Neighborhood Notes

Members of the Hillsdale community are invited to attend three public meetings to inform the public about the results the Hillsdale Town Center Survey and the proposed plans for improving the neighborhood. The Bureau of Planning is working with SERA Architects to develop design alternatives for the area through a series of public meetings held September through November 2008 at the Wilson High School cafeteria:

• Wednesday, September 24, 2008 from 7 to 9 PM: Background and Urban Design Framework
• Wednesday, October 22, 2008 from 7 to 9 PM: Design Alternatives
• Wednesday, November 12, from 7 to 9 PM: Preferred Alternative and Phased Development Strategy

The Development Strategy will be completed by December 2008 with implementation planned to begin in 2009.

Over the past year, Bureau of Planning staff has conducted a town center assessment and a retail customer intercept survey, brokered an agreement to install a 100,000-kWh solar array on the Rieke Elementary school site, and initiated due-diligence research on the development potential of vacant City-owned property in the area. A business owner survey was conducted during the month of August 2008 to inform the urban design alternatives and address the economic vitality of the commercial area.

Background

The Hillsdale community is one of 13 regionally defined town centers in the Portland metropolitan region. Hillsdale Town Center benefits include: close proximity to downtown Portland and the Oregon Health Sciences University; a stable housing stock; active stakeholders and community serving organizations; a thriving, if limited, commercial retail center located in the heart of the town center; a new public library; large and easily accessible open spaces; frequent transit service; high-performing local public schools with growing enrollment; a successful and growing farmers' market; and an extensive pedestrian trails program.

Ten years following the adoption of the Hillsdale Town Center plan, the area remains healthy, yet unfulfilled. In addition, the community has expressed a strong desire to further develop as a ‘model' town center. Although ‘model' has not yet been clearly defined, some central themes have emerged including sustainability, stabilized public school enrollment, development of a significant public plaza, creation of a main street environment along a state highway corridor, better physical connections with the nearby single-family residential areas, expanded retail and housing choices, and expansion of the public school to serve as a community center.

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Brian Sheehan
West District Planner
503-823-3111
brian.sheehan@ci.portland.or.us