Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of History
First Advisor
David A. Johnson
Term of Graduation
Fall 1981
Date of Publication
10-21-1981
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.) in History
Department
History
Language
English
Subjects
Waterfronts -- Oregon -- Portland -- History, Urban land use -- Oregon -- Portland -- History, Portland (Or.) -- History
DOI
10.15760/etd.3230
Physical Description
1 online resource (2, iv, 108 pages)
Abstract
Between 1845 and 1980 the Portland waterfront between southwest Washington and Clay Streets, east of Front Street, metamorphosed from wilderness to trade center, to highway, to inner-city vacant lot. No place in Portland has more graphically illustrated the rapidly changing forces of the modern age in which the city has grown.
For much of its history this stretch of waterfront was mired in law suits. The struggles centered on public versus private ownership. Originally dedicated as public property, but left unimproved by the city, the waterfront was usurped by private investors. Eventually, private owners allowed their property to decay prompting the public to encourage improvements. The legal battles even became reversed as private investors sought to force the sale of the waterfront to the city.
Through all the confusion of legal battles this stretch of waterfront played a central role in the development and identity of Portland. It has finally become, undisputed public territory. The tension and greed of private investment have been replaced by the lack of municipal funds for aesthetic improvement and have left this stretch of land, a potentially fine and important urban park, a vacant lot.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/18633
Recommended Citation
Carter, Jeffrey Gerald, "A History of the Portland Waterfront Between Southwest Clay and Washington Streets, Its Land Use and Legal Problems" (1981). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 3236.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.3230
Comments
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