Thursday, July 22, 2004
Portland Uses Water Fees to Pay for Smart Growth
Portland is known as a rainy city, yet its residents pay the second-highest water bills in the nation (similarly wet Seattle is number one). Part of the reason is that the city skims a percentage off the water bill as "franchise fee" (even though the city is the franchise) and uses the money for, among other things, "bailing out Pearl District developers."
The Pearl District, of course, is Portland's downtown high-density, mixed-use development that has already received some $180 million in subsidies. It is highly praised by urban planners from all over the country, but if it is so successful, why does it need to be bailed out by water users from the rest of the city?
The Pearl District, of course, is Portland's downtown high-density, mixed-use development that has already received some $180 million in subsidies. It is highly praised by urban planners from all over the country, but if it is so successful, why does it need to be bailed out by water users from the rest of the city?
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