Infrastructure
Oregon Construction – A Few Words
A recent report said there are over 5,000 construction jobs available in Oregon today. It would appear that anyone meeting qualifications to work in the construction industry can find work. And yet many rural communities struggle to keep the infrastructure operating or young adults from moving to the bigger cities.…
Read More
Let’s have an honest discussion about the Rose Quarter freeway widening project
By Joe Cortright Good decisions result only if state officials are transparent and honest City Observatory has been closely following the proposal to spend $500 million widening the I-5 freeway at the Rose Quarter in Portland. In the process, we and others have repeatedly uncovered instances of state agency officials…
Read More
Your Zoning Code Is Inherently Exclusionary (But It Doesn’t Have To Be)
by Nolan Gray Since bursting onto the scene in the 1970s, the concept of “exclusion” now figures heavily in the way urban planners do their work. Now more than ever, urban planners are aware of how certain land-use regulations and forms of public process can systematically exclude certain groups of…
Read MoreThe Emerging Digital Town Square
By: Matt Sayre reprinted by permission Picture the small villages and towns of early America. The farmers are selling produce and smoked meat in the market square, while the cobbler and sheriff barter four deerskins for a pound of wheat. The local physician atop his soapbox announces the latest ailments…
Read More
Does Your City Have Shiny New Toy Syndrome?
by Daniel Herriges Everybody, at some point, has known (or maybe even been) that kid who just has too many toys. The one who gets showered with new stuff on every special occasion from birthday to Christmas to 100-on-the-spelling-test. And everybody knows the sad, lonely fate of all the older-but-still-fairly-new…
Read More
Which Countries Have the Most Pavement Per Person?
by Daniel Herriges (Photos: Wikimedia Commons) One number can’t begin to capture the complexity of the differences between urban places—what we build, how we build it, what it looks like, and what it’s going to take to maintain it. But sometimes, one number can cut through all the details and…
Read More
AOC Supports Forest Management of Rural Stability Act
Susan Morgan Rural communities where the federal government owns most of their land have been strapped into the front seat of a financial roller coaster. For more than 100 years, counties with public forest lands have received federal support, but faced the ups and downs of fluctuating and uncertain payments.…
Read More
CROOKED RIVER WETLANDS RECOGNIZED AMONG NATION’S TOP MUNICIPAL PROJECTS
Media Contact: ShanRae Hawkins, shanrae@hellostingray.com | 541-390-6411 (PRINEVILLE, Ore)—The City of Prineville is once again in the national spotlight. This time, for its environmental stewardship. Two national organizations have recognized Prineville’s recently completed Crooked River Wetlands project as an outstanding. In November, the project was one of only five nationwide…
Read MoreCentral Oregon’s growth is centered in Bend
Oregon’s recovery from the Great Recession of 2008 – 2010 has been predictably uneven. Statewide population density variations with local business emphasis and economic diversity in industrial productivity shows in recovery contrasts in urban vs rural areas. Central Oregon, especially in Bend, seemed poised for growth as the recession hit.…
Read MoreUNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS ENHANCE BUSINESS SERVICES IN BROOKINGS
By Gary Milliman A new public/private coalition has formed in southern Curry County to provide enhanced services to business and promote economic growth. Partners in this effort include the South Coast Development council (SCDC), City of Brookings and the Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Recognizing that small cities like Brookings cannot…
Read More
A Letter to POTUS on Infrastructure
December 11, 2017 by Charles Marohn During the presidential transition that took place at the beginning of this year, I was asked to provide my thoughts on how a Trump administration should prioritize what was anticipated to be up to a trillion dollars in infrastructure spending. It was an honor — and…
Read More