Radical Solutions for the Broken City of Portland Permit System and Development Process
HFO partner Greg Frick interviews Ezra Hammer, an attorney specializing in land use and real estate with Jordan Ramis law firm. Their discussion explores the critical housing challenges facing Portland and the state of Oregon. Hammer discusses the region’s significant housing shortage, with approximately 45,000 missing housing units and low development rates. He highlights City of Portland permit system issues, including inadequate infrastructure funding, overly localized community engagement, and restrictive urban growth boundaries. He advocates for radical policy changes, including reforms to state-level infrastructure funding, reducing neighborhood-level development obstacles, and expanding urban boundaries to facilitate housing production. The conversation highlights the pressing need to address housing affordability, as over 50% of renters are currently housing-burdened. Hammer advocates for a holistic approach to urban development that prioritizes the broader community’s needs over hyper-local interests. The City of Portland permit system needs a reliable source of funding.
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