For the past few years, the development scene in Portland has hummed right along.
But at the same time, market watchers and developers have wondered just how much longer this extended development cycle could possibly last. Some slowing — fueled in part by rising construction costs, a tight labor market and new affordable housing mandates — has caused some developers to ease off the gas.
Recently, however, the federal government added a little something to the tank that could keep development in Portland and elsewhere cruising right along into 2019 and beyond — Opportunity Zones.