City of Possibility invites you to “Streets of Possibility Part II” — Downtown to the River, Design Charette Presentations & Happy Hour

Join a group of Portland's most accomplished, talented urban designers and creative thinkers for a presentation of their work from a 1-day charrette looking at the potential of downtown's streets and better connecting them to the waterfront on Friday, June 13th, 4PM to 6PM. Remarks begin at 5PM.

There's a growing consensus that post-pandemic downtown Portland needs to be rethought as a neighborhood—a place to live and for locals to more routinely visit. We are bringing together urban designers and other creative thinkers to brainstorm transformative ideas, both short- and long-term.

Over 40 percent of downtown’s land lies in the public realm of streets. Waterfront Park is an underutilized asset most of the year. Join us to ponder the possibilities and inspire the thinking of elected, civic, and business leaders—and the community at large.

Key Questions

• Should we reconsider and reset Central City 2035 goals for the public realm in the post-Covid world?

• What might be the key east-west connections between Park Blocks/Green Loop, West End, cultural institutions and the Willamette River/Tom McCall Waterfront Park?

• Might there be a more vibrant hierarchy of streets?

• What are possible changes to Tom McCall Waterfront Park that could transform it into an amenity for downtown residents current and future?

4-6 pm: Happy Hour with leaders from City Hall, bureaus, and civic and business 

Later June: storefront exhibit and public event

Territory:

• West End to the Willamette River (including Waterfront Park)

• Old Town to South Auditorium

Facilitators:

• Shannon Simms, Mayer/Reed

• Mark Raggett, GBD

• Art Pearce, PBOT

• Charles Kelly, Green Urban Design

• Randy Gragg, PDX Design Collaborative