Formerly the site of Harbor Drive Freeway, the city of Portland was the first in the United States to decide to close and remove a freeway, and replaced it with the 37-acre Tom McCall Waterfront Part (seen here). Since the removal of the freeway in 1974, property values in downtown Portland have increased an average of 10.4% annually, crime has decreased in this area by 65% compared to 16% reduction in the city as a whole, and there has been no noted congestion in the surrounding roadways. Surprisingly, before and after comparisons demonstrated a 9.6% decrease in vehicle trips of nearby roads and bridges.