The Urbanist Coalition of Portland (formerly Livable Portland) is a political group with the goal of making Portland, Maine more livable for everyone. We recently changed our name from "Livable Portland" to avoid confusion with the Maine DSA's campaign of the same name. We support middle density, mixed-use neighborhoods, with access to transit and cycling infrastructure. This will provide affordable housing, protect our environment, and overall make our city a more pleasant and safe place to live and work . Our policies and approach are strongly inspired by the YIMBY movement, Strong Towns, and more. If you think building housing is a good thing and that you shouldn't need to drive everywhere you will fit right in.
Owning a car should be an option, not a requirement. Our addiction to car infrastructure has placed a strain on our most vulnerable populations and our environment.
A land value tax encourages development, discourages using land as an investment, and helps cities re-capture the value they add by providing municipal services
A little bit of density can go a long way. Middle density housing can help us build much more housing without changing the character of our city.
Mixed use zoning makes for walkable neighborhoods, favors local businesses over large chains, fosters a sense of community, and can even help provide more revenue for the city.