Renewal and development of urban river-front occupance : the case of Albany, Oregon

Graduation date: 1966This thesis is concerned with riverfront land use in Albany,\ud Oregon, and is addressed to the possibility of orderly development\ud and redevelopment of the riverfront. It appraises the present situation\ud particularly in regard to the renewal cycle and the problem of\ud floods on the river borders. Finally this thesis provides plans for\ud redevelopment of the CBD fringe including development of the natural\ud assets of the Willamette River for its aesthetic and recreational\ud values to the community.\ud Throughout Albany's history the riverfront has been an important\ud functional area; however, its role has changed as Albany developed\ud away from the river. The result has been a declining municipal\ud riverfront characterized by commercial and industrial obsolescence.\ud The thesis evaluates the obsolescence which occurs in this riverfront\ud fringe area. The conclusion is reached that the area needs\ud redevelopment to bring it back to standards compatible with the total\ud city.\ud During the two decades since the Second World War, urbanization\ud has encroached on the lower ground of the north bank across the\ud Willamette River. Residential development has occurred over a wide\ud expanse of the flood plain. This occupance on the flood plain places\ud increasing numbers of structures, particularly residential, in or adjacent\ud to the natural floodway of the river. The result has been a\ud rising level of flood damage and an increasing potential for exposure\ud of people and facilities to flood dangers. Since the flood plain lands\ud continue to be subdivided for extensive residential use, justification\ud is evident for public intervention through regulation to assure more\ud rational development.\ud Both areas of the riverfront, the older industrial and commercial\ud fringe area, and the newer flood plain development, need special\ud attention if they are to continue to provide a worthy urban environment.\ud Therefore, the thesis is summed up in proposed plans which\ud might act as guide lines for rational ordering of riverfront renewal\ud and development of Albany. One plan deals with broad categories of\ud land use for the total riverfront, another in more detail is a redevelopment\ud plan for the CBD riverfront fringe area