The American Planning Association (APA) announced that Ladd’s Addition has been designated one of 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2009 by APA’s Great Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.
Ladd’s was singled out for its radial street pattern, village green, extensive community gardens, and on-going commitment to planning and civic engagement. Developed as a Victorian-era residence park, Ladd’s Addition is Portland’s most heavily forested, inner-city neighborhood. It serves as an exemplary national model for other communities wanting to create compact, pedestrian-friendly places.
“Ladd’s Addition is a beautiful example of a 20-minute neighborhood, where neighbors can walk or bike to commercial corridors and enjoy parks and open spaces,” said Portland Mayor Sam Adams. “As the City focuses its attention on climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by creating walkable communities, it’s affirming to see that the origins of Portland’s visionary planning and smart growth are imbedded in historic neighborhoods such as Ladd’s Addition.”
Platted in 1891 by former Portland mayor and businessman William S. Ladd, the neighborhood was planned in keeping with the City Beautiful movement. Its radial streets converge at five gardens, whose formal symmetry is reminiscent of Renaissance cities and gardens. Ladd Circle, a central park used for gatherings and informal recreation, is complemented by four satellite rose gardens.
Designated in 1977 as one of Portland’s first residential historic districts, many of the houses found here are stunning examples of Old Portland architecture, including Craftsman, Mission, Tudor and bungalows. Ladd’s Addition also is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Original street and sidewalk details reinforce the area’s historic character. Horse tethering rings line curb fronts and buggy wheel curb protectors still can be found on some street and alley corners.
The area’s commercial corridors are within a short walk of most homes, which encourage people to walk or ride bicycles instead of using cars for short errands. Bicycle traffic continues to increase, reaching nearly 4,000 daily riders during the summer in 2008.
Residents are also strongly committed to taking steps to reduce their neighborhood’s carbon footprint, working with the larger Hosford-Abernethy Neighborhood Development Association to develop “Green Teams”.
For more information about these neighborhoods, as well as the lists of the 2009 APA 10 Great Public Spaces and 10 Great Streets, visit .
www.planning.org/greatplaces
