4.14.2011
Building the Compact City: The OECD Explores Portland's Smart Growth Policies and Practices
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an economic development organization of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic growth and world trade by providing a forum in which member countries can compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, share best practices, and co-ordinate domestic and international policies, often through non-binding treaties. They undertake peer-reviewed research, compile statistics, offer recommendations and publish over 250 books annually with their findings.
First Stop Portland recently hosted a 5-person delegation from the Regional Urban, and Rural committee of the OECD who were studying Portland as part of a comparative case study (Melbourne [AU], Vancouver [CA], Toyama [JP], Portland [US] and Paris [FR]) exploring compact cities, i.e. those with higher densities, mixed land-uses, and mass transit linkages. They met for discussions with practitioners from the public and private sectors, policy makers, elected officials and business owners from across the region to gain a better understanding of Portland’s “Smart Growth” policies and tools. They toured the city and region, observing first hand the impacts of these policies and practices in urban space, from transit-oriented development in the Pearl District to the interface of agriculture and development at the edge of the UGB (urban growth boundary).
4.12.2011
More Carrot, Less Stick: Columbia University Students Study Portland's Food Cart "Revolution"
Recently, a graduate studio class in urban planning (MURP) from Columbia University's GSAPP toured the city to learn about Portland's food cart movement. Their study tour investigated the economic and social implications of Portland’s growing food cart industry, especially as regards neighborhood livability and economic development. To give them a broader understanding of their interests within a context of sustainable food policy, regional food system security, and the artisan economy, First Stop Portland included panel discussions with experts from Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability as well as Portland State faculty.
Columbia Faculty Kaja Kuhl and Julie Behrens evaluate their lunches at the SW 5th and Oak Food Cart Pod |
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