Heights Urban Renewal

Hot Off the Press – Heights Walkshop Report Out Now

We are excited to share urban planning expert Dan Burden’s inspirational Heights Walkshop Report. The richly illustrated report is chock full of compelling and practical solutions for streetscape improvements to make the Heights a better place to live, shop, work and play.

The Report is based on the input of more than 100 community members whoattended Dan’s June 6th Heights Walkshop and provided such great input on traffic calming and place making.

Turning Ideas into Projects

The next step is turning the best ideas from Dan’s report into real on-the-ground projects. The timing couldn’t be better as the City of Hood River’s Urban Renewal has just issued a Request for Proposals for design services including a streetscape design and landscape drawings for the Heights Business District between May St. and Belmont Avenue. A designer will be selected and start work early next year.

If you are interested in the Heights, consider attending meetings of the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee. The URAC is made up of local residents and they are a thoughtful and welcoming group. Next meeting at 5:30 p.m. December 20, 2018 at City Hall, 211 2nd Street, Hood River.

The Heights Walkshop
Wednesday June 6th, 2018 5:00 – 8:30 pm
Hood River Armory, 1590 12th Street, Hood River

What do YOU think will make the Heights safer and more enjoyable for walking and biking? Let’s take a walk.

Join urban planning expert Dan Burden and community members on a walking tour to discover what’s great and what’s challenging about walking, biking and driving in the Heights. Share your ideas about how to make the Heights a better place to shop, live and work.

Dan will lead us on a walking audit of the Heights and teach us about best practices for a built environment that enhances community. Then we’ll break into groups over dinner to identify opportunities to transform our local streets so they support businesses and people by foot, bike, transit or vehicle. 

What’s a walk audit? Check out this little 2-minute video to meet Dan and find out.

Dan Burden: Dan is America’s most recognized authority on walkability, bicycle and pedestrian programs, street corridor and intersection design, traffic flow & calming, road diets, and other city planning elements. He is Director of Inspiration and Innovation for Bluezones and leads the company in reinventing streets, neighborhoods and towns with walkability and bikeability solutions. The White House recognized him as one of the top ten Champions of Change in Transportation, TIME magazine called him “one of the six most important civic innovators in the world,” and his planning peers selected him as one of the 100 most significant urban thinkers of all time. 

Why The Heights? The Heights is a diamond in the rough. In 2011, City of Hood River created the Heights Urban Renewal District to create a source of funding for projects to improve the streetscapes, livability, economy and beauty of the Heights. If you live there, work there, own a business there or shop there, you’ve probably had some close calls crossing 12th or 13th. Besides being city streets 12th and 13th also double as State Highway 281 which leads to some real challenges. Dan Burden’s Heights Walkshop will provide input to the City of Hood River and Oregon Department of Transportation on ways to make the Heights a safer, more pleasant place for everyone. 

Food provided. Children of all ages welcome. Información en inglés y español.

 To register or get more information about the Walkshop, contact Heather Staten, heather@hrvrc or 541-490-5225. Hope to see you there!

The Heights Walkshop is being put on by Hood River Valley Residents Committee (now Thrive Hood River) and the City of Hood River and is made possible by a grant from The Oregon Community Foundation. The mission of The Oregon Community Foundation is to improve lives for all Oregonians through the power of philanthropy. OCF works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds to support the community causes they care about.