Council Considers Shrinking Urban Renewal Areas

In a late evening vote, the Portland City Council began the process of shrinking Portland’s Urban Renewal Areas by about 10 percent. Its goal: To put more money back on the city and county tax rolls. Portland has 11 urban renewal areas. The Pearl District is the probably best-known. The proposal could result in $5 million of new money for the city, the county, and the schools this year. The council will take a final vote on the plan in the fall.
www.opb.org/news/article/council-considers-shrinki...areas

Ed McNamara Portlands Urban Renewal Advisor, is Leaving City Hall

Ed McNamara, the mayor's policy director overseeing the Portland Development Commission, says he will return in June to his private development company, Turtle Island Development LLC. (more on Turtle Island later). The Oregonian reported this morning that Hales will bring his new urban-renewal plan—including the elimination of a Portland State University "education district"—to the City Council next week. McNamara led the mayor's efforts to double down on urban renewal in Old Town/Chinatown and in Lents. The city has spent $96 million on reviving the East Portland neighborhood of Lents, and now wants to invest as much as another $55 million over the next five years. www.wweek.com/portland/blog-31545-ed_mcnamara_mayo....html