Part 5/8:
Critics fear that Portland’s venture into social housing will be marred by bureaucratic inefficiencies. If the city takes on the responsibility for housing development, costs could spiral out of control, leading to projects that are not only delayed but also ultimately more expensive than if they were handled by private entities.
Historical examples suggest that government-led initiatives tend to run over budget and fail to meet deadlines. With Portland already dealing with a 34% vacancy rate in its downtown, the expectation that the city can efficiently manage large-scale housing projects appears far-fetched to many observers.