False Promises: Portland's Downtown

The Portland Business Alliance does an annual survey of all downtown businesses. It shows both the strengths and weaknesses of Portland's downtown.

Here are some things the we think Portland's planners don't brag about to visiting delegations

Page 3 Downtown gained 167 businesses and lost 4008 jobs between 2001 and 2005
Page 4 Downtown's top 3 employers are government, as are five of the top ten
Page 7 45% of businesses feel impacted by Public Inebriates, Transients and Vagrants
Page 8 45% of businesses feel impacted by Effects of Graffiti and Vandalism
Page 9 33% list Cost of Parking as Factor that Need Improvement

"

22% list Availability of Parking as a Factor that Need Improvement

Page 11 Downtown Employees Getting to Work by BUS decreased 9% (from 25 to 23%)

"

Downtown Employees Getting to Work by MAX Light Rail decreased 43% (from 20 to 14%)

"

Downtown Employees Getting to Work by DRIVE ALONE INCREASED 10% (from 44 to 48%)  

"

Downtown Employees Getting to Work by walking and biking doubled from a small base (2%-4%, 3%-6%)