re: #168 researchok

We also need to rethink how we design our cities.

See this.

The reason Portland is so easy to get around in, our Urban growth Boundary

Real estate and construction

Video of Portland’s Urban Growth boundary. The red dots indicate areas of growth between 1986 and 1996. (larger size)
Oregon’s 1973 “urban growth boundary” law limits the boundaries for large scale development in each metropolitan area in Oregon.[67] This limits access to utilities such as sewage, water and telecommunications, as well as coverage by fire, police and schools.[67] Originally this law mandated that the city must maintain enough land within the boundary to provide an estimated 20 years of growth, however in 2007 the legislature altered the law to require the maintenance of an estimated 50 years of growth within the boundary, as well as the protection of accompanying farm and rural lands.[68]
The growth boundary, along with efforts of the PDC to create economic development zones, has led to the development of a large portion of downtown, a large number of mid- and high-rise developments, and an overall increase in housing and business density.[69][70] In October, 2009, the Forbes magazine rated Portland as the 3rd safest city in America.[71]

Which is definitely big government, and definitely something I approve of. Because this city rocks. And it rocks because it has density, it isn’t sprawl