COMMUNITY INVESTMENT STRATEGY State of the Centers Investing in our communities MAY 2011 2040 Growth Concept The 2040 Growth Concept is the region's blueprint for the future, guiding growth and development based on a shared vision to create livable, prosperous, equitable and climate smart communities now and for generations to come. Attributes of great communities Goals for the region endorsed by city and county elected officials and For more information about approved by the Metro Council centers, call 503-797-1562. To download a copy of the Vibrant communities Leadership on climate change report, visit www.oregonmetro. People live, work and play in vibrant The region is a leader in minimizing gov/centersreport. communities where their everyday contributions to global warming. needs are easily accessible. Clean air and water Economic prosperity Current and future generations enjoy Current and future residents benefit clean air, clean water and healthy from the region’s sustained economic ecosystems. competitiveness and prosperity. Equity Safe and reliable transportation The benefits and burdens of growth People have safe and reliable and change are distributed equitably. transportation choices that enhance their quality of life. State of the Centers Table of contents State of the Centers 4 Cedar Mill 54 Cornelius 56 About the data 6 Damascus 58 Fairview 60 User guide 8 Forest Grove 62 Gladstone 64 Activity spectrum and typologies 11 Happy Valley 66 Activity spectrum 12 Hillsdale 68 Downtown and the Pearl 14 Hollywood 70 Nob Hill 16 King City 72 Lloyd 18 Lake Grove 74 Westmoreland 20 Lake Oswego 76 Clinton 22 Lents 78 Hillsdale 24 Milwaukie 80 Murray/Scholls 82 Regional centers 27 Orenco 84 Beaverton 30 Pleasant Valley 86 Clackamas 32 Raleigh Hills 88 Gateway 34 Rockwood 90 Gresham 36 Sherwood 92 Hillsboro 38 St. Johns 94 Oregon City 40 Sunset Transit Center 96 Tanasbourne 42 Tigard 98 Washington Square 44 Troutdale 100 Tualatin 102 Town centers 47 West Linn – Historic Willamette 104 Aloha 50 West Linn – Bolton 106 Bethany 52 West Portland 108 Wilsonville 110 Companion DVD 2011 State of the Centers report Region, center and typology composite heat maps Context tool results and explanations Resources for developing centers 2011 State of the Centers 3 State of the centers Where we are today More than a decade ago, the region set a course to grow as a The State of the Centers report helps measure constellation of compact, vibrant communities that use land progress in creating the type of centers envisioned efficiently, maintain connections in the 2040 Growth Concept and to illustrate the to the natural environment and promote strong local and regional kind of investments that contribute to a successful economies. The adoption in 1995 center. of the 2040 Growth Concept provided a guide to actively manage the growth of the region by encouraging development in centers City and county governments have is an indication of the common and corridors and maintaining taken steps to create vibrant, safe elements in centers that contribute a tight urban growth boundary. and livable centers by amending to meeting aspirations of local By designating 38 centers across their comprehensive plans, communities. In categorizing and the Portland metropolitan area providing financial assistance examining these elements, the as a focus for redevelopment, and investing in essential public report serves as a “toolbox” to help transportation options and amenities to help spur private communities evaluate progress in concentrations of housing and investment. achieving their aspirations and to employment, the growth concept promote successful investments provides direction for achieving the The State of the Centers report that move communities toward the desired outcomes for the region. It is intended to help measure the desired regional outcomes reflected helps protect the farms, forestland region’s progress in creating the in the growth concept. and natural areas so critical to type of centers envisioned in the quality of life residents of the the 2040 Growth Concept and region enjoy. reflected in local aspirations, and 2009 State of the Centers report to illustrate the kind of investments Two years ago, Metro published Over the 15 years since the that contribute to a successful the first report on the state of growth concept was adopted, center. The report reflects the the centers. The initial report local governments have developed relationship between people, provided a snapshot of land use aspirations for vibrant centers that employment, housing, businesses and transportation conditions in reflect the vision of the residents, and built environment that makes centers to establish a framework businesses and property owners. each center unique. What emerges for evaluating future development 4 2011 State of the Centers and investments. In doing so, it illustrated the wide variation in the level of development among The Community Investment Strategy is an centers. It was the first report integrated set of policies and investments designed to delineate each center and provide comparative statistics to achieve the six desired regional outcomes. about them as well as tools to guide conversation about future development. The boundaries for and leverage them with other Community Investment Strategy centers reflect those adopted by public and private funding to be In 2010, the Metro Council local governments where available. successful. adopted a Community Investment For centers without adopted Strategy (Ordinance 10-1244B) boundaries, the data reflects mixed- Based on suggestions from local that proposes a coordinated use residential and commercial jurisdiction staff and other approach to target investments areas for analysis purposes within stakeholders, the second edition for the most effective use of public the vicinity of the center on the of the State of the Centers report and private resources within each 2040 Growth Concept map. includes additional measures to community in the context of help communities understand broader regional needs. The 2009 report displayed in how their centers are performing, graphic form different places including information on jobs, The 2011 edition of the State of along a spectrum of activity income and transportation use. the Centers report is intended to by illustrating the relationship New in this year’s report is the help identify investment needs by between populations that live or visual representation of seven illustrating current conditions and work in a center and the number characteristics of a successful providing a comparison for centers of urban amenities – a retail outlet center and the relative strength across the region. or service that supports urban of each compared to the region. lifestyles and preferences – in each. Another feature is the addition of The activity spectrum identified six comparative data for a one-mile Looking forward districts within the Portland city buffer zone, measured from the Future editions of the State of the limits that each represent a type center’s boundary. Centers report will be increasingly of center, providing a reference web-based, allowing the data to point for local jurisdictions to use Not surprisingly, as communities be updated regularly to better to guide their own aspirations for evolve aspirations for centers monitor the performance of a their center. change. The 2011 report reflects center in meeting desired outcomes the change in 2010 of the for vibrant communities, jobs, Tanasbourne Town Center to a transportation choices, greenhouse 2011 State of the Centers report regional center, the addition of gas reduction and equity. New Although economic conditions Cornelius Town Center and the 2010 census data and other sources have slowed both nationally relocation of the Happy Valley will continue to be reviewed and regionally in the past three Town Center. and included, as relevant, while years, the region continues to see retaining key measures that will incremental investments in its allow for comparisons over time. urban centers. In a time of limited Metro is open to suggestions for funding, it has become increasingly improving the presentation of data important to target investments or in defining new measures for evaluating performance. 2011 State of the Centers 5 About the data Measuring performance of a center The data displayed in the profiles process. As part of the Community the capacity of organizations for regional and town centers help Investment Strategy, Metro representing diversity to have measure a center’s performance established policies in the an active role in the commu- in achieving local aspirations and Urban Growth Management nity. regional goals. Communities can Functional Plan that give priority use the State of the Centers report for regional investments, such The information provided in to help determine the extent to as future high capacity transit, the State of the Centers report which their centers have developed to those communities that have about exisiting conditions in as the walkable, transit-oriented, taken the steps to promote center each community can help inform active, diverse and economically development. These steps include: a range of decisions, actions strong center they originally • analyzing physical and market and priorities in local capital envisioned. By comparing the barriers to development goals improvement plans, transportation measures to local aspirations and and identifying an action plan system plans, housing