DESIGN + PLANNING TOOLS FOR GROWING COMMUNITIES

PDX Main Streets Design Guidelines

Originally developed as the Division Design Guidelines to help communities document their goals and design priorities. we soon realized these were needed for many of Portland's Main Streets which share similar characteristics and patterns. They were created with over five years of grassroots planning and donated work by dedicated leaders, architects and planners. You can learn more about the extensive public engagement, research and community work on our Division Guidelines page. These voluntary PDX Main Street Design Guidelines have been locally adopted for 12 Main Streets including Division, Hawthorne, Woodstock, multiple streets in Sellwood-Moreland, and seven main streets in Hosford Abernethy (including MLK, Grand, 11th & 12th Avenues, Clinton and Powell).

Sellwood Moreland Main Street Design Supplement

In January 2019, the Sellwood Moreland Improvement League Board of Directors adopted the PDX Main Streets Design Guidelines for their neighborhood main streets. From 2018-2020 we were hired low-bono to support Sellwood-Moreland with a special supplement in addition to the design guidelines.

In 2020, the SMILE Board adopted the Sellwood-Moreland Design Guidelines (a Supplement to the PDX Main Street Guidelines)

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Learn more about the Community Process

Templates to Engage with Designers & Developers

Sample Design Guidelines Letter to Developers+ Designers | Template for Neighborhood & Business Associations regarding design guidelines + community engagement policy

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Developer Notification & Community Engagement Policy | Developed by the Richmond Neighborhood Association (RNA) and adopted by RNA, HAND, and STNA. This gives guidance on when to engage, what information to bring so community groups can understand context and impacts, and has a template for how to follow-up on community comments heard.

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"Main Street Minute"Video
Design Patterns Overview

One minute video with a short overview of many (but not all) of the typical main street patterns produced by one of our amazing videographer volunteers. This helps others see the design "patterns" that are common threads across all our main streets in Portland, and in fact many cities across the world. These patterns are not about style, but about common design features that contribute to cost-efficiency, function, and human-scale design at any size building.

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"Seeing the patterns was like putting on a pair of glasses, I suddenly saw my City in a whole new way."

"I now see these patterns everywhere!  Thank you so much!"

Advocacy for Vulnerable Vintage Main St. Centers

This important study highlights key streetcar era historic and vulnerable main streets centers lacking in design or preservation tools to guide their planning with care as they grow. The "Low Rise Commercial Storefront Analysis", was developed by the City as part of the 2016 Mixed Use Zoning Project.  Note, this does not include blocks with 3-story buildings, nor blocks with only partial special character but ideally should be updated to include these areas.   

PDX Main Streets has advocated for main street standards and a "Cultural Resources Master Plan" that includes these areas to better plan as we grow.