News Roundup: Center for the Arts, The Callback, Portland Botanical Gardens, and more

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The vision for the Center for the Arts at Columbia Palisades includes a main stage theater with 1,250 seats, a black box theater for 300 viewers, an interactive art space and a restaurant.

The Columbian reported that the Center for the Arts at Columbia Palisades in Vancouver moved forward with the release of new renderings of the design by ZGF Architects.

Bridgetown Bites previewed The Callback, a new food cart and bar set to open in the Hollywood District this summer. In advance of its Memorial Day weekend opening, Bridgetown Bites also covered the Fremont Garage.

New retailers and a refreshed food court are coming to Washington Square mall, according to the Oregonian.

Hundreds gathered for the opening of the East County Library in Gresham, reports Willamette Week.

Portland Parks and Recreation has chosen Malcom Reading Consultants to run the design competition for the Tom McCall Waterfront Park Bowl, reports KPTV. Portland Monthly asked whether a makeover of the park could revitalize Portland.

Governor Kotak signed the bill authorizing state funding for a renovation of the Moda Center, however with local funding being “nowhere near a done deal“.

With a now signed agreement for the purchase McCormick & Baxter superfund site, the Portland Botanical Gardens is now one step closer to opening, reports the Oregonian.

High Street Residential is breaking ground on a 369-unit apartment complex at the former Cedar Hills Shopping Center in Beaverton, reports the Portland Business Journal.

Portland’s suspension of Systems Development Charges may be enough to make the five story, 158-unit Rose City Mixed-Use development at NE Sandy & 52nd viable, reports the Daily Journal of Commerce.

The Oregonian took a tour of the McMenamins Taft Hotel project, set to open adjacent to the Crystal Ballroom.

Plans for Centennial Mills may now include the conversion of the former Portland Mounted Police into a nightclub and restaurant, reports the Portland Business Journal.

The 944-page Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project has been published, reports the Daily Journal of Commerce.

The In-N-Out Mill Plain, the first in Vancouver, WA, opened to more hype than hassle.

Under Construction: Steelhead Music Venue (images)

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A new concert hall advances under the name Steelhead in Portland’s Central Eastside. The project is being developed by local developers Beam Development and Colas Development Group, for tenant by Live Nation. Designer of the project is Lever Architecture in collaboration with Live Nation’s in house design team at Blueprint Studio.

Exterior rendering from the corner at SE Water and Salmon
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Designs for James Beard Public Market Approved (images)

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Construction on the James Beard Public Market is moving forward in downtown Portland. Designed by BCV Architecture + Interiors, Colab Architecture + Urban Design, and Humber Design Group, the new market is planned to include a restaurant, cookbook store, teaching kitchen, common space for community events, food vendors, common seating areas, and a rooftop bar with covered seating.

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News Roundup: Sunnyside Medical Center, North Portland Aquatics Center, East County Library, and more

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The new Kaiser Sunnyside will replace the existing facility, to be torn down after the new hospital opens in 2029.

Ground was broken on the new Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center in Happy Valley, according the Portland Business Journal. Leaders described it as a “model hospital of the future” with 100% private rooms, advanced robotics, healing gardens and a reduced carbon footprint.

Portland Parks & Recreation revealed the final designs for the North Portland Aquatics Center, reports KGW. The $91 million is due to start construction in 2027.

Demolition began at the historic Governor Building in Downtown, reported the Portland Business Journal. No plans have been revealed for what will happen with the site.

TEDxPortland founder David Rae announced plans for the Portland Sneaker Experience.

KGW covered a unanimous vote of the Portland City Council, which advanced expedited the process for the Inner Eastside Planning Project. The project aims to rezone close-in neighborhoods of the city to allow apartments and therefore increase housing production.

Willamette Week looked at eight ways to get Portlanders back on the Willamette River, including a new nature park at Willamette Cove and the adjacent Portland Botanical Gardens, the Albina Riverfront, the forthcoming design competition for the Tom McCall Waterfront Park Bowl and the Center for Tribal Nations adjacent to OMSI.

The Design Commission’s approval of the Lloyd Center Master Plan has been appealed to City Council by the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods and the Save Lloyd campaign, reports the Oregonian. The center’s owner announced that the center will close August 8th. An earlier story looked at where the remaining tenants will be moving.

In Gresham, a major civic project is nearing completion. The Oregonian reports that the new East County Library will feature a rooftop terrace and a 200-seat auditorium when it opens on May 16th.

As Mayor Wilson proposes $120 million for the Moda Center, Oregon Artswatch looked at the “absence of design” in the 1995 structure.

Multnomah County advanced plans for the $29.8 million Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center on SE Grand Ave, according to the Daily Journal of Commerce.

The estimated cost of replacing the aging Interstate Bridge Replacement Project continues to climb. According to the Oregonian, new projections suggest the project could cost billions more than previously expected. At the same time, BikePortland reports that planned freeway expansion elements have been value engineered out of the project for now.

Innovative Housing Inc, broke ground on 150 units of affordable housing at the Barbur Apartments in Hillsdale, reports the Portland Business Journal.

Condominiums units at the Ritz Carlton Residences in Block 216 barely sold—until prices were slashed, reports the Oregonian.

Under Construction: Lloyd Center Venue (images)

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A two story concert and event venue at Lloyd Center is currently under construction after receiving approval from the design commission in 2024. The proposed venue, with a flexible capacity for 2,000 to 4,250 attendees, is approximately 67,000 square feet in size and will include the main event space, a mezzanine, as well as supporting spaces. The building is designed by Works Progress Architecture and co-developed by Monqui Presents and AEG Presents.

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Under Construction: PSU Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design (images)

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Construction is in progress on the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design at Portland State University. Located at the southern end of the South Park Blocks in Downtown Portland, and designed by LEVER Architecture, this 4-story academic building will include 100,000 square feet of classrooms, studios, galleries, faculty offices, labs, commons areas, and support spaces.

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News Roundup: Lloyd Center, Williams and Russell, Alaska Airlines Hangar, and more

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An aerial view showing what the Lloyd Center Master Plan could look like at full build-out.

The future of the Lloyd Center was sealed by a vote of approval by the Design Commission, reports The Oregonian. The Portland Mercury asked whether Portland should try to save the mall.

Vertical construction began at the Williams and Russell site, reports the DJC. The first phase will include twenty for-sale townhouses; subsequent phases will include affordable rental housing and a Black Business Hub.

OPB covered the Oregon Senate’s approval $365 million for of state funding for the Moda Center. In the lead up, Willamette Week asked architects and NBA insiders what a renovation might include while reporting on how Oregon officials were playing not lose in the funding talks. OPB looked at Portland’s $1.7 billion climate fund, a potential source for part of the city funding. Following approval of the state funding, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver visited Portland.

Demolition is underway at the former Sears at Washington Square, where a new Dicks House of Sport will be built, reports The Oregonian.

The Portland City Council approved a temporary property tax exemption for a new Alaska Airlines Hangar at Portland International Airport, according to The Oregonian. The hangar will be the airline’s only facility on the west coast capable of servicing their newly acquired 787 widebody planes.

As work on the PDX Terminal Core project draws to a close, one lingering annoyance is ending as the temporary walkways shut down.

Willamette Week covered how at The Horizon Enterprise Building’s music venue and bar The Downbeat, two friends bring art, music and community to Old Town.

New ‘Big Pink’ owner Jeff Swickard added to his downtown Portland holdings with the purchase of the adjacent Five Oak building, per KGW.

A report into Portland’s waiver of Systems Development Charges shows the policy has promise, according to the Oregonian.

Despite the SDC waiver, Urban Development Group has abandoned plans to restart a stalled project at 1336 E Burnside St.

Permits have been filed for a mixed use retail and residential building at NW 23rd and Marshall, reports the Portland Business Journal. Previously planned as a five story building, it is now moving forward as a three story 50-unit building.

The OHSU Vista Pavilion will open to cancer patients in April 2026, reports the Portland Business Journal. The Oregonian wrote about how the project will expand cancer care and free up beds.

KGW covered Representative Suzanne Bonamici presentation to the City of Portland of $850,000 to support the infrastructure for the OMSI Master Plan.

Oregon Artswatch had a conversation with architect Ben Waechter.

Building on History looked at whether there’s a new future for the Aircraft Factory, best known as the former Gordon’s Fireplace Shop, after its sale.

Supporters of the Keller Reimagined proposal rallied, arguing that it, rather than the PSU Performing Arts proposal, should move forward.

Ida B. Wells Modernization Receives Design Advice (images)

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The Portland Design Commission conducted a Design Advice Request meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19, for the Ida B. Wells Modernization. Commissioners reviewed site plan and design alterations for the new Ida B. Wells High School building, which will replace the existing building. Portland Public Schools selected Bora for the building design and site plan and Hoffman Construction as the project’s contractor.

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