Commerce and Culture are in a long term symbiotic relationship. A new approach needs to be conceptualized to serve the fastest growing sectors of the American economy, the creative industries sector, and the largest population entering cities and the workforce.

 

Portland, Oregon: The concentration of local performing arts companies and a growth in creative businesses are enhanced by this city’s independent spirit. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) counts a total of 35 colleges and universities in Portland, and the total student population of the city falls just shy of the 100,000 mark.

 

It is consistently listed as one of the most livable cities in the U.S., cited for its' communal life, as one of the top metro areas for bicycle riders and one of the best food and drink scenes in the country. This gives shape to its inspiring identity. How can this be augmented and leveraged?

 

We propose to leverage these trajectories by re-imagining the Fountain District as the new creative sector of Portland conceived equally, as a social, environmental, and economic model to be emulated by other cities. We propose to name it PD(x) Portland Experimental Zone.