence in Prineville has been a boon to almost all of Central Oregon, which is why local officials want to make expanding urban growth boundaries easier in hopes that the availability of industrial land will attract more companies. But land-use advocates say companies like Facebook don't create enough jobs to justify the land sacrifice.
Metro sets target for housing needs
A 鈥渏umping off point鈥� was established for discussions about how much land for housing should be included in an urban growth boundary expansion, if Metro Council were to green-light one.
Line is drawn in fight over metro-area growth
Metro Council is considering seven possible expansion for the urban growth boundary of the Portland-metro area 鈥� a total of 3,457 acres 鈥� to meet needs housing and employment needs for the next 20 years. Some land-use activists want the council to postpone expansion for at least four years. But local home builders believe a delay would create a housing shortage in the metro area in the near fu[...]
A conversation with Bob Stacey
Bob Stacey gets a kick out of public policy. After graduating from law school in the 1970s, Stacey was hired by 1000 Friends of Oregon as a staff attorney. He […]
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
