Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area

Expansion of Interstate Corridor URA approved by City Council
An amendment approved by City Council on July 27, 2011 expands the district to include properties along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Alberta and Killingsworth St., Dekum, the south side of Lombard St. and the St. Johns Town Center. This amendment allows PDC to continue to make investments that help small businesses compete in today's economic climate, create jobs, and redevelop properties, particularly those owned by longstanding residents.

Green Features Grant Program

• Video
• Program information

Why Interstate?

At 3,990 acres, the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area (ICURA) is Portland's largest urban renewal area. It includes a diverse collection of historic communities in north and northeast Portland, comprised of older residential neighborhoods, interconnected by commercial corridors, with large scale industrial centers.

In August 2000, the Portland City Council approved the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area Plan (2000). In July 2011, City Council approved the Amended & Restated ICURA Plan, expanding the boundaries of the URA along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Alberta, Killingsworth, Lombard and the St. Johns Town Center.

• Spur mixed-use development along the light rail corridor and station areas while distributing public investment fairly and evenly among other impacted areas within the district.
• Create new jobs and housing opportunities for a range of incomes as well as for existing residents.
• Develop new housing that is transit supportive, compatible with the existing neighborhood, maximizes infrastructure improvements, reuses vacant and underutilized property, and strikes a balance between homeownership, rental, and displacement of existing residents.
• Create wealth through expansion of existing businesses, fostering a healthy business environment, and generate family wage jobs.
• Improve transportation corridors to encourage the use of alternative modes of travel, maintain and improve access, create a pedestrian-friendly environment, and mitigate traffic impacts associated with new growth.
• Promote community livability through strategic improvements to parks, open space, trails, historic and cultural resources, and community facilities.

• Do you want to start or expand a business?
     Business Finance Services — www.pdc.us/bizfinance
   
  
• Are you looking to develop your property?
     Development Opportunity Services (DOS) — www.pdc.us/dos
     Commercial Property Redevelopment Loan Program
  
  
• Do you want to finance repairs to your house?
     Home Improvement — www.pdc.us/homeimprovement
  
  
• Are you interested in buying a house?
     Home Purchase — www.pdc.us/homepurchase
  
  
• Will you be adding employees to meet increasing demand?
       Enterprise Zone — www.pdc.us/ezone
  
  
• Do you have a business that needs a facelift?
     Storefront Improvement— www.pdc.us/storefront
  
  
• Are you interested in sustainable business practices?
     Green Features Grant - www.pdc.us/greengrants

Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (ICURAC)

All committee meetings are open to the public. The Commission appoints members to represent a broad range of interests. ICURAC meets quarterly to discuss project prioritization and to make funding recommendations to the Portland Development Commission. Meetings are held on the third Monday evening of January, April, July and October.

How to Get Involved

The URACs represent a diverse composition of URA and citywide stakeholders. Members are often drawn from neighborhood and business associations, non-profit organizations, project partners, business owners and representatives, citywide civic groups, and citizens at large. URAC members are appointed by the PDC Board of Commissioners and can serve up to two consecutive three year terms.

The Commission is always looking for new community members who may be interested in serving on PDC advisory committees, whether the focus be on a specific urban renewal area, project or program. PDC encourages interested Portland citizens to apply by completing our online PDC Advisory Committee Application.

• 2008 ICURAC Retreat, Sunday, October 26, 2008
• Urban Renewal Advisory Committee (roster, agendas and meeting notes)
• ICURAC subcommittees
  • Transportation subcommittee
  • Parks subcommittee
• View an archive of Advisory Committee's Quarterly Meeting Minutes

What's New

2009 Community Livability Grants (PDF)

Current Projects

Completed ICURA Projects

• 4500 N. Albina Triangle
• Dawson Park Gazebo
• Dawson Park Master Plan (PDF)
• Denorval Unthank Park
• Interstate Light Rail Corridor Zoning Study
• Patton Square Park
• Patton Park Apartments
• Shaver Green Apartments
• 2009 Community Livability Grant Awardees
• 2008 Community Livability Grants Awardees
• 2007 Community Livability Grants Awardees

Publications

• Bridgeton Promenade Public Involvement Plan
• Board Briefing Documents October 10, 2007
  • Report
  • Attachments: A, B, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, D
• The 12 General Principles of the Interstate Corridor URA Plan
• Going/Greeley Interchange Enhancements for Truck Operations (Nov 2007)
• ICURA Accomplishments Newsletter, May 2004
• ICURA Bulletin - Latest Issue: Winter 2008 (PDF)
  • ICURA Bulletin—newsletter archive (Dec 1999 to present)
• ICURA Bulletin—If you’d like to join the ICURA Bulletin mailing list or receive a hard copy, please contact: Lene Hopson, 823-3376.
• Interstate MAX Light Rail Traffic Impact Summary - PDOT (Oct 2005)
• Parks, Trails and Open Space Access Needs Assessment, Jul 2003

Maps

• ICURA Accomplishments maps:
  • Housing, Redevelopment, Parks & Transportation Accomplishments (February 2009)
  • ICURA Projects 2008-2009 (November 2008)
  • Projects & Economic Activities,
    2000-Spring 2008, April 2008
  • Housing Activities,
    2000-Spring 2007, May 2007
• PDC Assistance on ICURA Commercial Corridors:
  • Interstate South Corridor
  • Interstate Central Corridor
  • Interstate North Corridor & Kenton
  • Killingsworth East Corridor
  • Killingsworth West Corridor
  • Lombard East Corridor
  • Mississippi/Albina Corridor
  • Russell Corridor
  • Vancouver/Williams Corridor
    
    
• Complete list of Interstate publications

Questions or Concerns? Contact the ICURA Team at PDC

Calendar of Events