Urban Renewal -- Keeping Clackamas Working
Clackamas County’s Development Agency, the County’s urban renewal authority, works for all County residents and businesses.
Development Agency urban renewal projects have been making a positive difference for people in Clackamas County communities for 30 years. The Development Agency excels at creating jobs and helping businesses, both small and large, enhance the quality of life for everyone in Clackamas County.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Frequently Asked Questions
Accomplishments
Clackamas County urban renewal has fostered 30,000 jobs inside the Development Agency’s four urban renewal areas.
- Government Camp residents are benefitting from increased tourism, better public safety and more housing that resulted from the Government Camp Village Revitalization Area.
The Government Camp Urban Renewal District was instrumental in the evolution of our small town. It was the catalyst to not only enhance our streetscape and revitalize our economy; it brought our community together with a common purpose. — Jeff Kohnstamm, President/Area Operator, Timberline Lodge
- Clackamas County workers found jobs in the heart of the County’s industrial area at businesses that came here and stayed here because of reduced traffic problems and easy access to regional expressways and the development of the Clackamas Industrial Area.
The urban renewal’s been good; the area’s cleaner looking and there’s more foot traffic, a lot more joggers, walkers, and bikes going past our store. People see us and there’s just more action. — Kevin Wright, Metro Tractor, 12111 SE Highway 212, Clackamas
- Clackamas County business growth and expansion were made possible by the new and improved roadways in one of the region’s fastest growing business centers -- the Clackamas Town Center Area.
Our family has lived two blocks off Sunnyside Road since 1991. I can now walk the two miles to work or to the store. I would have never considered it before the improvement. Thank you Clackamas County for making this major connector safer to both walk and commute. — Fred Bahofner, Resident
- And finally, residents and neighbors are, right now, building a strong, stable, more livable neighborhood for families and small businesses in the North Clackamas Revitalization Area with sewer systems, improved roadways, new parks and other community improvements.
Many homeowners in our neighborhood really needed sewers and urban renewal has finally helped to make that a reality. — Glenda Kennedy, NCRA Homeowner
These are just a few of the successes that have been made possible by urban renewal funds. It all comes from the Development Agency’s commitment to work with local communities in an open and thoughtful manner.
Our Mission
Using urban renewal authority, the Development Agency implements programs thatprovide for economically, socially and environmentally sound development and redevelopment to revitalize blighted areas; building the County's property tax base and creating jobs for the citizens of Clackamas County.
History of urban renewal in Clackamas County
Urban renewal was authorized by the people of Oregon in 1960 through a constitutional amendment. The purpose of the amendment was to improve communities and revitalize areas that show signs of blight -- have deteriorated, are unsafe and/or that show signs of economic or physical conditions that are detrimental to the community as a whole. More than 50 cities and counties in Oregon have active urban renewal programs.
In 1977 the Board of County Commissioners created the Clackamas County Development Agency (CCDA) -- the urban renewal authority for Clackamas County. The Development Agency is:
- Committed to carrying out plans developed with the community specifically for each urban renewal area to:
- Increase jobs
- Improve economic vitality
- Improve opportunities and capabilities by removing influences that inhibit development or redevelopment
- Dedicated to fulfilling commitments to the community:
- Develop plans that best meet the needs of each area's residents, businesses and agencies
- Ensure funds are spent efficiently and effectively for the benefit of each urban renewal area
- Work closely with and consider the ideas, needs and wants of residents, businesses, workers and other agencies in and near each urban renewal area
- Consistently work with citizens, businesses and agencies to support the growth of livable, sustainable, economically viable communities
