Foster Transportation and Streetscape Project

[Kevin Asgharian]

I was reading up on Foster Road Transportation and Streetscape Plan green lit back in 2014.  Looks like the city is still moving forward with it.  I'm curious to know what others are thinking on this, I tried searching the forums but didn't find anything.  I've summarized from their page for those unfamiliar or need a refresher..Link

The Foster Road Transportation and Streetscape Plan prioritizes safety and streetscape elements to transform the Foster Road corridor and its surrounding neighborhoods into centers of vibrant and unique neighborhoods, resulting in an array of benefits for residents and businesses.

The project extends from SE 50th Avenue to the western edge of the Lents Town Center at SE 90th Avenue. Recommended changes to the street and urban design are meant to transform Foster Road from a largely high speed, auto-oriented corridor into a series of interconnected pedestrian-oriented places that are accessible by all transportation modes and support a vibrant mix of businesses and residences.

The Foster Road Corridor contains five district nodes: Gateway District, Western Core, Heart of Foster, Green Link, and Crossroads District.

Spring 2017 Update: The project has incorporated additional funding from the Fixing Our Streets program to add reconstruction and paving of Foster Road between SE 82nd and 90th Ave. By combining the two projects construction coordination will be improved and impacts associated with construction activity minimized. Because the project is federally funded, incorporating the added work requires additional environmental approvals that have pushed the anticipated start of construction in the spring of 2018.

My thoughts-

1. Why "East Portland" when there are many other places needing attention closer in?

2. I've used Foster/Hawthorne many times instead of 205 so their traffic points hit home

3. Looks like the local businesses are pretty mad about it but is that enough to kill the project?

[Mike Nuss]

I highly agree with @Neal Collins. Selling now in this area would be similar to selling on Division pre 2012. Allowing your own opinions, rather than the opinions of buyers as a whole, drive your buying/selling decisions is a poor mistake for a real estate investor. It doesn't matter how you feel, it matters how the market as a whole will respond and Fo-Po and Lents are poised to become great appreciation plays. 

@Jason Fleming that isn't a bad basket to put those eggs in, in my opinion.

Infrastructure investment in this area also makes much more sense than east of I-205 for many reasons. 

1) Infrastructure is already in place and it is a connecting road for two areas (Powell Blvd up to 52nd and Lents town center) already in progress of gentrification. Development here is much less costly than "east Portland"

2) Foster has a great mix of historic storefront product along this section, good development land and the width to become a really nice urban village district. 

3) It's one of the most affordable neighborhoods that is still bike-able to downtown. 

4) This area will become a highly desirable neighborhood once the commercial development comes to fruition. Where else will Portlanders find this amount of single family housing, with the type of walking amenities it will have, still relatively close to downtown (no matter how much longer than new drive will take you) and at a price point that's open to many (until that changes).