Portland Oregon August 9, 2016 - Photos and Diary - Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden is one of the prime tourist attractions in the city. Located in the West Hills at Washington Park, it consist of many acres of hillside covered in lush vegetation. The Japanese Garden is attached to other attractions such as the International Rose Garden and the Wildwood Trail. 

When you enter the Japanese Garden you will be greeted by several "rooms" or themes. Each are amazing and beautiful in their own right. The photo below is a large pond with a waterfall. In the pond are lots of large koi who are not afraid to swim over to you.

Due to the precipitation in the Pacific Northwest, moss grows with ease on the slopes, on the ground, and even on trees. All over the garden staff implements traditional design in the smallest of things such as fencing. Bamboo as a building material is used regularly here.

Another draw is the Rock Garden, showcasing the art of rock placement surrounded by white gravel. This is probably one of my favourite places to sit and contemplate. There are numerous benches scattered throughout but often they are occupied by romantic couples.

When you are in the Japanese Garden you are afforded an nice view of downtown Portland, located a short bus ride away. It really confirms this is a city of trees.

The design of the Japanese Gardens was supported by experts from Japan. You can tell due to the immense attention of detail and little surprises along the way. Gnarly trees sneak up on you only to disappear amongst the stand of hundreds of other trees within eye distance.

The Japanese Garden is a great place to unwind and learn a little bit about the culture. A definite must see.

Portland Oregon August 7, 2016 - Photos and Diary - Portland Highlights

Been here in Portland for several days. Here is a smattering of the many photos I took.

Southeast Portland isn't the best parts of the city to visit, but you definitely see the real side where residents are poor and many can't afford to even rent a bedroom. 

East Portland on the other hand is a community in constant intensification due  to the gentrification here. Vacant and underused lots are redeveloped for multiple dwellings. Sometimes, not everyone is on board with this change. Some are vocal than others. 

However, redevelopment can take the form of adaptive reuse. This historic building is used for commercial uses with a hair salon, office, and an art gallery on the ground floor. 

In order to beautify the community public art is becoming more prevalent. At OHSU, an art installation brightens the sterile landscape. 

New development especially in and around downtown Portland have resulted in an increase in housing supply. Sadly it is housing supply for the wealthy. These new condominium buildings are a new generation of residential buildings that have been built in the past two years. 

Portland Oregon August 8 2016 - Welcome to the West Coast

It has been a while since I was in Portland, four years ago to be exact. Things were very different back then when the city's struggling housing market was barely able to sell excess inventory of foreclosed homes from the Great Recession. However, four years later, the city today is struggling to keep the housing market from heating up too quickly. Over the past few months reports show the city is now seeing double digit percent year over year increases in housing prices. 

So why is Portland so red hot? Are people really moving into the city? As I steped off the plane a few days ago and into the Portland International Airport (IATA Code: PDX), the reasons seem apparent. The airport is the face tourists see when they first arrive at a city. One of the top travel magazines recently awarded Portland International Airport the top airport in the US due to its use-friendliness, efficiency, and widen open spaces. 

Looking out the huge window in the atrium, the Columbia River proudly meanders towards the Pacific. Yes folks this is the Pacific Northwest. A land of rugged landscape and Douglas firs. A place where people are more laid back. Walking over to the parking lot the Douglas firs are everywhere even here, but on license plates. This damn tree is so prominent it also grows in many back yards, even in the suburbs. The next few days will be spent absorbing this laid back culture called "Portlandia". 

Portland Oregon a Model City for Urban Planners?

Portland has been near and dear to my heart in many ways. I have numerous friends developed over the years and I have come to appreciate their laid back way of life and the fortunate opportunity to live in such a great small city. To us urban planners and urbanists, Portland has also been seen as a model city where they have done things right for decades. From the tearing down of a highway in the 1970s, to the creation of great public spaces, to having one of the most progressive urban growth management strategy anywhere in this continent, to a transit system that increasingly is putting older, more established ones to shame (think the Toronto Transit Commission - TTC). 

I will be visiting Portland for my fifth time in eight years, and I will be posting stuff here and on Twitter. I will be posting to the good, the bad, and the ugly with no bias. I will also have an urban planning friend come as well so we will both be able to share our experience, one who has been to Portland numerous times, and one who is a newbie and never been to Portland. Starting on August 6 come with me and go on a journey and see what Portland Oregon is all about.