Pace, Process and Product at PDC

An op-ed in today’s Oregonian by developer John Russell and Walsh Construction president Bob Walsh provides an antidote to the condemnation of Portland Development Commission pseudo-scandals over the past year:

“The mayor and the PDC leadership need to resolve to break the deadlock on vital Portland projects, including a headquarters hotel for conventions, the Midtown Block park project, the Lents urban renewal area, the Skidmore district malaise, Vanport Plaza and a Central Eastside vision, among many others. And the rest of us need to evaluate their successes on more than the lack of embarrassments. We need to demand progress and results.”

Not only am I glad to see the community getting over the bruhaha, but Walsh and Russel bring up an interesting question: Is the pace of PDC development projects fast enough? I’m not necessarily saying it isn’t. But recently a friend of mine who works for the city argued to me that Martin Luther King Boulevard has actually been stifled because there are a number of PDC-owned properties that have lagged for too long without being developed.

I can only assume people at PDC would retort that certain processes have to be followed in order to make sure community members and other stakeholders are able to help shape projects in their area. And that’s indeed true. But if you take a look at MLK, and then by comparison at North Mississippi and/or Alberta, private sector development on the latter two streets has happened a lot faster.

This is something I’ve alluded to in several recent posts, but I wonder if a future vision for PDC would be to make product the focus as much as process. It’s important to involve the community and really listen to their feedback, as Burnside Bridgehead reminded us. But whether it’s the pace of building projects or what they look like when they’re finished, getting good buildings done should be the ultimate goal.

Comments

[Justin]

Well, I guess the question really comes down to:

what is the purpose of the PDC when investing in projects?

possible answers:
-provide low-income housing
-provide office space in a rundown area
-bring developer confidence to an area by setting a precedent
-reconstruct an entire district of the city

How realistic is it to expect the PDC by itself to achieve some of these goals? All of them?
Or is the reality having the PDC, the untamed gorilla, getting developers and investors involved in the city reason enough to justify its actions by 'stirring things up a bit?'

[Eric Berg]

I read the op-ed yesterday and this stood out:

"Their [PDC staff] only value to taxpayers is their ability to invest public funds in such a way that the property tax base of the city is increased."

Not the use of the word 'only'. Apparently, Russell and Walsh have never read what he the PDC says it's about:

"The Portland Development Commission’s Vision is to be a catalyst for positive change in the creation of a world-class 21st Century city; a city in which economic prosperity, quality housing and employment opportunities are available to all.

Our Mission is to bring together resources to achieve Portland's vision of a diverse, sustainable community with healthy neighborhoods, a vibrant urban core, a strong regional economy and quality jobs for all citizens."

[Eric Berg]

I meant "Note the use of the word 'only'."

[Ray Whitford]

I see results (Burnside Bridgehead, OCC HQ Hotel, Central Eastside Industrial District, MLK) as being wanting. Lack of speed and vision and the PDC seems to be the local filter that gets only certain developers always having the "inside track".

I don't know the answer to this because the vision statement is fine but the execution is what the region needs from the most important development/re-development organization.

Does the PDC ever look at other cities development commissions and work for Best Practices and Continuous Improvement? Do they have internal audits and external observations? Where is the documentation? This government organization needs alot of light shown on it.

Ray Whitford