Hillsboro's approach to community engagement took center stage this past year with the introduction of a monthly discussion series titled "Community Conversations with Mayor Steve Callaway." The series, which kicked off in September 2022, has quickly become one of the channels through which the city administration connects with residents, discussing everything from infrastructure to sustainability and providing updates on local developments.
This September's edition, episode 23 of the series, called "Making a Neighborhood — The Story of South Hillsboro," was recently distributed and it is available to the public in various accessible formats; you can listen to it as a podcast on Apple and Spotify, watch it as a video on the City's YouTube channel, or access it directly on the City's website and social media channels. The focus for this month's episode was the evolution of South Hillsboro, a community effort that has been over a decade in the making, now looking back to compare its progress to the original vision for the area, all these discussions were taking place at Tamarack Park located right in the heart of the very neighborhood in question.
As reported in the City of Hillsboro's announcement, Mayor Callaway was joined by a panel including Dan Dias, the City of Hillsboro Economic & Community Development Director; Kiley Cook, Reed’s Crossing Community Manager; and Eric Peterson, Brookfield Properties Vice President of Operations, all of whom weighed in on South Hillsboro's development and its adherence to the original plans. Topics of discussion included the creation of homes, parks, schools, and roads, as well as the integration of sidewalks and sewers, and the inclusion of sustainability measures in the burgeoning neighborhood.
The discussion served as an open forum, providing insights into the complexities of building a neighborhood from scratch, and allowing residents to directly engage with city officials and developers to voice their questions about what’s next for South Hillsboro. The conversations highlighted the multifaceted process of city development where, urban planning meets the aspirations of the residents meets the market forces driving the real estate industry, forming a tapestry of shared stories and objectives.
