Right 2 Root

Anti-displacement community design process and visioning in N/NE Portland

The Right 2 Root community design process and visioning focused on how publicly owned land in N/NE Portland could be re-developed proactively to mitigate gentrification and displacement in the African American community.  In focus groups and a community workshop, using an array of engagement tools, attendees were able to voice their hopes, concerns, and ideas for meaningful reinvestment in the area that would specifically benefit their community.  We then recruited a group of designers that could bring these visions to life. The work culminated in December 2015 with a charrette that brought together representatives from the community with over thirty Portland-based architecture, urban design, and landscape designers. Working in four groups, the participants generated design visions for how potential sites could be developed for the benefit of the African American community. The design proposals range from home ownership strategies to new urban plazas and street corridors with community centers, commercial space, and business incubators. The master plan weaves these visions together by creating a new pedestrian-friendly corridor that emphasizes community interaction and links to existing neighborhood assets.

Salazar Architect led the urban design work in collaboration with the Center for Public Interest Design at Portland State University. The final charrette included ZGF, PLACE, Hacker Architects, GBD, Ankrom Moisan, Holst Architecture, Resolve Architecture & Planning, SERA, Gollah Planning & Consulting, SRG, Orange Splot LLC, Vallaster Corl Architects PC, Rachel Mullon, Rosanne Lynch and Isaac Adams.

Location: Portland, Oregon
Client: Cat Goughnour, RADIX Consulting Group
Awards: Right 2 Root / Cat Goughnour won the 2017 Oregon APA Award for Distinguished Leadership in Affordable Housing
Sustainability: Designed with EcoDistrict concepts