Portland Inspired by the Lessons Learned from Detroit's Regeneration

Maurice Cox, What Detroit Learned from Portland, What Portland Can Learn from Detroit.

Appreciating Maurice Cox’s Presentation at the City of Possibility Last Night. “What Detroit Learned from Portland, What Portland Can Learn from Detroit”

In his role as Chief Detroit Planner in 2015, he took lessons learned from Portland to regenerate Detroit. 

Portland Inspires Detroit in 2015

He gave a shout out to Portland’s 20-minute Neighborhoods, their engagement with community to make neighborhoods in their image, connecting neighborhoods with streets and community greenways, and fostering a communal vision centered on livability for all.

Detroit Inspires Portland in 2025

He reiterated Detroit’s mantra to “Not Just Design for the few but….. DESIGN for ALL” and cited exemplary actions in Detroit for Portland to keep in mind.

Wholistic Action:  Detroit’s Playbook

Affordable housing: Roadmap to Recovery

Cultivating Entrepreneurs: Motor City Match – From Idea to Opening

Neighborhood Playbooks: Joe Louis Greenway Neighborhood Planning Study

He asked Portland to have faith in their “DNA” as they take lessons from Detroit’s recovery.  Sending Portland message of hope for and confidence in their future.

Looking forward to Maurice’s continuing advice. 

Appreciating Randy Gragg’s curation of the City of Possibility and its many supporters.