> But there are no swathes of empty land in Portland to fill with more single family homes. This is a key thing. There is very little undeveloped land within P

> But there are no swathes of empty land in Portland to fill with more single family homes. This is a key thing. There is very little undeveloped land within Portland city limits, and the vast majority of it is lots under 1000 square feet. Most of what is there is in places that would be expensive, laborious, or unappealing to work with, like the sides of heavily sloped hills, lots completely surrounded by other lots without road access (have fun trying to work out right of way for a driveway), or waaay out nearly in the suburbs, at which point you may as well go five more minutes in that direction and save yourself some on the taxes.