Neighborhoods and cultural resources are ‘key themes’
By Cari Hachmann/ The Portland Observer
Projecting significant population and traffic growth near central Portland’s Lloyd District until 2035, the city has adopted two new plans to prepare for future land and transportation impacts in the area.
“There are real signs of strength in the Lloyd District right now, and this project will help us capitalize on that strength,” said Mayor Sam Adams.
Talks started between the city and Oregon Department of Transportation to create a district plan for the Lower Albina and Lloyd Districts while also addressing safety conditions on the I-5 freeway and local streets near the Broadway and Weidler interchange.
The results were the N/NE Quadrant Plan and the I-5 Broadway/Weidler Facility Plan working in sync to focus on preserving the industrial and employment character of Lower Albina, concentrating high-density development in the Lloyd District, while focusing on new residential development and amenities needed for a full-service neighborhood.”
While the project’s investment firm, Langley Investment Property, confirms that Lloyd District’s cosmetic make over is already underway, the company’s president and chief executive officer Scott Langley says the land use plan will need to address a few “key themes”.
Like, “providing sensitive transitions to historic neighborhoods and protecting the remaining cultural resources in the area,” Langley said.
Lloyd Lindley, the co-chair of a stakeholder’s advisory group, said the edges of the quadrant posed special challenges because they are the interface historic and vibrant neighborhoods.
“It was no easy task, but we found amicable and design-based solutions that will help the Design Commission and the Landmarks Commission approve future development applications,” said Lindley.
Addressing the crowded freeway interchanges near the Rose Garden, the plans call for adding auxiliary lanes and full-width shoulders from the Fremont Bridge to the I-84 interchange, an improvement that is forecast to reduce crashes on this section of I-5 by 30 to 50 percent.
The city proposes rebuilding overpasses with lids over the freeway, which could be used for development or open space, new connections over the freeway, and additional and safer pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
The city will present the I-5 Broadway/Weidler Facility Plan to the Oregon Transportation Commission in December.
Members of the N/NE Quadrant Stakeholder Advisory Committee have worked with interested community members and land use and transportation planners to develop the both plans over the past two years.
The 30-member SAC includes representatives from neighborhood groups; local businesses and business groups; the Lloyd Center Mall; the Rose Quarter; and bicycle, pedestrian, freight and environmental advocates.
