Ideas & Innovations 2017: Social Entrepreneurs

4 Big Ideas Making Portland a Better City Right Now

From ice cream as brain food to the alley of the future, these local initiatives are making a difference.

06/12/2017 By Ramona DeNies and Zach Dundas

Urban Design

Behold the New Plan for Oregon City's Riverwalk

Just one minor detail: is there enough money to build it?

06/08/2017 By Rachel Wilson

Forest Park: The Future

Forest Park Is About to Change—For Better or Worse

After decades of dreaming, big shifts—from a shiny visitors center to mountain bike trails—await the city's crown jewel.

05/15/2017 By Benjamin Tepler

Q&A

This Wild Mural Will Wrap around an Entire Portland Office Building

Los Angeles artist James Jean talks about his plans for the Fair-Haired Dumbbell, rising at the Burnside Bridge's east end.

04/17/2017 By Lauren Kershner

Design Week

The Many Ways the Green Loop Could Change Portland, Explained Live

On April 24, a parade of civic leaders will talk about how the proposed "linear park" could spur other transformations.

04/14/2017 By Zach Dundas

Real Estate 2017

Rising Prices. Fierce Bidding Wars. What's Next for Portland Real Estate?

Even in a world where anything can happen (right?), Portland remains a real estate promised land. What does that mean for the city? And where should you look?

03/20/2017 Edited by Zach Dundas

Real Estate 2017: Small Wonders

How New Buildings Can Use Portland's Ultra-Small Blocks to Save Our Urban DNA

The city's future may depend on how new developments adapt our Lilliputian street grid.

03/20/2017 By Carl Alviani

Real Estate 2017: Big Dreams

If Portland Has to Grow and Grow, We Have a Few Demands. Better Sashimi, for One.

From water taxis to truly great sushi, here's our big city wish list.

03/20/2017 By Margaret Seiler, Marty Patail, Zach Dundas, and Benjamin Tepler

Timber Land

The Future of Portland's Skyline Is Made of Wood. Yes, Wood.

The next cutting-edge technology to fuel our building boom just may grow on trees.

03/20/2017 By Brian Libby

Urban Design

Could Portland's Proposed Green Loop Reshape the City?

Design Week Portland aims to bring one vision of the six-mile carless Loop to life.

03/20/2017 By Zach Dundas

Light a Fire 2016: Game-Changing Project

Friends of Nadaka Unites a Gresham Neighborhood to Create a Park

Complete with bird walks, play spaces, and a community garden—and soon Gresham’s first handicapped-accessible swing.

10/10/2016 By Regina Winkle-Bryan

Urban Planning

Was the Springwater Corridor Doomed to Controversy From the Start?

The path was built for the people. And they came—just not how anyone planned.

10/10/2016 By Ramona DeNies

BRIGHT LIGHTS

What Should Come Next for Portland's Downtown Parks?

Legendary landscape architect Douglas Macy will talk about a key thread of the city's urban DNA on Tuesday, Oct 11.

10/07/2016 By Randy Gragg

City Planning

Here's What the Post Office Site in Northwest Could Look Like

The eastern edge of the Pearl is due for a major facelift.

09/23/2016 By Ko Ricker

Profile

Maverick Portland Developer Kevin Cavenaugh Builds Diamonds of Design in the Urban Rough

And his four-word motto? “Don’t be a dick.”

09/21/2016 By Leah Sottile

Essay

Portland Is Growing Like Never Before. What Should We Do Next?

Meet six imperatives of Portland’s urban future.

09/21/2016 By Randy Gragg

Commute of the Future

This Waterslide Is the Most Brilliantly Crazy Mass Transportation Idea You’ve Ever Seen

Portland design firm Industry reveals its blueprints for an intercity waterslide.

09/21/2016 By Marty Patail

Q&A

Can Tiny Homes Help Solve Homelessness?

“It’s a logical way of upsizing from a tent,” says urban planner Andrew Heben.

09/21/2016 By Ramona DeNies

Urban Design

How to Remake the Vancouver Waterfront

Welcome to Van Diego!

09/13/2016 By Katherine Berman

Architecture

Simple Builds Itself Some Fancy New Digs

After opening a new office this spring, the banking startup is still growing at breakneck speed.

08/26/2016 By Regina Winkle-Bryan