Scot is in Portland, and of course checking out the district known as The Pearl.
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Old warehouses converted into Magical residential walk ups in Portland’s Pearl District.
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Apartment courtyard space at street level in Portland’s Pearl district blurs the lines between private and public realm.
Scot/Gordon – what say you about HOW the Pearl came to be?
During last year’s civic run-up, I was very intrigued by the Pearl as an Urban Renewal scheme – effectively leveraging a massive brownfield redevelopment’s potential, issuing a bond to pay for it and then using tax increment financing to pay off the bond: while actualizing public benefits like parks, amenities and social housing. I realize this kind of redevelopment arrangement is financially not permissible under the Vancouver Charter – but maybe it should be?
Hi Pete, sorry I don’t have this info not really my specialty. Frank Ducote is usually a good source for this type of info. Any thoughts Frank?
I love the Pearl District. Been going there for about a dozen years and have seen a lot of changes. Heading down again a few weeks.
I think of it as a giant Yaletown, but with amenities and units that are big enough and affordable enough for families. I think a lot of PDXers think it’s too ostentatious though. I remember being there years ago (when Vancouver houses were already over a million dollars), and there was an article in the local Portland paper freaking out that it’s just rich people living in their big $300,000 condos. Lol.
Portland reminds me a lot of Vancouver, say 15-20 years ago when the Vancouver stereotype was polar fleece, Gortex, and a camper van. Now, we’re the Lululemon, BMW, Ferrari city.
I don’t know how long Portland can hang on to its weird roots. As property values increase, a lot of the quirky, independent shops won’t be able to afford the rents and will get replaced by salons and chains. There used to be a great toy store in the Pearl — it disappeared a few years ago. Anyone ever remember a toy store being in downtown Vancouver?
It’s a weird contradiction. People who make a place interesting often have lowish incomes, so they go to affordable places. Then those people make it attractive and that attracts money. Then they can’t afford it anymore.
Kirk – You are back on in your description. I completely agree Portland is Vancouver 20 years ago, laid back, friendly and humble. It’s painful to spend time here and then have to travel back to the “new” Vancouver