Lower Southeast Rising—A New Path for SE Portland
The City of Portland recently revealed preliminary plans for a project that would transform a large section of Southeast Portland from a quiet, residential neighborhood into a denser neighborhood with more businesses and transit options. Called Lower Southeast Rising, the plan would impact the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood as well as parts of Woodstock, Lents, and Mt. Scott/Arleta.
The targeted area is more residential than much of Portland, lacking the concentration of local businesses that are a part of so many Eastside neighborhoods. The area has fewer bike lanes, sidewalks, and bus lines, making it harder to get around without a car. There’s also a lack of multi-family housing, and a much smaller tree canopy than other neighborhoods. There are historic reasons for many of these issues, and the Mercury does a great job explaining some of the backstory.
The Lower Southeast Rising plan would address many of these issues. It would seek to :
Increase the density of housing by allowing for more units to be built on some pieces of land
Rezone some parts for commercial use, to encourage businesses to come to the neighborhood
Rebuild SE Woodstock from 52nd to Foster, adding more pedestrian crossings and improving / adding bike lanes
Turn multiple side streets into neighborhood greenways, with traffic diverters and speed humps to discourage cars and encourage bikes
Increase the tree canopy through a pilot program to repurpose some parking into street trees
As with any plan, feedback from residents has been mixed, with some people excited about the changes and other people expressing hesitation. People can provide written feedback now, and can provide testimony when the plan goes before City Council on April 25 at 2pm.
