iain
@maccoinnich.bsky.social
Posts about urbanism and development, mostly specific to Portland
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The biggest extent to which I was wrong in 2020 was that I expected everything to go back to being like 2019 a lot sooner.
Everyone predicted this????? "This is a covid level increase in crime that will reduce" was an extremely common take. These guys ignored it because they wanted to crime panic
January 8, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The biggest extent to which I was wrong in 2020 was that I expected everything to go back to being like 2019 a lot sooner.
Reposted by iain
In other cities that have a council president, is it typical to elect the position every year? (I'm wondering why we don't just do so after each election, when the members of council are more likely to have changed.)
January 8, 2026 at 12:38 AM
In other cities that have a council president, is it typical to elect the position every year? (I'm wondering why we don't just do so after each election, when the members of council are more likely to have changed.)
Reposted by iain
Portland City Council says out with 6-7, in with 6-6.
January 7, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Portland City Council says out with 6-7, in with 6-6.
Reposted by iain
When you don’t build condos for 20 years, there isn’t an influx of units that are high price with low HOAs.
Basically, units that are supposed to be much lower cost because of high HOA do not exist in the market.
So these older units are now high cost, high HOA.
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
Basically, units that are supposed to be much lower cost because of high HOA do not exist in the market.
So these older units are now high cost, high HOA.
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
The Condo Market Hasn’t Been This Bad in Over a Decade
Condo prices this fall posted their biggest declines since 2012, hit by rising homeowner-association dues and weaker demand.
www.wsj.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:27 PM
When you don’t build condos for 20 years, there isn’t an influx of units that are high price with low HOAs.
Basically, units that are supposed to be much lower cost because of high HOA do not exist in the market.
So these older units are now high cost, high HOA.
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
Basically, units that are supposed to be much lower cost because of high HOA do not exist in the market.
So these older units are now high cost, high HOA.
www.wsj.com/economy/hous...
In an extremely millennial political geek moment, Cllr Kanal just referenced a plot point from "The West Wing"
January 7, 2026 at 8:06 PM
In an extremely millennial political geek moment, Cllr Kanal just referenced a plot point from "The West Wing"
6 votes for EPG for council president; 6 votes for Kanal. Any bets on how long it will take to get to a winner?
January 7, 2026 at 6:18 PM
6 votes for EPG for council president; 6 votes for Kanal. Any bets on how long it will take to get to a winner?
Reposted by iain
Renderings would help sell this proposal, for sure. Problem is Dundon is going to want to put his fingerprints on it and he doesn't own the team yet. So detailed concepts are being withheld.
Aside from the politics, I'm really interested to know what the renovation would involve. I know there are concepts that have been developed, but haven't been made public... yet.
SCOOP: Amid ownership change, the Portland Trail Blazers are prepared to ask the Oregon Legislature to redirect income tax dollars for large-scale Moda Center renovation that is seen as critical step to keeping team in market. www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
January 7, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Renderings would help sell this proposal, for sure. Problem is Dundon is going to want to put his fingerprints on it and he doesn't own the team yet. So detailed concepts are being withheld.
Aside from the politics, I'm really interested to know what the renovation would involve. I know there are concepts that have been developed, but haven't been made public... yet.
SCOOP: Amid ownership change, the Portland Trail Blazers are prepared to ask the Oregon Legislature to redirect income tax dollars for large-scale Moda Center renovation that is seen as critical step to keeping team in market. www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Trail Blazers gear up for legislative ask that would ‘guarantee’ team’s future in Portland | Bill Oram
Following the trail blazed by the Portland Diamond Project, the NBA franchise plans to ask for a similar 'jock tax' to fund arena renovations.
www.oregonlive.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Aside from the politics, I'm really interested to know what the renovation would involve. I know there are concepts that have been developed, but haven't been made public... yet.
Since Alaska started banking flights at PDX, it’s really easy to see the planes queuing up to land
January 6, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Since Alaska started banking flights at PDX, it’s really easy to see the planes queuing up to land
I qualified for the lowest tier of status with Alaska, and on my first subsequent flight I got upgraded to first class. The carnitas egg scramble was genuinely good.
January 6, 2026 at 3:58 PM
I qualified for the lowest tier of status with Alaska, and on my first subsequent flight I got upgraded to first class. The carnitas egg scramble was genuinely good.
Reposted by iain
BUILDING CODE NERD ALERT!
WA's scissor stair bill just dropped, HB 2228:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
You know all those elegant skinny towers in Vancouver, BC? Part of why they're common is that scissor stairs make small floor plates more feasible.
Why not here? Why not everywhere?
WA's scissor stair bill just dropped, HB 2228:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
You know all those elegant skinny towers in Vancouver, BC? Part of why they're common is that scissor stairs make small floor plates more feasible.
Why not here? Why not everywhere?
HB 2228 Washington State Legislature
app.leg.wa.gov
January 6, 2026 at 12:49 AM
BUILDING CODE NERD ALERT!
WA's scissor stair bill just dropped, HB 2228:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
You know all those elegant skinny towers in Vancouver, BC? Part of why they're common is that scissor stairs make small floor plates more feasible.
Why not here? Why not everywhere?
WA's scissor stair bill just dropped, HB 2228:
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?...
You know all those elegant skinny towers in Vancouver, BC? Part of why they're common is that scissor stairs make small floor plates more feasible.
Why not here? Why not everywhere?
Reposted by iain
Is Oregon's population slump turning around?
Oregon tops nationwide list for inbound movers. Is population growth on the rebound?
Population growth is core to Oregon’s economic health. A new survey potentially aligns in the state’s favor.
www.oregonlive.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Is Oregon's population slump turning around?
Reposted by iain
One odd thing I've noticed about Austin: there's almost no retail other than food and beverage in the downtown area.
January 5, 2026 at 5:07 PM
One odd thing I've noticed about Austin: there's almost no retail other than food and beverage in the downtown area.
The notion that SDCs pay to offset the impacts of growth is complete fiction, as perfectly illustrated by this story. They're just a convenient way to raise money. nwexaminer.com/p/theres-sti...
There's still no Slabtown Park
Where did the money go? Neighbors had no clue.
nwexaminer.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:42 PM
The notion that SDCs pay to offset the impacts of growth is complete fiction, as perfectly illustrated by this story. They're just a convenient way to raise money. nwexaminer.com/p/theres-sti...
Getting ads on instagram for hotels in Caracas. That's new.
January 5, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Getting ads on instagram for hotels in Caracas. That's new.
Reposted by iain
Simpsons has been on the air so long that they could, at one point, credibly make a joke where Marge didn’t know what brunch was.
January 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Simpsons has been on the air so long that they could, at one point, credibly make a joke where Marge didn’t know what brunch was.
Morning bike ride in Austin
January 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Morning bike ride in Austin
When I was growing up in Scotland, I had grandparents in Seattle and a sister in San Francisco. The former gave me a Seahawks jacket and the latter a 49ers duffel bag, and I’d take both with me to school. 10 year old me is hoping both teams win tonight.
January 4, 2026 at 3:12 AM
When I was growing up in Scotland, I had grandparents in Seattle and a sister in San Francisco. The former gave me a Seahawks jacket and the latter a 49ers duffel bag, and I’d take both with me to school. 10 year old me is hoping both teams win tonight.
Tomatin Distillery warehouse in the snow
January 2, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Tomatin Distillery warehouse in the snow
Reposted by iain
One of my favorite little books is Paris versus NY - a clever set of graphics by Vahram Muratyan juxtaposing two cities I love.
RIP to this one, as both the paper Metro ticket and the plastic Metrocard die for good tomorrow.
RIP to this one, as both the paper Metro ticket and the plastic Metrocard die for good tomorrow.
December 31, 2025 at 2:58 AM
One of my favorite little books is Paris versus NY - a clever set of graphics by Vahram Muratyan juxtaposing two cities I love.
RIP to this one, as both the paper Metro ticket and the plastic Metrocard die for good tomorrow.
RIP to this one, as both the paper Metro ticket and the plastic Metrocard die for good tomorrow.
Rest in peace
December 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Rest in peace
So they’re in favour of introducing birthright citizenship to the UK, right? Right?
So Boris Johnson, Prince Phillip, Andrew Bonar Law, Freddie Mercury, George I, George II, Richard E Grant, Douglas Carswell, Rudyard Kipling, Cliff Richard, Joanna Lumley and Spike Milligan weren't British?
Interesting
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Interesting
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Number of people who say Britons must be born in UK is rising, study shows
Exclusive: Research finds ‘worrying’ surge in support for hard-right narratives on national identity
www.theguardian.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:39 AM
So they’re in favour of introducing birthright citizenship to the UK, right? Right?