Portland:
Public Planning Potemkin Village

Letter to the Editor: The Wall Street Journal


26 December 1995

To the Editor
The Wall Street Journal:

For all of the hype, urban sprawl is not dead in Portland (Oregon), and Bob Ortega's article (December 26) relies on erroneous data.

The US Census Bureau reports that Portland's urbanized area grew by more than 120 square miles over the last two decades --- 60 times the 2 square miles reported.

Of course, Phoenix added much more land area over the period --- it also added much more population, In fact, the average population density of new urban development in Phoenix was higher than that of Portland.

Denver's new development was at virtually the same density as Portland's. And neither of these communities have Portland's powerful regional government. Finally, air quality improvement can hardly be attributed to transit, because transit's work trip market share dropped by a third in the 1980s (when light rail was opened).

Portland's urban growth boundary was established far enough from the urban fringe that suburban development has continued as in other areas. This is not to suggest that Portland is not a delightful community. Its many advantages will doubtless continue to attract new businesses and residents (few of whom will take notice of local land use planning). The real test for Portland's planners lies ahead.

While Portland may attract city planners as an "urban mecca," the facts reveal little more than a "Potemkin village."

Sincerely,

Wendell Cox
Principal,
Wendell Cox Consultancy


Also see: Urban Planning & Transport: Seattle and Portland Contasted
Perception of Portland Superiority Mistaken



The Public Purpose
WENDELL COX CONSULTANCY
P. O. Box 841 - Belleville, IL 62269 USA
Telephone: +1.618.632.8507 - Facsimile: +1.618.632.8538

Contact Us by E-Mail
The Public Purpose | Demographic Briefs | Government Cost Review | Government Employment Fact Book
Highway & Motorway Fact Book | Intercity Transport Fact Book
Labor Market Reporter | Realities | School Transport Fact Book
Transport Fact Book | Urban Policy | Urban Transport Fact Book | Competitive Tendering Website
International Competition & Ownership Conference
Publications | New Items | Book Store | Subscribe (Free)

Demographia

DEMOGRAPHIA
Demographics, Development Impacts, Market Research & Urban Policy
An Undetaking of Wendell Cox Consultancy

Corrections Policy, Rights & Permissions