Ground Rules

Not only would I walk each street, but also every shared right-of-way. Alleys, unimproved or unmaintained roads, and places on public property where streets likely existed or were intended to exist - assuming that barriers do not prevent my access. No trails. No park paths, esplanades, or railroads. No freeways, although I'll likely include those that cross the Columbia River.

I generally rely on GoogleMaps to make these distinctions. To minimize ownership uncertainty, I check Portlandmaps.com while also looking for clues like telephone poles or other infrastructure. The LiveTrekker app traces my route in real time onto a map, which I then record to mapmywalk.com for both a backup record and a clearer route delineation. Unfortunately, I was unable to identify an app to easily compile the routes onto one map, so I do record afterwards using a "Your Places" map on GoogleMaps, using a redline to delineate my routes and view the city limits boundary that will tell me when to halt.

I also take geocoded photos of houses, middle housing types, road conditions, automobiles, etc. that catch my eye. To keep things interesting, I'm also documenting palm trees and chainlink fence manufacturer labels (both will be highlighted in a later blog post). And I keep a running total of my mileage on a Google spreadsheet.

Other self-imposed ground rules include:

1. Walk routes (no running). Stops are okay.

2. Walk in the daylight only. Doubling back on a route could be done in darkness, if needed.

3. Walk each street to its full extent, but only one direction and on one side. Streets with contiguous, physically divided medians (such as Interstate Ave.) should be walked on both sides.

4. Stay on public property whenever possible.

5. Use discretion. There are places that are public that may have been taken over by a resident. Walk as far as is comfortable and determined to be safe.

6. Do not photograph obvious signs of poverty or houselessness. Avoid taking photos of people, especially houseless people, children, and people of color (individuals who may have legitimate fears of a privileged while male stranger taking their photograph already).

7. Do not listen to the radio, music, or podcasts. This project is largely about keeping aware of my surroundings. Sound will distract.

WTF, Todd?

My inspiration for the Street x Street project came about while doing research on new residential development for the City of Portland's Residential Infill Project. As much of Portland's newly constructed residential development was not yet visible using GoogleEarth's street view feature, I ventured out into Portland streets to capture it. In doing so, I soon realized that my months of work on this project made me hyper-aware of numerous nuances to development. And I became hooked -- or rather, obsessed -- on how new zoning code concepts might influence development of Portland's neighborhoods in the future.

My new found obsession tempted me to stray well beyond the limits my assignment. I wanted to ponder proposed applications in different geographies across the city. In areas with tight, rectilinear street grids and with serpentine boulevards and happenstance cul-du-sacs. Across neighborhoods developed in different decades (or centuries!) and shaped in response to various socioeconomic circumstances. In places dominated by lone stands of tall Douglas Firs, by long allées of mature Elms, and by tree-barren streetscapes. With steep hills and long vistas. In cherished neighborhoods and those seemingly unloved and forgotten by time. Of  wealthy communities and ones with high concentrations of poverty or houselessness. 

I narrowly opened a Pandora's Box and wanted not only to discover blocks and streets that were new to me, but also transitions from one to the next to better understand the dynamic ebbs and flows of neighborhood pattern across the city. From this, the Street x Street project commenced.