Portland abandons vacant commercial property fee after study finds it ineffective
Portland City Council has dropped plans to impose a fee on owners of vacant commercial properties after a city-commissioned study concluded the measure would be costly, ineffective, and disproportionately harmful to small owners. The decision follows record-high vacancy rates in downtown office buildings, with data showing nearly 39% vacancy in the downtown core. While the fee is off the table, the study recommended cheaper permitting processes, easier use conversions, and targeted enforcement for nuisance properties as alternative solutions to address empty storefronts and offices.