EVALUATING IMPACT: THE ALBERTA MAIN STREET PROGRAM’S EFFECT ON PROSPERITY, VIBRANCY, AND EQUITY IN PORTLAND, OREGON
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Date
2018
Authors
Lau, Alexandra
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management, University of Oregon
Abstract
The Main Street Program is one major policy tool used to meet the City of Portland’s goal to create prosperous, equitable, and vibrant neighborhoods. Literature reveals that existing evaluation of the Main Street Program at local, state, and national levels focuses solely on changes in prosperity such as dollars invested in physical improvements. This project defines metrics to evaluate changes in equity and vibrancy then applies these metrics to the Alberta Main Street Program. Metrics to evaluate vibrancy focus on changes to the built environment while equity metrics evaluate socioeconomic changes. Research was conducted through a longitudinal study of NE Alberta St from the start of the program in 2010 to 2016. Methods include collecting field observations, analyzing GIS data, analyzing U.S. Census data, and interviews with business owners. Findings indicate positive changes to vibrancy such as increases in active uses of space, good physical maintenance, and presence of street element details. Additional findings show there has not been a positive effect on equity due to the concurrent large residential displacement of historically marginalized people and inequitable access for resources to business owners. The City of Portland claims the Main Street Program is a positive force for equity, but this project sheds light on the lack of evaluation to support these claims. Future research should focus on if the Main Street Program should be used to meet equity goals or if other programs would be more suitable.
Description
80 pages
Keywords
Main Street Program, Equity, Vibrancy, Prosperity, Urban Design