Figure 17 - Portland's Investment Strategy to prioritize strategic neighbourhoods (Source: Portland Urban Design Framework, 2014)
For the application of the FMC, a 20-minute neighbourhood initial index was created to measure the status of existing neighbourhoods w.r.t 20-minute neighbourhoods (Refer figure 16). This analysis was based on three factors • • •
Distance (by walk). Destinations (to grocery stores, restaurant, retail, schools and parks, transit access) Density (to support selected amenities, 12-18 household per acre minimum density was calculated)
According to the preliminary analysis, only 6% of the city population lived in 20-minute neighbourhoods in the red hotspots (city centre and inner neighbourhoods), while 69% in areas which were least characteristic of 20-minute neighbourhoods, mostly eastern neighbourhoods. The city targets 80% of the population living within 20-minute neighbourhoods (City of Portland- Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, 2008; City of Portland, 2015a, p. 136). The Portland plan acknowledges that some residential areas, for example, western neighbourhoods with large number of natural areas cannot be 20-minute neighbourhoods as increasing density and installing infrastructure will compromise the environmental function of these areas. The index highlights that the city centre and the inner neighbourhoods are the hotspots of 20-minute walkable neighbourhoods while the eastern neighbourhoods are the challenging areas due to vulnerable populations, low density, and low transit connectivity. (Bureau of Planning and Sustainability- City of Portland, 2014)
55
