A defining quality of any city is movement. With an abundance of people, cars, bikes, trains, subways, developments, and construction projects comes an abundance of motion. What makes a city unique is its particular style or “flow,” as described by Michael Sorkin. [1] This manifests in its “movement hierarchy” – the delineation of deference for particular means of transportation. [1]
In New York City, Robert Moses designed infrastructure to prioritize the movement of vehicles. [2] Based on my experiences in Portland, particularly in discussing the busy roads around Congress Square Park with urban designer Caitlin Cameron, cars appear to be prioritized above pedestrians in some places. That being said, I have found Portland to be very walkable and have had little trouble crossing streets.
Commercial Street supports a lot of flow, both pedestrian and vehicular. Its proximity to the water gives it much potential, but the busyness and design of the road make it less appealing for pedestrians. The piers on the waterfront are a visual reminder of the city’s roots in lobster, fishing and trading. As the city gentrifies and develops, it is important to emphasize this history through smart adjustments in infrastructure.
A grassy, well-landscaped walkway along the waterfront could serve these purposes. New York City’s Highline first comes to mind as an example of an engaging and exciting walkway, with benches, food carts, public art, beautiful views and a constant stream of pedestrian motion. Though this hypothetical Portland walkway would be much shorter in length and would not be elevated, the Highline might serve as inspiration.
NYC Highline
In class, we discussed the idea of incorporating public history into Portland’s public space. Signs, plaques and sculptures throughout the walkway could include stories, facts and legends of Portland’s waterfront. Including public art in the walkway would harness the artistic community to increase its visual appeal, and as William Whyte taught us, inviting seating would be essential. [3] Food trucks/carts or small farmers markets would also work well in this space. Elevated lookout points would accentuate the beauty of the Maine coastline while giving a new perspective to the layout of the city itself.
[1] Sorkin, Michael. 2014 [1999]. “Traffic in Democracy.” In The People, Place and Space Reader, edited by Jen Jack Gieseking, et al, 411-415. New York: Routledge, 2014.
[2] Berman, Marshall. 1988. “In the Forest of Symbols: Some Notes on Modernism in New York.” In All That Is Solid Melts into Air: The Experience of Modernity, 287–348. New York: Penguin.
[3] Whyte, William. The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. New York: Project for Public Spaces Inc, 2001.