Mayor's Roundtable Aims to Reinvigorate Central City, With or Without Key Stakeholders

"Portland has a downtown like no other, and the latest foot traffic statistics prove what we all know-the energy is coming back. We're assembling a cross-sector team of senior leaders capable of transforming that spark into an innovative, ambitious, sustainable civic revitalization. We have all the ingredients we need to attract opportunity and supercharge the kind of economic activity that lifts our entire community."

"A handful of recommendations, including a moratorium on new taxes, an increase in daytime services for homeless Portlanders, and drug recriminalization. It also resulted in a roadmap document, "All In on Portland's Central City," which outlined the express goals of increasing foot traffic, bringing office workers downtown, and building housing units."

Governor Tina Kotek convened a private task force of elected officials, business leaders, and community representatives to address Portland's central city economic future. The group produced recommendations including a tax moratorium, increased daytime homeless services, drug recriminalization, and a roadmap document titled "All In on Portland's Central City." This roadmap prioritized increasing foot traffic, attracting office workers downtown, and building housing units. Following these recommendations, Portland established the Central City Roundtable, a new public-private partnership covering downtown and areas east of the Willamette River. Mayor Keith Wilson emphasized that downtown recovery depends on cross-sector collaboration, noting recent foot traffic statistics indicate returning energy to the area.

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