Fostering Local Culture and Business in Portland

The future of thriving global cities lies in nurturing local businesses and vibrant social cultures. In District 3, we must sustain and curate our unique main streets—Hawthorne, Belmont, Clinton, Burnside, 28th, Montavilla, Woodstock, etc. —where small businesses flourish and provide a true taste of Portland. These human-sized main street areas offer the rich art, food, pub, and music culture that set us apart from other cities.

Local businesses depend on robust ecosystems to thrive, and we must prioritize locally owned buildings and businesses to maintain our dynamic retail/restaurant scene. While new housing is essential, it should be thoughtfully integrated to enhance, not overshadow, our neighborhoods. We can employ adaptive reuse strategies and context-based zoning to ensure new developments complement the character of our districts.

As we face the risk of losing our cultural heritage to generic corporate complexes, it's crucial to recognize the economic vitality local culture brings. By preserving our unique neighborhoods, we not only protect our creative class but also bolster tourism and job opportunities for all residents. Thriving cities in the 21st century will prioritize quality of life and we need to create policy that safeguards our invaluable cultural assets for future generations.