What is the Urban Design Framework?

DRAFT

A map of the city that illustrates the direction and future aspirations for the
citys physical environment, identifying areas of change and future connections,
along with major built, natural, and cultural features.

URBAN DESIGN CONCEPT

08.30.12

1 Central River

The Willamette River is the primary

organizing feature of the Central
City, with vibrant bridgehead locations, access and activities on and
along it, and two bookend riverfront districts.

What is urban design?

Urban design is a process that shapes and

designs the built environment into great livable places, connections, and
neighborhoods over time. The practice of urban design explores the physical,
cultural, and experiential qualities and future aspirations of places,
integrating the objectives of many stakeholders and the community at large.

2 Distinct Districts

The Central City features a diverse

range of districts and places, offering
opportunities to cultivate creative,
economic and social innovation and
exchange. The districts have strong
east-west orientations, linking them
to the riverfront as well as to the surrounding communities.

3 Connected Public Realm

The Central City is connected by a
series of loops: the greenway and
streetcar loops and a pedestrianbicycle loop that provides quieter
access throughout the Central City.
The street network offers a set of
character choices: active, busy commercial experiences and greener
east-west connections that link open
spaces and the Willamette River.

2
3

What is its purpose?

To describe the citys growth strategy and approach

CC2035 Central City

Urban Design Concept,
2012

2008 North Interstate Corridor

Urban Design Concept

Many streets and areas throughout Portland reflect past efforts by the broader community
and the City to be more intentional about growth and change. An urban design concept
or framework is a tool used to guide future change and growth that helps to illustrate the
communitys future aspirations.

To prioritize public investments

To help guide decision-making

What does it build on?

The urban design framework builds on the citys existing places and helps the
city chart a course toward its future physical form. The framework will update
Metros 2040 Growth Strategy, which illustrates where growth and change
should occur. Building vibrant urban districts and connected natural areas helps
implement objectives in the Citys Climate Action Plan and the Portland Plan.
The Portland Plan envisions a prosperous, educated, healthy, equitable and
resilient city. The Healthy Connected City strategy includes a concept diagram
that lays the foundation for the urban design framework map.

The Metro 2040 Growth Strategy illustrates where growth and change should be allocated throughout the region. The Urban Design Framework will
clarify specifically where to focus growth within the city of Portland, and how the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan apply across the city.
This framework will guide changes to the existing Comprehensive Plan map, which includes taxlot-specific zoning.

What is in the framework?

The Urban Design Framework includes four big ideas:
Centers: Focusing growth and change
Connections: Linking a healthy city
Natural Features: Growing our natural resources
Pattern Areas: Recognizing that one size does not fit all
The map shows a combination of existing conditions on the ground and future
aspirations based on the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan.

The Healthy Connected City Strategy

diagram from the Portland Plan,
illustrated a network of hubs and
connections throughout the city.

medical institutions
educational institutions

existing commercial areas

(potential neighborhood centers)

Town centers (potential)

Town centers (Metro 2040)

Gateway Regional Center

Central City

waterbodies
deep navigation channel

habitat corridors

parks and open spaces (over 10 acres)

major topographic features

(over 350)

NATURAL FEATURES

CONNECTIONS
civic corridors
greenways
light rail
future HCT line
heavy rail

CENTERS

Western
Neighborhoods

Central City
Inner Neighborhoods
Eastern Neighborhoods
River & Industrial

PATTERN AREAS

LEGEND

30% DRAFT

Note on Commercial areas :

> Dark red bars reflect the existing neighborhood
business districts that represent areas with a
greater degree of commercial services and may be
the basis of Town or Neighborhood Centers.

Note on Town Centers:

> Circles with solid lines are currently designated as
Town Centers in the Metro 2040 Growth Concept.
> Dashed circles are additional centers that have
characteristics of Town Centers, as described in the
draft centers typology.

Urban Design Framework

deep navigation channel

waterbodies

major topographic
features (over 350)
parks and open spaces
(over 10 acres)
habitat corridors

NATURAL FEATURES

LEGEND

Habitat Corridors are a system of habitat

connections and linked tree canopies that benefit
both wildlife and people by weaving nature into the
city and connecting large natural areas.

Major topographic features include ridges, buttes,

and hills that define the landscape and are visible
from many vantage points

Major natural areas and open spaces include

regional, state, or large local parks.

Portland contains five major watersheds,

representing its largest urban waterbodies: Columbia
Slough, the Willamette River, Johnson Creek, Fanno
Creek, and Tryon Creek.

Connecting people to natural areas and open spaces

and linking habitat areas together strengthens the
human and ecological health of the city.

Portlands regional context

RD

Growing our natural resources

ES
ITOL HWY

VD

SE TACOMA ST

Natural Features

BL

AP

IDE D

The patterns of Portlands streets and blocks are also influenced

by topography and physical features.

Inner Neighborhood Example

ER S

Land use

SW

BU
AR

SW C

ST

R IV

The character and form of the city varies across its

geography. The five pattern areas serve as a basis to
help the City better tailor how policies, future growth,
and development respond to the needs, character, and
positive qualities of different parts of the city.

SWNI

CLAY

CENT

NECN

NE BROADWAY

SW

WESTERN
NEIGHBORHOODS

EASTERN
NEIGHBORHOODS

SW BEA V ERTON H ILLSDALE HWY

SW

405

AVE

INNER
NEIGHBORHOODS

26

NW VAUGHN ST

N LOMBARD ST

DAM

CENTRAL
CITY

VD

NM

CA

RD

SEUL

NE LOMBA
ST

84

NE POR

CNN

DH
W
Y

SE HARMONY

RD

SE POWELL BLVD

TLAN

205

S E SUN NY SIDE RD

205

EPNO

SE WASHINGTON ST

205

SE FOSTER RD

I RP

BLVD

NE A

NE SANDY

84

OR T

WA Y

NE MARINE

SE DIVISION ST

DR

NE 181ST AVE

NE 82ND AVE

SW MURRAY BLVD

SE STARK ST

BURN

NW DIVISION ST

NW

SIDE

RD

NE DIVISION ST

1971 - 1980

1991 - Present

1961 - 1970

The information on this map was derived from City of Portland

GIS databases. Care was taken in the creation of this map
but it is provided "as-is". The City of Portland cannot accept
any reponsibility for error, omissions, or positional accuracy,
and therefore, there are no warranties which accompany this
product. However, notification of any errors will be appreciated.

SWNI - Southwest Neighbors, Inc.

SEUL - Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition

NWNW - Neighbors West/Northwest

NPNS - North Portland Neighborhood Services

NECN - Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods

EPNO - East Portland Neighborhood Office

CNN - Central Northeast Neighborhood

CENT - Central City

Coalitions

1931 - 1940

1981 - 1990

1941 - 1950

1921 - 1930

1951 - 1960

1901 - 1910
1911 - 1920

1891 - 1900

Annexations
1851 - 1880
1881 - 1890

Metro Title 13 Resources

City of Portland Urban Service Boundary

City of Portland, Oregon // Bureau of Planning & Sustainability // Geographic Information System

205

405

205

Miles

Western Neighborhood Example

This view of the Central City from Oaks Bottom is a visual reminder that concentrating
growth and density in some areas helps to protect, expand, and strengthen our citys
natural resources.

Regional Habitat Map

The information on this map was derived from City of Portland GIS databases. Care was taken in the creation of this map
but it is provided "as is". The City of Portland cannot accept any responsibility for error, omissions or positional accuracy.

Metro Title 13 Inventory of Regionally Significant Riparian Corridors and Wildlife Habitat

Eastern Neighborhood Example

The Historic Streetcar Map from 1918 and Portlands Annexation History Map demonstrate that the pattern of blocks
and streets on the ground today were influenced by how and when areas were developed.

BL

RD

ES RD

BL

RD

HA
LL

RN

BRG

NWNW

NS

B IA

ENS

SW

217

O
P

BA

RD

JOH

City of Portland Annexation History

S W MA

Time period in which the area was developed

BLVD
RMINGTON RD

NW MURRAY
SW F A

SW

NW CORNELL

ST

CO
LU

RD
D
AN

N LOMBARD ST

NPNS

DR

HEL

Character of landscape

Form and intensity of development

RN

RIVER &
INDUSTRIAL

Street and block pattern

Topography and physical features

Portland is characterized by five broad Pattern Areas

defined by characteristics such as:

RTL
PO
N

RIN

AVE
N DENVER

MA

SE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD

NE 122ND AVE

Recognizing that one size does not fit all

SE 82ND AVE

Pattern Areas

BA
R

NW

FE R

ST

LLS

NW

HO

SC

BLVD

SW NAITO PKWY

G JR
NE 82ND AVE

K IN
SE 122ND AVE

R
THE
LU

SW

TIN

SE 182ND AVE

AR

medical institutions
educational institutions

existing commercial areas

(potential neighborhood centers)

town centers (potential)

town centers (Metro 2040)

Gateway Regional Center

Central City

CONNECTIONS

LEGEND

civic corridors

heavy rail

future HCT line

greenways
light rail

Linking a healthy city

Focusing growth and change

Connections

CENTERS

LEGEND

Centers

Greenways make up an accessible system of

pedestrian- and bike-friendly green streets and trails
that link centers, parks, schools, natural areas, and
other key community destinations.

High-Capacity Transit Corridors form a regional

system of connections, providing access to centers
and destinations, including the Portland International
Airport throughout the region.

Civic Corridors are the citys most prominent streets,

and often the widest. They connect centers, help
unify the city and region, and have the potential to be
distinctive civic places of community pride.

Portlands network of connections links centers,

neighborhoods, and open spaces to each other,
the Central City, and the region. This system offers
transportation choices, provides unique opportunities
for way-finding, and strengthens local identity.

Town Centers serve a number of neighborhoods

or districts, providing a wide range of commercial,
employment, and community services.

Gateway Regional Center is eastern Portlands

major center, serving the area and region with
employment and community services, accessible by
regional transit.

Central City serves as the regions premier center

with jobs, services, and civic and cultural institutions
that support the city and region. It plays an
important role in accommodating growth.

The city is organized around a hierarchy of centers

where activity and development are concentrated.
Each center is based on the functions it serves, level
of activity, and scale and patterns of development.

Civic Corridors may serve as the anchor of activity

within a Town or Neighborhood Center.

In 1921, Charles Cheney recommended a system of parks, including both active

and passive recreation, as well as four large wild park types. These parks were
all connected by a set of existing and new boulevards.

Civic corridors include the citys busiest streets. Many of these reflect areas that
have been zoned for commercial development and experience high rates of
collisions.

> 500

251 - 500

101 - 250

< 100

# of Crashes

Civic_Corridors

Crash Data: 2008 - 2011

Designated centers will serve as anchors to

neighborhoods, including concentrations
of commercial services and employment
opportunities, housing, and gathering places.

Potential town centers identified on the Urban Design Framework serve places with existing or emerging
concentrations of population, as identified on this map of residential density.

Greenways offer a quieter, green alternative to busy

civic corridors, with accessible pedestrian- and
bike-friendly connections.

Commercial zones

20 Minute Analysis. This hot spots map identifies a gradient of access to services
throughout the city. Hot spots orange, yellow, to white (hottest) reflect areas with a
greater degree of access, while magenta to blue areas have less access to services. These
services include grocery stores, parks, elementary schools, and frequent transit service.
The map also considers street connectivity, sidewalks, and topography.