The Portland Press Herald’s Oct. 24 editorial “Our View: Outcome of ‘midtown’ clash no victory for Portland” is incomplete, wrong or misguided in every way.

Livable cities are based on good urban design. The redesign of midtown – from 14 stories to six stories – befits a Portland residential neighborhood, better relates to the streets and trails around it, and will better catalyze development nearby. In short, a victory for the neighborhood and city.

The editorial’s false claim of a “trickle-down” effect in housing – that developing high-end units will lower rental costs citywide – is comparable to thinking that building more lanes on the Turnpike will lower traffic congestion. Both just attract more demand.

We can address rising costs either by building subsidized units (but that shifts costs to market-rate housing) or by developing more, higher-paying jobs. Keep Portland Livable’s deal with the city toward stricter review of upcoming projects is a victory for all of us. The approval of the original midtown design unchanged by city review signaled a serious lack of oversight for the tsunami of development underway. Meanwhile, the idea that reasonable opposition to unreasonable development will slow the current surge of development, which is greater than this city has seen since the Great Fire of 1866, is silly.

It’s time for the Press Herald to stop attacking residents who are doing work city officials should have done. That is, showing up patiently – with words, deeds and dollars – to ensure 21st-century Portland remains worthy of its national renown as a livable city.

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