is portland's economy that much worse than seattle?

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by 2bpurrfect

essentially the urban growth boundaries are the limits of the city/ metropolitan area for building housing and other types of development like stores etc. it's the boundary between the farmland/city. The way they currently have it determined, it doesn't actually stop urban sprawl or stop the city from eating the farms. it only causes that to be slowed down. after a few years, there will always be expensive processes and governmental hearings etc and then the big developers get to come in and develop huge parcels into housing and etc.
so really, Oregon has become tightened up for individuals who only want to build one house on their own land for themselves, but these developers get to exploit their cronies' laws and rape (or is it reap?) the huge profits while destroying much needed farmland. And very little , slow, incremental, individual development ever occurs in any sort of natural or healthy way for say, people who own farms 20 miles out from town. They often aren't allowed to build a home for themselves or a second one for their kids 20 years later on their same shared yard space on a small corner of their acreage. That would be a good and economical way of providing and living but it is not allowed because of strict zoning laws. Seems this would be a serious impedance for the locals that actually live here and want to thrive, prosper, and grow a healthy family on their own land.
well that's only a tiny pinch of my opinion about it but, i have been observing this from an insider viewpoint for decades, as my mom was heavily involved (favoring tight restrictions) back when it all started and now i see the results....

I lived in Tigard for awhile back in the 80's. Where there were once horses grazing on land just outside of the main shopping area and cows a bit further beyond, there are now strip malls and apartment complexes. Just like most other places, these have taken over. So I see what you mean by the developers being able to come in and take over these lands.

It also happens to some extent in Portland itself where developers are alllowed to build small apartment complexes in any available space they can find causing crowding in the neighborhoods where there once was green space.

[ramedud]

I don't think the economy in Portland is much worse than Seattle but:

1) It's smaller

2) there are fewer people, therefore less jobs available on the market