Redevelopment Process For The Rose Quarter And Memorial Coliseum Begins Again

[ABM]

http://www.oregonlive.com/art/index.ssf/2010/07/analysis_redevelopment_process.html

On Monday, another possible exercise in futility begins when a process to develop the Rose Quarter, including Memorial Coliseum, begins at a public forum at the Gerding Theater.

According to information released by Mayor Sam Adams' office and the Portland Development Commission, the forum sponsored by Portland Monthly magazine has a narrow perspective. Besides thoughts by the mayor and the event's moderator, Portland Monthly editor and former Oregonian reporter Randy Gragg, the only group allowed to offer an idea for the neighborhood will be the Portland Trail Blazers organization.

When the process to develop the coliseum began months ago, I believe the mayor and the PDC hoped the best idea would prevail. But the Blazers had a literal and legal foothold in the area that could not be ignored: namely, the development rights over parts of the Rose Quarter, good until November; and the operating, or management, rights to the coliseum, effective until 2023.

In simple terms, it meant the Blazers possessed veto power over any competing idea, including the ones by the other two finalists -- the VMAAC group and a crew led by developers Shiels Obletz Johnsen.

That veto power cast inevitability over the months of public meetings and private conversations and deals between principal players. No surprise, then, that after several months of Sisyphean fits and starts, the mayor decided to suspend the entire process, along with a separate plan to craft a compromise incorporating parts of each proposal.

After significant taxpayer dollars and human hours spent on the process, it's understandable that some participants and followers of this saga feel pulled by the whims and reactions of the mayor's office and the PDC. And the fact that Monday evening is about getting feedback on only the Blazers' proposal confirms the cynical prediction of many who, from the outset, said the Blazers would win this process.

In other words, why even go through these months of capricious proceedings?

Examining plans
But let's forget about process for a moment and focus instead on the Blazers' plan and the people behind it, with the understanding that, like every proposal for the coliseum and the Rose Quarter, it's just a concept.

The Blazers team, which includes Blazers executives; Baltimore-based development group The Cordish Companies; and designer Tinker Hatfield, say they are sensitive to public needs and concerns. And, after listening to the public the past several months, they expect their plan to include an athletic complex; an entertainment district including brewpubs and restaurants; an arts presence; and a Nike-themed museum.

The Cordish Companies has a reputation for using major national retail chains, which would run counter to Portland's embrace of small local businesses. But Blazers officials say they are judicious about what works in Portland. Besides, they say, Cordish is not in charge: The Blazers are.

Which brings us to this important point about the business owned by Seattle billionaire Paul Allen, whose Vulcan Real Estate Company is not involved with this process: The Blazers are not developers. They own a basketball franchise and the Rose Garden arena and manage the coliseum. What do they know about development projects and communities?..........................

 

[barfo]

Kudos to the Blazers and the city for pursuing this, but I'm not sure there is any hope or need for a successful redevelopment of the RQ. The current RQ is not causing any problems, it's just a case of unmet potential. Maybe it's best to just let it drop. The current situation is sustainable, if somewhat pathetic. Building a baseball stadium in place of the MC was the right idea, but that didn't work out for reasons I don't completely understand. The RQ isn't going to turn into Alberta St no matter what, and Portland isn't really interested in having a bunch of cheesy midwest Bubba Gump/Hooters chain crapola close-in either.

What would really restore the RQ, but can't be done due to humongous costs, is to bury the RG and the parking garages underground (it's not like either of them need windows), and restore the street grid. That would be the recipe for a thriving stadium district.

barfo

 

[maxiep]

The primary driver behind redevelopment is demand due to economic growth. Portland has become economically sclerotic. Redevelopment should wait until there's actually some private sector demand.

The silly decision to keep the MC really killed development opportunities here, IMO. It robbed the best views and a ton of usable square footage.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

jesus, they've been talking about this shit for-fucking-ever. just build a fucking commons area and redevelop that shit. Would be dope to have some nice areas like that on the eastside instead of parking lots. what a bunch of bureaucratic bullshit.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

wasn't Larry Miller doing something with this? no wonder jack shit is getting done.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Imagine Jumptown!!!

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Looks like a great idea to me!

http://www.imaginejumptown.com/

 

[HailBlazers]

The primary driver behind redevelopment is demand due to economic growth. Portland has become economically sclerotic. Redevelopment should wait until there's actually some private sector demand.

If they factor in local Small Business's to the design the place will boom, it's all about giving Portlanders the space to get creative, If you look at every neighborhood that has done this in Portland it has transformed, ie: saturday market, the pearl to some extent, Mississippi, Alberta, SE, food carts everywhere etc, these unique areas drive tourism and spending in P-town.

The possibilities are endless, I'm glad their taking time to get in right