More than 100 Portlanders gathered at Lloyd Center Mall on February 2, 2012, to learn about and comment on concepts for future development of the N/NE Quadrant, which includes Lower Albina and the Lloyd District. Potential improvements to the I-5 freeway in the area were also presented.

At the open house, City of Portland and Oregon Department of Transportation staff were on hand to discuss and gather comments on:

• The Proposed Quadrant Concept, covering the future direction for land use, street and development character, open space and green systems.

• Potential safety and operational improvements to the I-5 freeway and local street system in the vicinity of the Broadway/Weidler interchange.  

Comments from participants will help inform upcoming decisions by the project's Stakeholder Advisory Committee as they finalize the quadrant and freeway concept diagrams and begin to draft more detailed plans. A summary of comments received at the open house will be available soon.

Unable to attend the event? 

View the presentation boards that were on display to catch up on the current proposals.

Questions or comments about the N/NE Quadrant Project?

Email the project team at NNEQuadrant@portlandoregon.gov or contact Stephanie Beckman at 503-823-6042.

Are you interested in issues affecting the Lower Albina, Rose Quarter and Lloyd District areas of the Central City? How about the I-5 freeway and how it impacts the area around the Broadway/Weidler interchange? Please join us at an open house for the N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler Plans.

N/NE Quadrant Project Open House

Thursday, February 2, 2012

4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Lloyd Center Mall

West end (near Nordstrom)

See the calendar for more info.

After extensive public input, the project team and Stakeholder Advisory Committee have developed a draft proposed concept for future land use, urban design and local transportation in the area, as well as options for proposed improvements to the Broadway/Weidler freeway interchange. At the February 2nd open house, these concepts will be on display and City of Portland and Oregon Department of Transportation staff will be on hand to answer questions, receive public feedback and discuss the project.

Learn more about and comment on:

• Future direction for land use and urban form

• Street design and connectivity

• New parks and open space

• Ways to incorporate green infrastructure

• Safety and operational improvements for the Broadway/Weidler freeway interchange

This is a great opportunity to weigh in on the draft proposals and let the Stakeholder Committee know what you think. We hope you join us!

Other opportunities to get involved

Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public and offer a public comment period. Upcoming meetings include (see project calendar for details):

• January 19, 2012 This meeting will focus on the freeway component of the project. Staff will present a proposed hybrid freeway improvement concept and discuss outstanding issues to be resolved.

• February 16, 2012: This meeting will address both the quadrant plan and freeway components of the project. Staff will report on public input received at the February 2nd open house and seek Stakeholder Advisory Committee approval of the proposed concepts for the quadrant plan and freeway interchange project. The concept plans will then be used as a basis for developing more detailed proposals in the next phase of work.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Beckman (City of Portland) at (503) 823-6042 or stephanie.beckman@portlandoregon.govor Todd Juhasz (ODOT) at (503) 731-4753 or todd.juhasz@odot.state.or.us.

The N/NE Quadrant Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) met last Thursday evening, November 17, primarily dealing with the City's district planning effort for Lower Albina and the LloydDistrict. At the meeting, staff presented revisions made to the draft proposed concept since the September SAC meeting and asked for preliminary recommendations on the concept for the purposes of moving forward with the next phase of work where more detailed plan proposals will be developed. See the November 17 meeting packet for additional details.

The SAC provided feedback on a number of topics related to refinement of the concept diagrams and leading into the next phase of plan development. Feedback needing clarifications and/or revisions to the concept diagrams focused on two main topics:

1. Height issues, including concerns about building heights on Broadway and the riverfront and transitions to adjacent neighborhoods; and

2. The street hierarchy/typologies, including a request for more explanation of the different street types and examples of how they would be implemented on certain streets.

Staff will continue to refine the proposed concept to address the issues identified above, while beginning to develop draft policies, actions and targets that will make up the quadrant plan. Questions raised by SAC members about how the plan will address detailed aspects of the proposal will be addressed as part of the next phase of work. Examples of more detailed topics raised include: treatment of the riverfront, integrating tree canopy and green stormwater approaches, and parameters of potential I-5 overcrossings.

Upcoming N/NE Quadrant meetings will focus on the I-5 freeway component of the project, including:

• Transportation Subcommittee on December 8th; and

• SAC meeting on January 19th

See the calendar for meeting details.

At the October 27th Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting, the project team presented a review of the remaining I-5 freeway improvement concepts being considered, including updated drawings that illustrate how each of the concepts function and perceived opportunities and constraints of the alternatives. In addition, ZGF Architects presented how each of the alternatives would mesh with local transportation and land use (i.e. resulting development opportunities, new east-west connections, bike and pedestrian crossings and right of way impacts etc.).
 
The SAC was then invited to view a 3-D model of the study area with 'plug-ins' for each of the concept alternatives. The model allowed the group the opportunity to visualize how each of the concepts would 'fit' within the urban fabric. See the October 27 meeting packet for additional details.
 
There will be a Transportation Subcommittee held on December 8th to discuss evaluation results and to gain feedback on concept alternatives. The next full Transportation related SAC will be held on January 19th, where evaluation results on each of the alternatives will be presented and staff will recommend a preferred concept alternative to be carried forward for further refinement.

The upcoming SAC meeting on November 17 will focus on the planning effort for the overall N/NE Quadrant study area. Staff will present revisions made to the draft proposed concept since the September 29 SAC meeting and request approval of the concept for the purposes of moving forward with the next phase of plan development.  See the November 17 meeting packet for additional details.

The N/NE Quadrant Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) met last Thursday evening, September 29. The meeting was focused on the City's district planning effort and was largely devoted to presentation of a draft proposed Quadrant Concept. The draft proposed concept was developed following extensive outreach over the summer that involved a public open house, online survey and individual meetings with community groups and area stakeholders. View the Concept Alternatives Outreach Summary for an overview of outreach activities, a summary of feedback received, and a detailed report of survey results. See the full meeting packet for the September 29 SAC meeting to view the draft proposed concept and meeting powerpoint presentation.

Staff described the proposed concept as a "70% draft", noting a number of issues where additional SAC discussion and direction were needed. SAC discussion focused on the following topics:

• Housing emphasis areas
• Status of industrial areas
• Street hierarchy
• Open space and tree canopy
• Building heights on Broadway

Next steps will include staff making refinements to the draft proposed concept to address issues raised by the SAC and evaluating the concept against the project goals and objectives, which were approved at the September 29 meeting. This work will be presented at the November 17 SAC meeting.

Upcoming meetings in October will focus on the I-5 Freeway Interchange component of the project. At the October 12 Subcommittee meeting and October 27 SAC meeting, staff will report on analysis done over the summer and will seek preliminary direction from the committee on a recommended freeway improvement concept. See the calendar for meeting details.

Thanks to all the community members who took the concept alternatives surveys!

We received a lot of valuable input, with 140 people responding to the quadrant-wide survey and between 50 and 75 responding to each of the eight subarea surveys. The project team is working on summarizing the results and will make them available on the project website soon. The results of the survey are being used to inform development of a proposed land use, urban design and local transportation concept for the quadrant, as well as recommendations on area-specific planning questions.

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee will begin discussing these proposals at their next meeting on September 29, 2011. See the calendar for more event details.

Take the N/NE Quadrant Surveys to have your say in shaping the future of Lower Albina and the Lloyd District.  Surveys are open for one more week!

Portland's Lower Albina and Lloyd Districts have been the subject of intense planning, analysis and work with the community for many months now. Based on ideas captured at previous events and meetings, the N/NE Quadrant Project team has prepared draft concepts for how the N/NE Quadrant area could develop over time. Key choices for eight subareas (e.g., Historic Russell Street and Rose Quarter) are also highlighted.

Portlanders now have an opportunity to provide more detailed feedback on the direction of the N/NE Quadrant. The public is invited to review the concepts, then take the online surveys to comment. A quadrant-wide survey seeks feedback about how the quadrant as a whole could develop over time, and eight surveys will help us work out the future details of each subarea.

The quadrant-wide concepts and subarea choices are displayed in the Land Use, Urban Design and Local Transportation Concept Alternatives Workbook. Please review the workbook before taking the surveys. It may be helpful to reference the workbook while you are taking the surveys as well. Your comments will be used by the Stakeholder Advisory Committee and project team to inform upcoming decisions this fall.

Take the surveys!

More about the Concepts

Ideas for the concepts were drawn from a number of sources, including examining existing conditions; identifying issues, opportunities and constraints; Stakeholder Advisory Committee and Subcommittee meetings; and the Local Issues Charrette (February 2011).

Quadrant-wide concept alternatives display existing conditions and three concepts based broadly on potential future land use patterns: 1) residential; 2) employment; and 3) a residential/employment blend. Each concept alternative is further illustrated with three related infrastructure systems: 1) mobility; 2) open space; and 3) green systems.

Subarea choices highlight key land use, urban design and local transportation choices for eight N/NE Quadrant subareas. Also included are maps and background information for these smaller geographic areas, with questions specific to each one. The subarea choices and issues will inform the refinement of the quadrant-wide concept alternatives (and vice versa), assist in developing a preferred concept and provide guidance for more focused plan proposals at the subarea level.

Thanks for your interest in the NE Quadrant Concept Alternatives Survey. It is coming soon - Friday, August 5. Please check back then and provide your input. We really want to hear your thoughts and get your feedback!

More than 100 Portlanders gathered in Metro's Council Chambers on June 29 to learn about and comment on land use and transportation concept alternatives for the N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler Plans. A vital part of the Central City and a transportation hub, this area of Portland presents some interesting opportunities and challenges for the community to address.

City of Portland and Oregon Department of Transportation staff were on hand to talk about the various concepts, organized around about future land use patterns and supporting infrastructure, including the local and regional transportation system, open space and green systems. Participants learned about and discussed the choices to be made during the planning process, and responded to surveys that will help inform upcoming decisions by the project's Stakeholder Advisory Committee. This summer and fall the committee will refine and narrow options under consideration and develop a preferred land use and transportation concept for the quadrant. In the coming weeks, we will post an overview of comments received at the open house.

You can review and comment on the information presented at the Open House by:

• Browsing the project boards that were on display

• Viewing the Land Use, Urban Design and Local Transportation Concept Alternatives Workbook and current freeway/local transportation interface concepts

• Responding to surveys that were used at the open house

Questions or comments about the N/NE Quadrant Project or the materials described above? Email the project team at NNEQuadrant@portlandoregon.gov or contact Stephanie Beckman at 503-823-6042.

The Central City Natural Resources Inventory Public Review Draft report is now available. As part of the River Plan / Central Reach and Central City 2035 (CC2035) projects, the City is updating the existing Environmental Program, which includes information and management tools to protect and enhance natural resources. This update is needed to help meet watershed health goals and advance the City's compliance with local, regional, state and federal regulations. The first step is to produce an inventory of existing natural resources. Contact: Mindy Brooks at 530-823-7027, BPSWNRI@portlandoregon.gov.

This upcoming Wednesday, June 29, an open house is being held to present the concept alternatives under consideration for the N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler Plans project. Anyone with interest in planning issues regarding the Lloyd District, Lower Albina and Rose Quarter areas is encouraged to attend, learn about the exciting work being done and provide feedback to project staff. See the calendar or event flyer for further details about the open house, and bring your thoughts, inputs and ideas to help shape the future of the N/NE Quadrant area.

Meanwhile, the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) met on June 16 to discuss some of these concept alternatives under consideration. The themes of open spaces, green systems, transportation, housing and employment and the role that they play in guiding the future growth of the N/NE Quadrant were discussed. These themes will also be presented and discussed at the upcoming open house.

Some of the background documents discussed at the SAC meeting, and a preview of the information to be presented at the open house are currently available online.

• Quadrant-wide Concept Alternatives (Land Use, Urban Design and Local Transportation)
• Subarea Choices (Land Use, Urban Design and Local Transportation)
• Freeway and Local Transportation Concepts for the Broadway/Weidler interchange area

Stay involved by attending these upcoming meetings (see calendar for details):

• Joint Land Use and Transportation Subcommittee Meeting on Wednesday, July 13 where the concept evaluation process and criteria will be discussed.
• SAC Meeting #8 on Thursday, July 28 where feedback from the open house will be discussed, as well as a recommendation to reduce the number of freeway/local transportation concepts that continue to be studied.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Beckman (City of Portland) at (503) 823-6042 or stephanie.beckman@portlandoregon.gov or Todd Juhasz (ODOT) at (503) 731-4753 or todd.juhasz@odot.state.or.us.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for people with disabilities. Please notify us no fewer than five (5) business days prior to the event by phone 503-823-7700, by the TTY line at 503-823-6868 or by the Oregon Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.

As part of the River Plan / Central Reach and Central City 2035 projects, the City is updating existing environmental information and management tools to help meet watershed health goals and advance the City's compliance with local, regional, state and federal regulations. The first step in this update is to produce an inventory of existing natural resources. The inventory is a technical document that provides information about existing resources and evaluates the functions and values they provide; it does not propose any new programs or regulations.

Stage one of the inventory provides maps, data and descriptions of the Willamette River, river banks and upland resources in the Central City, and more detailed descriptions of the natural resources in the N/NE Quadrant. Stage two will follow-up with detailed information for the NW, SW and SE quadrants. A draft of the Stage 1 material will be available for public review soon - look for it on the CC2035 website by June 23rd. Comments on the draft may be emailed to BPSWNRI@portlandoregon.gov. Contact Mindy Brooks at (503) 823-7831 for more information.

Are you interested in issues affecting the Lower Albina, Rose Quarter and Lloyd District areas of the Central City? Please join us at an open house for the N/NE Quadrant and I-5 Broadway/Weidler Plans.

See event details: Calendar | Printable Flyer

Based on ideas gathered at previous meetings and events, the project team has developed preliminary land use and transportation concept alternatives that illustrate how the area could develop over time. At the open house, these concepts will be on display and City of Portland and Oregon Department of Transportation staff will be on hand to answer questions, receive public feedback and discuss the project.

This is a great opportunity to help shape the future of the N/NE Quadrant of the Central City. We hope you join us! A preview of some of the information that will be presented at the open house is available now:

• Quadrant-wide Concept Alternatives (Land Use, Urban Design and Local Transportation)

• Subarea Choices (Land Use, Urban Design and Local Transportation)

• Freeway and Local Transportation Concepts for the Broadway/Weidler Interchange area

For more information, please contact Stephanie Beckman (City of Portland) at (503) 823-6042 or stephanie.beckman@portlandoregon.gov or Todd Juhasz (ODOT) at (503) 731-4753 or todd.juhasz@odot.state.or.us.

Since the completion of two successful charrettes held this spring, the N/NE Quadrant Project team has been sorting and screening the ideas gathered and incorporating them into concept alternatives that illustrate different ways the N/NE Quadrant could develop over time, including:

• Land Use, Urban Design and Local Transportation Concept Alternatives for the full N/NE Quadrant area

• More specific Planning Choices for 8 Subareas within the Quadrant

• Freeway and Related Local Transportation Concept Alternatives for the I-5 Broadway/Weidler Interchange area

The preliminary screening process and concepts will be presented at upcoming Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings on May 26 and June 16 and the SAC will be asked to confirm the direction of the work thus far. Materials for the May 26 meeting are currently available on the project website. Look for materials for the June meeting, approximately one week prior to that meeting. Pending discussion with the SAC, these materials will be the subject of a public open house in late June/early July. Feedback received on the various concepts will be brought back to the SAC in late July.

Background on ideas that came out of the charrette processes can be found in the Summaries of the Land Use, Urban Design and Local Transportation Charrette and the Freeway/Local Transportation Interface Charrette.