Audit Update: Lents Urban Renewal – Spending continues, changes unlikely

The audit found that Prosper Portland’s and the Housing Bureau’s investments in Lents had mixed results compared against the City’s ambitious goals for the urban renewal area. Prosper Portland had not comprehensively assessed or reported how its investments changed Lents.

One recommendation in process

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  We recommended that Prosper Portland begin and the Housing Bureau continue to periodically measure economic results for the goals they have set, update goals as needed, and report progress to the public.
  
  The bureaus are spending down the remainder of Lents urban renewal funds and are unlikely to make changes to goals and projects funded. The Covid-19 pandemic affected Prosper Portland’s plans. Prosper intended to hire a contractor this fiscal year to provide regular updates on economic indicators at the city and neighborhood level, but now intends to shift this work to Prosper staff. Prosper’s Board of Commissioners received an update on development plans for the Bakery Block and 92^nd & Harold in December 2021. The bureaus have not reported updated progress against economic goals.

View the 2020 audit report and recommendations and our 1-year follow up report.

Visit our online dashboard to track the status of recommendations from other reports

​Audit Team: Minh Dan Vuong, Performance Auditor II