Public Engagement
Open House - April 17, 2025
At the April Open House, attendees shared their vision for Franklin Street at several interactive stations and displays. A summary showed that participants envisioned a future Franklin Street that is safe, walkable, and vibrant—connecting neighborhoods and fostering community through features like bike lanes, public gathering spaces, and mixed-use development. There was strong support for accessible public spaces, safe bike facilities, and housing integrated with active ground-floor uses. Mapping exercises highlighted problematic intersections and areas ripe for redevelopment, with calls to reduce traffic lanes, improve pedestrian crossings, and repurpose parking lots.
Survey - April - June 2025
Between April and June, 425 people responded to an online survey about the future of Franklin Street. Survey responses revealed strong public support for a safe, inclusive, multi-modal Franklin Street. Over 90% of respondents agreed that a new Franklin Street should support all means of travel, connect neighborhoods, and incorporate modern amenities. Key priorities included expanding Lincoln Park, adding green and recreational spaces, promoting walking, biking, and public transit, and increasing housing opportunities. Respondents emphasized the importance of features like street trees, safer intersections, improved sidewalks, and high-quality bicycle infrastructure. There was also strong interest in mixed-use development and public plazas, with many calling for equitable, climate-resilient urban design. Responses to open-ended questions allowed respondents to expand on their thoughts.
Pop-up Events - May, June, and July 2025
Less formal ‘pop-up events’ were held over the early summer to meet stakeholders where they are. These pop-ups included:
Walk the Working Waterfront on Saturday, May 31st.
The Oxford Street footpath at the Boyd Street Park/Garden on the morning and afternoon of June 5th when users were going to school, work or running errands. Stakeholders weighed in on where they chose to cross Franklin Street and why, where they were coming from, and where they were going to. Neighborhood staff from The Other Place and Cultivating Community helped greet those that stopped by.
Lincoln Park on June 25th. Stakeholders walked up and down Franklin Street providing input on issues and ideas.
Portland Housing Authority’s East Bayside Fest on June 26th, where participants could mark up maps and construct their own plans for Franklin Street.
Community Design Workshop - June 25 and 26, 2025
On June 25 and 26, the Reimagining Franklin Project team hosted a two-day Community Design Workshop. This interactive event included walking tours, stakeholder roundtables, and two public design workshops. Detailed results from the two public evening events reveal widespread support for reducing the footprint of Franklin Street to unlock land for mixed use development including housing, green space, and community amenities. Participants cited concerns about pedestrian safety, poor intersection design, and neighborhood isolation. Attendees emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and thoughtful urban design that balances development with environmental resilience. Ideas such as bus rapid transit and reconnecting the street grid were discussed, alongside strategies for funding and phased implementation. During the workshop, Three Community roundtables were held that convened stakeholders around the topics of Housing and Economic Development, Public Realm/Pedestrian-Bicycle, and Transportation.
