Last week I had the privilege of attending the Oregon Main Street Conference, which has quickly become one of my favorite events on the calendar. The conference presents a terrific opportunity to learn about what’s going on in the smaller cities and towns throughout the state. From Portland to Port Orford and Bandon to Condon, we heard from communities throughout Oregon on what makes a great Main Street.
A striking but empowering theme that emerged: Ever-intensifying political fan-flaming has had a profound effect on a number of Oregon’s smaller cities. But those communities are responding with creative efforts to rebuild unity and celebrate shared heritage. Newberg and Baker City both shared powerful examples.
My favorite part of the conference is that the venue is a Main Street itself! In this case, Independence, Oregon’s served as home (with some key assistance from nearby Momnouth!) and exploring these downtowns over the conference’s 3 days is an absolute highlight.
Somehow, this fantastic biannual event evaded my radar until I was asked to present a piece on (surprise!) parking in the Main Street context back in 2019. I missed the 2021 version (Grrr Covid!) but it was wonderful to get back this year. We tend to call this practice some version of “urban planning,” but OMSC hammers home that the work is crucial to the gamut of community sizes. It’s crucial to our mission here at Studio Davis to recognize the significant impact that these smaller communities have on shaping the broader societal landscape, underscoring the importance of fostering sustainable and inclusive urban planning initiatives that cater to the unique needs and aspirations of every locality.
