The conventional wisdom in the Great Lakes is that young people and talented workers are running away from the region to find jobs that aren't readily available in Michigan, Ohio, and other states wallowing in an economic funk. But they might just be leaving in search of cleaner, hipper, and more convenient places to live.
I met today with Sam Adams, a city commissioner in Portland, OR. Portland continually ranks as a national leader in high-tech business, quality of life, mass transit, attracting young people, and sustainability and I'm in town to better understand how they do it.
In the nation's last recession, Commissioner Adams told me, Portland also lead the way in a less flattering measure, unemployment. Much like Detroit, Cleveland, and other Great Lakes cities today. But Portland residents didn't leave. They stayed to wait out the downturn.
"Portland is one of the top in-migration locations for 18 to 34 year olds in the country," Commissioner Adams said. "But when you meet these people on the plane, the train, the bus, and in the cafes here, a high percentage of them don’t have a job. They come here because they think it's a great place to live."
After two days of interviews with civic leaders here, it's become exceedingly clear that Portland is a people magnet because they're focused intensely on developing three basic pieces of urban infrastructure:
- Active, interesting, and welcoming streetscapes that make folks feel comfortable walking around town.
- Parks, public plazas, and waterfronts that draw people in.
- Streetcars, light rail lines, bike routes, busses, and other transportation options that make the city accessible to a wide range of residents and visitors.
How many Great Lakes cities do you know where those types of amenities abound? Chicago is the first one that comes to mind. Beyond that, they're few and far between.
