Portland is often called the model of a well-planned city. This is doubtless a consequence of Oregon's practical land-use policies, especially the 1974 set-up of an urban growth boundary. This move conserved land in the style of farming practices of the 1800s. This was uncharacteristic in a period when many areas neglected their major cities for expansion along highways, satellite cities and suburbs.

However, there are real estate investors and developers who do not quite concur with the urban growth boundary. They reason that the boundary has been a double-edged sword. In other words, it has given not only benefits, but a stark rise in housing costs. Yet housing costs are distinctly less than in metropolitan areas in Washington and California. Furthermore, the inhabitants enjoy the benefits of a compact area that has a well-organized public transportation system and less traffic. Also, the city