EPAP Plan & Updates

COMMERCIAL AND MIXED USE

CM.1 Provide commercial and mixed use development opportunities throughout East Portland

CM.1.1 Review commercial and mixed use zoning throughout East Portland; consider adding to deficient areas to provide neighborhood services; consider access and walkability equitably throughout area.

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The SE 122nd Ave Rezone Project will implement the zone change recommendation from the 122nd Ave Pilot Project - increasing opportunity for neighborhood-serving commercial uses by increasing the amount of commercial zoning along SE 122nd ave between Powell Blvd and Foster Road. The project will be complete and zoning adopted and in place by fall 2012.
The project also recommends changes to the Home Business program to allow more employees and customers to a site. The changes would be reviewed by the public as part of the Comprehensive Plan Update project and possibly put into effect in late 2013.
Lastly, the project initiated discussion about density and housing design in the study area, but the issues are relevant city-wide and are being incorporated into the policy work of the Comprehensive Plan update. Implementation tools will need to be developed once the policy is developed.

The SE 122nd Ave Pilot Project was initiated in June 2009 and completed in July 2010. The project explored opportunities to create a more convenient, healthy, walkable, and vibrant neighborhood along 122nd Ave between Division and Foster. The project will be used to inform the Portland Plan, specifically about the notion of creating a "20-minute neighborhood", places where individuals can meet their daily needs without extensive travel in cars. Also, the project was the first to integrate a "health lens" into a land use study. Finally, the project can provide direction to the update of the Lents Urban Renewal Plan with revitalization priorities for this portion of the URA. It can also be used to help coordinate and guide capital improvements along SE 122nd Ave by other bureaus and agencies. The project identified numerous recommendations for improvements and opportunities for coordination among city bureaus and other agencies.

CM.1.2 Promote redevelopment in "centers" and along "main streets."

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Division Midway Alliance (DMA) promoted and welcomed both Key Bank and Gentle Dental to the area and celebrated the success of bringing much needed local amenities to the area.

Gateway Regional Center Urban Renewal Area Website:
http://www.pdc.us/ura/gateway.asp

Lents Town Center Urban Renewal Area Website:
http://www.pdc.us/ura/lents.asp

The region’s long range plan, the 2040 Growth Concept designates regional and town centers and calls for growth to be concentrated in these centers. Apart from regulations established by the Urban Growth Management Functional Plan requiring local jurisdictions to zone and develop centers consistent with the 2040 Growth Concept, Metro has also worked to research how to make centers more vibrant, assess the “state of centers” development, and develop technical assistance materials for use by local jurisdictions in understanding how investments in centers can help encourage private development. The recommendations that make up the Community Investment Strategy released in August 2010 calls for increased focus on activities that fully implement the vision of the 2040 Growth Concept.

PDC actively invovled in Gateway and Lents URAs, focusing redevelopment assistance along commercial corridors and main streets.

CM.1.3 Support commercial revitalization in business and mixed use districts.

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Jackson’s Shell Station remodel and the soon to open Grocery Outlet, Crunch Fitness & Eco Laundry are all bringing life back to the Division Center Retail Plaza and adding jobs to the commercial district.

PDC Neighborhood Economic Development Website:
http://www.pdc.us/bus_serv/ned.asp

PDC is leading the Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy, which aims to support business growth and redevelopment along commercial corridors both within and outside of urban renewal areas.

CM.1.4 Explore expansion of financial tools for community revitalization, including tax increment financing.

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PDC Neighborhood Economic Development Website:
http://www.pdc.us/bus_serv/ned.asp

Metro developed the Community Investment Toolkit to identify proven strategies and tools to stimulate investment in the region’s centers, corridors, employment and industrial areas to implement the 2040 Growth Concept. The Community Investment Toolkit provides local government officials, developers, property owners, nonprofit organizations, investors and other with ideas and information on innovative practices and approaches to create thriving and healthy urban centers. The Community Investment Toolkit focuses on three topics:
-Financial incentives
-Urban design and local zoning and building codes
-Employment and industrial areas
The toolkit is available at www.oregonmetro.gov

See Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy.

CM.2 Promote vital and healthy multi-use commercial areas

CM.2.1 Expand storefront improvement grant program throughout East Portland commercial areas.

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Kelli’s Café, Wireless Tech Services and Global Communications have entertained the storefront improvement program through PDC. Division Midway Alliance (DMA) has connected these business owners with key personnel and opportunities for increasing their sales and beautifying the commercial district with landscaping, awnings, parking lot repairs and striping.

CM.2.2 Develop unique/iconic signage and artwork for business districts and key transit stations.

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Division Midway Alliance (DMA) has used their logo, the iconic clock tower at the corner of 122nd and Division Street to begin the branding process of Division Midway. Additionally, DMA has produced posters to display in businesses that introduces the economic development effort and asks for community involvement.

PDC funded production of the Gateway banners on NE 102nd Avenue. When future phases of the streetscape are improved (Glisan south to Stark/Washington), the banners will be installed on light poles.

CM.2.3 Scope projects and support pedestrian infrastructure improvements in business districts.

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Division Midway Alliance (DMA) advocated for the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation's (PBOT) Transportation Growth Management program study that will help ease access to area amenities. PBOT is currently working on sidewalk infill and crosswalk lighting projects along the business district which will provide pedestrian safety. Storm water drainage has been corrected at the intersection of 122nd and Division allowing pedestrians, bicycles, and ADA accessibility.

In June 2012, PBOT applied for an ODOT TGM Grant to do the Division-Midway Neighborhood Street Plan project.

The purpose of the Division-Midway Neighborhood Street Plan is to foster safe and convenient access to commercial destinations along SE Division Street from surrounding neighborhoods by identifying new local street connections and a primary network of walking and bicycling routes at a neighborhood-level (which will feed into the citywide active transportation network). This project will advance objectives identified in the East Portland Action Plan (2009) and Portland Plan (2012) to improve infrastructure, create a healthier environment and expand commercial services so residents can meet their daily needs in close proximity to home. This project will also build upon past transportation planning efforts, including the Far SE Master Street Plan (2001), SE 122nd Avenue Study (2011), Outer Powell Boulevard Conceptual Design Plan (2011-12), and East Portland in Motion (2011).

The Division-Midway Neighborhood Street Plan will focus on the neighborhoods served by businesses within the Division-Midway Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative (NPI) district, one of six recently formed urban renewal areas aimed at strengthening the economic competitiveness of neighborhood business districts through community-planned and community-implemented actions and projects. The boundary would reach from SE 112th to SE 148th and extend roughly one mile north to SE Stark (serving the Rosewood NPI) and south to SE Holgate. The study area covers four neighborhoods (Powellhurst Gilbert, Hazelwood, Mill Park, and Centennial) and two business associations (Gateway Area BA and Midway BA).

The neighborhoods in the study area have unique street patterns and severe deficiencies in transportation infrastructure, including numerous unpaved and dead-end streets. Much of the area developed as low-density suburban areas that were subsequently annexed into the City of Portland in 1980s and 90s. As a result, street connections were not planned to meet spacing standards and basic roadway infrastructure (such as pavement and/or sidewalks) was often not built at the time of development.

Expected Outcomes:
• Develop a refined street plan for the study area by identifying opportunities for future full-street and pedestrian-bicycle connections
• Evaluate neighborhood streets (i.e. traffic classification of neighborhood collector or local service) by compiling traffic data and determining their functions (current and future) for motor vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles
• Identify primary walking and bicycling routes to SE Division Street, schools, parks and other local destinations based on adopted plans, traffic conditions and community input
• Distinguish between streets with varying traffic functions and consider changes to street classifications or defining a street typology
• Develop a set of local street improvement options at a concept level and determine the streets where each option can be applied
• Establish an implementation strategy outlining priority street improvement projects and the process for making local improvements

Estimated Proposed Project Budget: $125,000

Project Contact:
Denver Igarta, Transportation Planner, (503) 823-1088, Denver [dot] Igarta [at] portlandoregon [dot] gov
Portland Bureau of Transportation, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Suite 800, Portland, Oregon 97204

PDC leading NE 97th Avenue Green Street Project, improving roadway and adding sidewalks to NE 97th Avenue from Davis to Glisan streets.

CM.2.4 Explore potential for an arts and entertainment facility or district to serve East Portland.

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CM.2.5 Develop and promote "international marketplace" concept for 82nd Avenue.

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CM.2.6 Develop business districts maps and marketing materials.

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CM.2.7 Develop public spaces and community uses in commercial areas.

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In September Division Midway Alliance (DMA) members collaborated with the Midway Business Association at their End of the Summer Cruise-In in the Division Plaza parking lot. Utilizing this public space for a community event brought increased revenue to businesses of an underused commercial area.

Gateway Redevelopment & Neighborhood Park Project Website:
http://www.pdc.us/ura/gateway/project-areas/neighborhood-park.asp

PDC managing the Gateway Redevelopment & Neighborhood Park Project on Halsey & NE 106th Avenue, which will ultimately provide a three-acre neighborhood park and plaza, with one acre of commercial/mixed-use redevelopment.

CM.2.8 Re-examine development regulations and fees for key East Portland business districts (i.e. Gateway, Lents, Division, and Parkrose); reduce barriers to quality development and job creation.

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