Portland’s ongoing street plaza program is experiencing notable inconsistencies in its implementation and success.
On the same day that exciting developments were announced for a new car-free plaza in Southeast 37th and Hawthorne, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) disclosed their decision to terminate the car-free plaza on NW 13th Avenue.
In an unusual public communication that reflected the agency’s disappointment, PBOT stated that they would regretfully abandon the existing car-free plaza spanning three of the four blocks of NW 13th Avenue between NW Everett and Irving.
The agency cited several reasons for this tough decision, including the unwillingness of three local businesses to comply with established design guidelines and an array of operational challenges on-site.
PBOT acknowledged ongoing issues and community complaints regarding the operational dynamics, excessive privatization of public spaces, and a general lack of public satisfaction as driving factors behind their decision to dismantle the existing plaza.
Originally formed in the summer of 2020 to help local restaurants extend their outdoor seating in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the transformation of NW 13th Avenue into a public plaza had aimed to create a vibrant outdoor dining environment.
However, in a recent statement, PBOT indicated they will revert two of the four blocks to two-way driving and focus on creating a fully pedestrianized area between NW Everett and Flanders.
The removal of this car-free space is a significant setback for Portland residents who aspire for a city that prioritizes people over cars.
Historically, NW 13th Avenue has been associated with events like the First Thursday street festival, and many have long envisioned it as a pedestrian-only corridor.
In 2017, the Pearl District Neighborhood Association in collaboration with Portland State University produced an action plan advocating for a pedestrian-centric design for NW 13th.
This plan sought to prioritize the pedestrian experience above all else, placing secondary importance on vehicles and other modes of transit.
Ironically, PBOT expressed its desire to maintain the multi-block plaza, revealing in their announcement that they have ‘regrets’ about its removal, yet they have been unable to find a viable policy or political pathway to preserve it.
According to PBOT, the outdoor dining structures erected by local businesses River Pig, Papi Chulo’s, and The Star, were non-compliant with the city’s plaza standards as they were deemed excessively large and too walled-off from the public.
PBOT stated that they provided these businesses multiple notices requesting alterations to comply with design requirements, but despite four extensions for amendments, no significant changes were made.
Dylan Rivera, PBOT’s Public Information Officer, expressed to BikePortland that the lack of compliance from the businesses compelled the agency to pursue enforcement measures, which included imposing fines of $500 per day until the structures were dismantled.
Once these measures are enacted, the three blocks will once again be accessible for parking and vehicular traffic, marking a return to a more conventional urban layout since the car-free measures were introduced in 2020.
PBOT noted they have made extensive efforts to resolve existing issues with the plaza.
In his remarks, Rivera indicated, “PBOT did not take the decision to remove the NW 13th car-free blocks lightly; in fact we have been trying to avoid this situation for the past year and a half.”
Over a span of approximately two years, the agency has held numerous meetings with the Pearl District Neighborhood Association (PDNA) and business entities to confront concerns regarding access, cleanliness, and safety.
Despite dedicated efforts, PBOT highlighted that a recent public survey, which engaged over 400 respondents, revealed widespread dissatisfaction.
Respondents voiced “strong opposition” to the large private outdoor dining structures dominating the public plaza space, with additional concerns regarding late-night noise, undesirable behaviors, and public safety issues including violence.
Further complications arose from illegal parking, blocking emergency lanes, and visibility challenges for pedestrians as identified by community feedback.
Similarly, concerns about fire hazards and access issues spurred by the large dining structures were raised by Portland Fire & Rescue, contributing to the overall assessment of the plaza’s viability.
While many survey respondents expressed support for the idea of a public street plaza, their sentiments regarding the NW 13th implementation were critical.
PBOT’s recent statement included a variety of public comments reflecting dissent towards the existing structure setups.
Many found the dining installations overbearing and perceived them as encroachments upon public space rather than enhancements.
One commented, “Outdoor dining should not be so big and closed off from plazas. Should be open and flexible like European styles as in Paris or Barcelona.”
Another participant remarked, “The structures as they exist are imposing and make me feel unwanted as a pedestrian.
It’s like I’m walking into their business area, not like they are spilling out into a public space.”
This ongoing tension between the interests of private businesses utilizing public right-of-way and community desires for pedestrian-friendly environments has remained a contentious issue since Portland’s first permanent plaza was established on SW Ankeny in 2011.
Additionally, discontent was voiced by non-restaurateur owners in proximity to the plaza.
A February 2024 report from The NW Examiner highlighted a rift between restaurants, which welcomed the opportunity to use public space for their business advantage, and non-dining enterprises that felt the plazas exacerbated unwanted public behavior and drove customers away due to lack of parking and vehicular access.
The president of the Irving Street Lofts homeowners association conveyed support for the plaza but expressed concerns over late-night activity from patrons congregating near bar closing hours.
Debbie Thomas, owner of Debbie Thomas Real Estate on NW 13th, expressed that she was unaware of the plaza and had not been consulted regarding its establishment.
Discussions of the plaza’s challenges have consistently surfaced in PDNA meeting records, dating back to August 2023.
In March 2024, stakeholders conversed about nuisance issues impacting residents of the Irving Street Lofts and the overall implications of street closures and restaurant encroachments.
The meeting minutes indicate ongoing discussions regarding how to best accommodate pedestrian and vehicular traffic along NW 13th Avenue.
By November 2024, it became clear to the PDNA that the existing structures would be dismantled, prompting a stakeholder dialogue to reimagine the future of NW 13th.
PBOT has consistently asserted that the success of car-free street plazas hinges on support from adjacent business owners.
In this instance, it seems the nearby businesses either lacked faith in the plaza’s potential, were frustrated by PBOT’s inability to improve conditions, or prioritized parking and vehicular access over the plaza’s benefits to foot traffic.
As a result of the lack of business engagement and numerous complaints from public users and neighborhood residents, PBOT reached this unfortunate conclusion.
Currently, PBOT administers 16 street plazas and over 575 permitted outdoor dining setups across the city.
As recently as a month ago, PBOT faced the possibility of closing down the entire street plaza program due to funding shortfalls; however, Mayor Keith Wilson’s proposed budget secured its continuation.
Yet, this scenario on NW 13th exemplifies that financial constraints are not the only barriers facing the development of world-class car-free spaces in Portland.
Ultimately, creating transformative urban spaces will necessitate a harmonious blend of political will, public endorsement, and grassroots organization — elements that appear to have been absent in the Pearl District, thus postponing the long-anticipated vision for a pedestrian-friendly 13th Avenue corridor.
image source from：https://bikeportland.org/2025/06/03/in-blow-to-carfree-plaza-progress-pbot-pulls-plug-on-nw-13th-ave-394771
