Monday Mailing
Year 20 • Issue 42 21 July 2014 1. Backyard Homes Are Almost as Car-Lite as Apartments on transit Lines, Study Finds 2. Slow Food, Slow Cities 3. How City Park Design Contributes to Resident Health 4. Online Tool Helps Find Opportunities for Bike/Pedestrian Project Funding 5. Gender Gap Discussions 6. Why Monsanto Will Never Rule the Food World 7. Son of Columbia River Crossing: Madore Floats New Bridge Plan 8. Why Oregonians' Incomes Lag Behind the National Average 9. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sees Critical Role for Oregon on Local Food, Renewable Fronts 10. The World-Changing Ideas Of 2014 11. Funding Opportunities 1. Backyard Homes Are Almost as Car-Lite as Apartments on transit Lines, Study Finds When it comes to cars, accessory units in backyards and basements are nearly as low-impact as big apartment buildings next to bus lines. That’s the conclusion of a new state-funded analysis (PDF) that combines the results of a survey of Portland accessory dwelling owners with other recent studies to start examining one of Portland’s newest real estate trends.
Quote of the Week: “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.” ~John Ray
Oregon Fast Fact: The world's oldest shoes, 9,000-year-old sandals made of sagebrush and bark, were found at Fort Rock Cave in central Oregon in 1938.
The average rental unit in Portland brings 1.31 cars on site, according to the U.S. Census. For transit-oriented apartment buildings, that falls to 0.83 cars — and for accessory dwelling units, it’s 0.93 cars. To access the full story, click here. 2. Slow Food, Slow Cities She lives in a condo. She walks to work. She’s a member of a car-share program. In summer, she grows vegetables and herbs in pots on her south-facing balcony. In winter, every third Thursday she meets with girlfriends to discuss the novel they’re reading, or perhaps uses that as an excuse to drink wine and share a laugh about changing workout regimens, colleagues, an argument with a partner. She buys her clothes down the street from a retailer that brings in Canadian designed and produced fashion. Some of her wares she makes by hand. Although she’s not associated with a specific group or association, she’s a part of the “slow” revolution. Slow food, slow homes, slow science, slow love making. There are numerous performances within the “slow” narrative, but all are generally aligned to resist or act against the dominant paradigm of speed in our contemporary times — fast food, fast cars, immediate gratification. But within the complex system of our click and consume culture, there are emergent acts — often unconscious acts of resistance Page 1 of 5