TASK 1: EXISTING CONDITIONS
Analysis of existing building stock, environmental features, and amenities, along with review of relevant plans, policies, and code provides a context in which our recommendations can be understood. This work also guided the stakeholder and community engagement process (Task 3) and directly informed opportunities and constraints (Task 5). Finally, an understanding of current conditions is useful as a baseline for comparing progress over time.
Current Conditions
Oregon City is the oldest incorporated U.S. city west of the Rockies and the former seat of the Oregon Territory. Although initially the center of commerce and government in Oregon, Oregon City lost ground to Portland, which had become the economic and population hub of the state by the early 1900s. The historic mill town is now in the process of reinventing itself and considering opportunities to revitalize its economic and residential opportunities. Under Metro’s 2040 Growth Concept, Oregon City should be serving as the regional center for the greater Southeast Portland Metro area. From Oregon City’s comprehensive plan (2004): the city aims to “revitalize the residential aspects of Downtown... and implement a vision of the Downtown area as a regional center (p.11).”
Within the past few years a number of positive changes have taken place in downtown Oregon City, including a conversion of Main Street to a two-way street and the addition of 46 new businesses. Recent studies have explored site-specific adaptive reuse; however, there is no up-to-date strategy for increasing residential activity in downtown Oregon City.
Within the past few years a number of positive changes have taken place in downtown Oregon City, including a conversion of Main Street to a two-way street and the addition of 46 new businesses. Recent studies have explored site-specific adaptive reuse; however, there is no up-to-date strategy for increasing residential activity in downtown Oregon City.
This Task Includes the FOllowing:
- Overview of relevant municipal code
- Review of current land use and built environment downtown
- Overview of plans and studies relevant to downtown Oregon City