South Hillsboro Could Have Been Hillsboro Commons

It's a question of what could have been.

Earlier this week, hundreds gathered for the groundbreaking of South Hillsboro, a planned area of the city that planners think will eventually be home to 20,000 people.

But - instead of South Hillsboro, what about Hillsboro Commons?

That was the recommendation of a California-based consulting firm, InterCommunicationsInc, which was paid $33,000 by Hillsboro to study the area's history and culture and make recommendations on several subjects ranging from a color palette to logos to the name.

Several of the recommendations were adopted, others - including the name - were not.

"After doing due diligence and collaborating on the unique opportunity to name the largest master-planned residential development in Oregon history, South Hillsboro remained the best name for the area," city spokesman Patrick Preston told Patch.

"It has the advantage of being widely known and consistently used in years of conversation, and that it ensures South Hillsboro has a seamless connection as a part of our City, from Tanasbourne to Downtown Hillsboro, and Orenco to South Hillsboro."