Downtown Portland News

[sopdx]

Originally Posted by downtownpdx

True, we have a long road ahead for a healthy, vibrant downtown and the loss of tenants on that block sucks. I think it's no news / surprise to anyone that the area around Voodoo is not what it was in 2019. It's right at the edge of Old Town. But I'd say it's much better than a year or two ago from my own experience - I walked around there on a recent Monday afternoon and it was clean, felt safe and zero tents or drug users in sight. a few newish businesses a block south of Voodoo. We parked on NW 1st/Davis, again no tents in sight. Too quiet of course but honestly a pleasant walk along the waterfront, to Midtown Beer Garden, back to Old Town.

I'm not around your neighborhood much and I totally believe you about the crap going on at the Safeway etc. I hope that new city leadership, a new sobering center and new drug use/possession laws come this fall, will steer us in the right direction and they saturate that area with more police and social service people rather than just move it around. Seems the shutdown of drug activity at 4th/Washington has pushed it to the library/Safeway area.

Meanwhile -- not a starry-eyed denial of DT issues -- but recognition of some people investing in the city and helping us turn the corner. The situation DT isn't black or white. (These are actually separate articles even though it doesn't look like it haha):

Portland apparel brand moves flagship store, recommits to downtown core https://www.koin.com/local/portland-...downtown-core/

Menswear store Milworks opens second U.S. store in 'high drama' downtown Portland space https://www.bizjournals.com/portland...-shipping.html

I agree. Hopefully, the re-criminalization of fentanyl and other drugs, effective in July or August this year, along with some movement of street camping bans (I know this is controversial) will make a difference.

Civic investment is core to effect change and start to create a more positive perception of downtown.

Concerts, ice rinks, and light festivals - although good - aren't going to do it. It needs to be permanent and sustainable.

I believe a market district could achieve this, but there are probably other investments or demonstrations of civic investments that could accomplish this as well.

[downtownpdx]

Originally Posted by sopdx

I agree. Hopefully, the re-criminalization of fentanyl and other drugs, effective in July or August this year, along with some movement of street camping bans (I know this is controversial) will make a difference.

Civic investment is core to effect change and start to create a more positive perception of downtown.

Concerts, ice rinks, and light festivals - although good - aren't going to do it. It needs to be permanent and sustainable.

I believe a market district could achieve this, but there are probably other investments or demonstrations of civic investments that could accomplish this as well.

Yeah the events alone alone aren’t going to solve everything — but they’re important in terms of bringing people DT who otherwise wouldn’t be there. I’d guess that most find a city that has challenges but is nothing like the dumpster fire portrayed by the Fox News outlets of the world. The more people who discover this, the more the narrative changes and a positive cycle starts to happen.