Transforming SW Harvey Milk and Oak

Downtown to the Waterfront:
Transforming SW Harvey Milk and Oak
Mass Timber, Queer Culture, Housing and Urban Play
Open House 3-6 pm, Friday, December 12
Presentation: 4:30 pm
JK Gill Building, 408 SW Fifth Avenue

City of Possibility is pleased to present the second in our series of workshops to re-envision downtown’s connection to Waterfront Park: Transforming the Harvey Milk/Oak Corridor.
Join us to see the ideas generated so far and add yours!

No two streets arguably have as much potential—along with some challenges—as Harvey Milk and Oak to become the kind of live/work/play urban neighborhood that will be the next chapter of downtown Portland’s evolution:The streets stretch from Powell’s Books and the burgeoning West End through the coming Darcelle XV and Pride plazas to the Willamette RiverThey intersect both the future Green Loop and the current “I-5 of fiber”–major bandwidth and durable power for tech developmentThere are four potential office-residential conversion opportunities and eight surface parking lots primed to sprout housing and space for innovationThey end at an underdeveloped portion of Waterfront Park–a prime spot for a major new amenity: an artwork, playground or . . . tell us what the city needs!

Background:


With the announcement of a major Metro grant for design competition for an event facility at the “Hawthorne Bowl” (location for the Waterfront Blues Festival), City of Possibility saw an opportunity to rethink all of Waterfront Park and the downtown’s connection to it.


In March, we held the first Downtown to the Waterfront Workshop bringing key personnel from planning, parks, transportation, and Prosper Portland together with leading urban designers and other creative minds for a major rethink. In October, we brought one America’s most respected urbanists, Carol Coletta, to share her experiences redeveloping the waterfront of her hometown, Memphis.


Since then the design competition has been expanded to the entire park and the other bureaus have been studying options. City of Possibility is continuing its advocacy and its convening to imagine new neighborhoods and a new kind of Waterfront Park.


Join with us!

Portland Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PBOT)

The Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) advises the city and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) on all matters that encourage and enhance walking as a means of transportation, recreation, wellness, and environmental enhancement.

December 16th meeting page

12/16/25 Meeting Agenda

6:00-6:10 – Public Comment (10 min)

6:10-6:30 – Committee Business (20 min)

  • Fatal Crash Report
  • Hot Topics

6:30-7:00 – Committee Discussion (30 min)
Tabitha Boschetti, PAC Co-chair
The committee will consider their funding goals with the ongoing transportation funding gaps, and how to share those goals with City Council.

7:00-7:35 – Work time (35 min)
PAC Co-chairs
The committee will work on a letter about safety concerns and funding requests.

7:35-7:50 – 82nd transit BAT lanes (15 min)
PAC Co-chairs
The committee will continue their discussion about BAT lanes on 82nd Avenue that began in November and consider whether to write a letter on the topic and to whom it should be addressed.

7:50-8:00 – Public Comment (10 min)

8:00 – Adjourn

Oregon Transportation Commission Meeting

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OTC Website

December 11 Meeting Summary and agenda links

The OTC is ODOT’s boss. In other words, the OTC, “establishes state transportation policy. The commission also guides the planning, development and management of a statewide integrated transportation network that provides efficient access, is safe, and enhances Oregon’s economy and livability.” 

12/11/25 meeting agenda summary:

  • Rose Quarter update: Receive an update on the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project funding and project development progress, including next steps.
  • HB 3991 Implementation: Receive a status update on efforts to implement HB 3991. Discuss implementation highlights and provide input.
  • Strategic Action Plan Progress Report: Receive an update on the 2025 progress report of the 2024-2028 Strategic Action Plan, and a preview of next steps to adapt the plan to developments in 2025.
  • Office of Engagement and Civil Rights updates. Receive an informational update on Workforce Development Programs and Small Business Development.

Portland Neighbors Welcome Annual Gathering

Portland Neighbors Welcome: “We are dedicated to ensuring that every present and future Portlander can find and keep a safe, stable home they can afford.”

at White Owl Social Club (1305 SE 8th Ave)
Event Website

Celebrate a big year for Portland Neighbors Welcome and help kick off an even bigger 2026.

Join members, partners, and local allies for a casual gathering with a short program: year-in-review highlights, a look ahead to 2026 campaigns, member recognition, and a fundraising moment to power our work.

Bike/Ped Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting (Mult Co)

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Committee website

Dec 10th meeting agenda is below

  1. Welcome and Introductions
    Land Acknowledgement
    Introductions
    (10 minutes) ………………………………………………………………………………………6:00 pm
  2. Opportunity for Public Comment
    (10 minutes if submitted) ………………………………………………………………………..6:10 pm
  3. Chair Report – Andrew Holtz, BPCAC
    (5 minutes) ………………………………………………………………………………………..6:20 pm
  4. Review and Adoption of August 2025 Meeting Minutes – All (Action Item)
    (5 minutes) ………………………………………………………………………………………..6:25 pm
  5. Gorge Transportation Updates – Terra Lingley, ODOT
    (25 minutes) ………………………..……………………………………………………….……6:30 pm
  6. Burnside Bridge Update – Megan Neill, Multnomah County
    (25 minutes) ………………………………………………………………………………………7:00 pm
  7. TSAP Update and Letter of Support to EMCTC – All (Action Item)
    (15 minutes) ………………………………………………………………………………………7:25 pm
  8. Staff Updates – MaryJo Andersen, Multnomah County
    (10 minutes) ………………………………………………………………………………………7:40 pm
  9. Open Share/Project Updates/Other Business – All
    (5 minutes) ………………………………………………………………………………………..7:50 pm
    Next BPCAC meeting: January 14, 2026, 6-8pm

Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting (PBOT)

The 20-member volunteer Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) meets monthly to review projects of interest to cyclists and discuss bike issues. The committee advises the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) as well as city council and other bureaus on all biking-related matters.

Meets on second Tuesday of each month (not this month because of Veterans Day Holiday) from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Meetings are hybrid via Zoom and in person at Suite 216 of the Portland Building (1120 SW 5th Avenue)

Committee website

Committee member roster

December Meeting Agenda:

PDF version of the agenda can be found on the December meeting webpage. Zoom registration link here.

Announcements (6:00-6:15)

  • Vision Zero Update
  • Committee member hot topics

Public Comment (6:15-6:20) 

Report on Advisory Bicycle Lanes (6:20-6:50)
In 2023 PBOT advanced on its long-held interest in advancing advisory bicycle lanes. The ABL’s were Implemented in four locations and thoroughly evaluated, with two included in a formal Federal Highway Administration Request to Experiment process. PBOT staff will present the findings for this promising treatment.

Retreat Action Items Follow-Up (6:50-7:20)
A committee discussion to follow up on November’s meeting that identified clear action items related to the goals of the committee’s February retreat. The goal will be to identify committee members willing to help bring the actions to life.

Advocates Forum Planning (7:20-7:50)
BAC leadership is interested in hosting a future BAC meeting in the form of a forum for advocates working in Portland on advancing bicycling. Committee discussion about how to best achieve, structure and organize it.

Public Comment (7:50-8:00)

Adjourn (8:00)

Portland Freight Advisory Committee Meeting (PBOT)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Freight Advisory Committee, formed February 2003, serves as an advisory group to the Portland Bureau of Transportation and City Council on issues related to freight mobility. Includes community member volunteers and public agency representatives at the local, state, and federal level.

12/4 Zoom meeting registration

12/4 meeting agenda

8:30 AM – Welcome and Introductions
Jana Jarvis / All

8:35 AM – Hot Topics, Points of Interest
Jana Jarvis / All
PFC members report on current activities from their respective industry and agencies.

• Vision Zero updates – Leeor Schweitzer

8:55 AM – Columbia River Rail Crossing
Johan Hellman, BNSF’s Gov’t Affairs for PNW
BNSF will discuss the current status and long-term viability of their Columbia River Rail crossing.

9:20 AM – Union Pacific Update
Aaron Hunt, Senior Director, Public Affairs, Pacific Northwest
Union Pacific will give a general update and discuss current operations and trends.

9:45 AM – Central City Code Amendments Project Update
Nicholas Starin, BPS
BPS Staff will share an update on the Central City Amendments Project which is exploring ways to foster more housing and support business activity in the city core.

10:05 AM – Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub
Tom Armstrong, BPS
BPS staff will discuss the Proposed Draft to update Comprehensive Plan policies and development rules to address issues related to bulk liquid fuel facilities in the CEI Hub.

10:25 AM – Public Comments
Jana Jarvis
Members of the public can provide comment and ask questions to the committee and staff.

10:30 AM – Adjourn

Links:

Strong Towns PDX District 2 Monthly Meetup

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Strong Towns PDX website

Event info:

I’m excited to share that we’re continuing with a District 2 Strong Towns monthly meeting! 

We’re meeting on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 PM at Radio Room on NE 11th and Alberta Street. (Happy hour ends at 6pm, Minors allowed until 8pm.)

Our first meetup will be this coming Monday, December 1st at 5:30pm. We’ll stay at least until 7:30pm, feel free to drop in when you can.

This will be a space for those of us who live in District 2 to connect and talk about what’s working well in our neighborhoods, what’s not, and what actions we can take to make our community better. This is a chance to collaborate on issues more focused on North and (inner) Northeast Portland. More locally—in the true Strong Towns spirit.

Whether you’ve been involved with Strong Towns for a while or are new, we’d love to see you there!

Feel free to RSVP (: respond yes 🙂 to help us gauge headcount, or just show up!

In Community,
Allan Rudwick
District 2 Strong Towns Member & STPDX Admin

Oregon Transportation Safety Committee (ODOT)

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Check committee website for 12/10 meeting agenda

From ODOT:

The Transportation Safety Committee is created within the Department of Transportation to advise the department and the Oregon Transportation Commission concerning the functions described under ORS 802.310 and to perform any other functions related to transportation safety that the commission delegates. The committee established under this section shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the commission.

Oregon Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting (ODOT)

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12/3 meeting Zoom link

12/3 meeting agenda

Visit OBPAC website

From ODOT:

The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, or OBPAC, is an eight-member committee appointed by the governor that acts as a liaison between the public and Oregon Department of Transportation. It advises ODOT in the regulation of bicycle and pedestrian traffic, the establishment of bikeways and walkways, and other statewide bicycle and pedestrian issues. The committee meets six times a year in various locations around the state to support implementation of the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and listen to the views and concerns of interested citizens, local officials and ODOT staff.

Region 1 Area Commission on Transportation Meeting (ODOT)

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Links:

According to ODOT, “The Region 1 Area Commission on Transportation, also known as R1ACT, is an advisory body established to provide a forum for stakeholders to collaborate on transportation issues affecting Oregon Department of Transportation Region 1. R1ACT is intended to strengthen state and local partnerships in transportation planning, programming and development. The primary mission of R1ACT is to advise the OTC on state and regional policies affecting ODOT Region 1’s transportation system.”