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Portland, Oregon
is known for its lively downtown, thriving neighborhoods,
extensive park system, and for having stopped sprawl into the surrounding
fertile farmlands. Its vibrant cultural scene attracts college-educated
18-34 year olds, a coveted demographic. Bicycling Magazine declared
it the most bicycle-friendly city in North America, twice. Transit
use is growing faster than population and car use, riding on an expanding
backbone of light rail. One city commissioner called it the only European
city in the United States. |
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Turn the clock back 20 years and the picture
would be quite different and disturbingly familiar. Suffering under
double-digit unemployment and inflation, crack gangs and suburban
flight, you couldn’t rent a U-Haul or Ryder in Portland—they
had all left for California or Texas. |
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| So, how did the Portland region escape the fate of
most US cities - inner city disinvestment, downtowns that roll up
the sidewalks at night, suburbs that stretch on forever, overloaded
highways and disappearing open spaces? What happened? Can you make
it happen in your community? Discover the “magic
ingredient” that turned a struggling, small city at the
edge of the continent into the success Portland is today. |
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