Fact Sheet

Winter 2010-11 (pdf, 527kb)

 

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Related Projects

The Rose Quarter Development Project will help inform the N/NE Quadrant Study, a collaborative effort by the City of Portland and ODOT to integrate land use and urban design planning with freeway planning and concept-level engineering in the N/NE portion of the central city, including the Rose Quarter. Visit their website for more information.

 

Portland Development Commission
 

City of Portland

 

Concept Summaries

This page lists titles and brief descriptions of the concepts submitted to this Web site between November 2, 2009 and January 8, 2010. Summaries are listed in the order received.

Coliseum of the Crossroads - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: My first remembrance of the Coliseum was when visiting here in the late 60's and watching the movie The Beatles - Yellow Submarine as a radio station promotion with psychedelic lights and projection inside and outside the building. It seemed to contrast, with it being veteran's memorial and again with billboards close-by the freeway that advertised a large gospel church and a second that stated "..we've been KISN your wife while you were away.." Somehow, it all seemed uniquely Portland.

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When I am near the Coliseum I wonder why there is only one Smithsonian and it is only in Washington DC? Or why can't there be a world class museum like the Guggenheim or a major cultural museum such as the Native American museum in Harlem or a regional museum such as the British Columbia or Ontario Provincial Museum. Why can't those artifacts of the Great Collections of the West actually reside in a Museum in the West?

This a district begging to be cultural icon of Portland and the region. The area and the building does not need another sport team to be successful. The Evergreen Museum in McMinnville showed that if the attractor is built, they will come. Is attracting or creating a world class museum any loftier an idea than building over the freeway? Even though we are in tough times it may be just exactly the time for Portland to be bold. It also does not have to be big, nor significantly impact adjacent neighborhoods, but should have an educational, cultural focus to celebrate, share and make a statement specifically to the world about Portland.. The Coliseum area is where there has always been a number of crossroads.- From a crossroads of animal paths to Indian trading crossroads to roads, freeways, railroads, creeks, gulches, rivers and waterways. The link west to east by railroads started in Portland near here . Celebrate that spot!

The vision of the Coliseum area should be generated from with a global focus. I believe have a few things to offer the rest of the globe.

This concept is available for public review
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Light It Up - Jan. 8

Light It UpConcept Group: bimWork Architecture & Planning

Web site: www.bimwork.com

Concept Summary: Bringing Natural Light into 2 Zones within existing Coliseum Building

Concept Design Area 1: Convention Space Improvements: (Goal #1)

The Convention Space located beneath the Main Entry Plaza has been identified and described by many as being dark and uninviting.

While a large portion of this space is beneath vehicular traffic, opportunities exist in four key areas that will have a significant positive impact for building occupants.

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Two of these areas involve the addition of two Sculptural Skylights: one centered before the building's Main Entry Canopy and the second, 120' South in the Plaza. These skylights will serve the dual purpose of bringing sculpture to the main plaza above while also filling the space below with natural light. The more I think about the possibilities for these skylights, the more excited I become.

In two other areas, natural light can be affordably brought into the Convention Space by creating large punched opening along the space's Western walls on either side of the Main Entry and inserting a Glazing System. This will bring in light and afford conventioneer's views of the fountain and courtyards while also letting the public view inside to see what is happening.

Concept Design Area 2: Arena Roof Replacement to include Expansive Day Light: (Goal #2)

Wouldn't it look nice if the metal ceiling in the Arena (and perhaps Lobby as well) were just taken down and recycled? Wouldn't it be great if a glass roof flooded the Arena with nautural light?

The concept for Expansive Day Light defines an area bound by the structure's 4 columns. Within the structural frame within this area, the roof decking would be removed and replaced with either a Translucent Panel System or Glazing System. An early occupancy/customer study would need to occur to determine first whether such a design would be desirable. An early Energy analysis would need to occur to determine how heat gain and heat loss is effected and any impacts this might have on the buildings Mechanical Systems.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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RockGym - Jan. 8

Car MuseumConcept Summary: This concept provides one additional use for the interior of the Coliseum and offers a vehicular entry to the side from the North. The underside of the seating bowl can be built up as a rock climbing gym, which would attract a great crowd due to the unique, urban setting this gym would offer, the difficulty of climbing at such an angle, and the views provided from the glass encased structure.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Car Memorial Museum - Jan. 8

Car MuseumConcept Group: GGLO

Web site: http://www.gglo.com/insight/carmemorialmuseum.aspx

Concept Summary: We propose to repurpose Memorial Coliseum in a way that will foster Portland’s evolution into a model sustainable city of the future. Our concept begins with the counterintuitive conversion of the Coliseum into a colossal robotic parking garage. And it ends mid-century with the launching of a museum that celebrates the bygone era of the automobile.

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Portland has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, which will require a two thirds reduction in driving. Over the same time period, the Portland area is projected to grow by 90 percent. Fortuitously, this growth can actually help Portland achieve its GHG goals by increasing density; and the positive impact is maximized if growth is targeted in areas that are already relatively dense, such as downtown Portland. However, under current trends, fitting parking in high-density development places a severe liability on the creation of livable communities. Parking is expensive, consumes vast area, degrades the pedestrian realm, and hamstrings design.

Our interim solution is to provide parking in peripheral locations, thereby reducing the need for cars to enter the city core, and enabling the core to develop without the impediment of parking. The Rose Quarter is an ideal parking location to serve downtown Portland, as users would have several public transit options to reach their final destinations. We also propose a pedestrian bridge across the river.

The Coliseum building is well-suited to hold a modular robotic parking system, and could accommodate roughly 5200 cars. Ideally, it would be one of several such “Mobility Centers” that would ring downtown. Over time, as the city grows and reliance on cars declines, these facilities would be relocated to less urbanized areas. Eventually, when parking is no longer needed in the Coliseum, we propose convert back to civic use: the “Car Memorial Museum.”

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Portlandtopia - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: Imagine the Memorial Coliseum transformed into Portlandtopia, a unique "experience Portland project" designed to engage and inspire visitors; a place that reflects Portland's vision of sustainability, local and global, in a creative and attractive way; a place that uses the full spectrum of smart technology; a place that offers a mix of activities from popular Oregon events like the Oregon Country Fair, Corvallis' Da Vinci Days and Portland's TBA Festival.

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Designed to dazzle and delight, Portlandtopia is made up of:

PDXplore, a visitors' center that uses touch-screen tables of electronic maps. PDXplore would be a starting point for themed tours of Portland.

Global Apps, an interactive center with displays of smart technology used in the real world.

Geek Palace, a lounge area with computers and gadgets for hands-on learning.

Green Wheels, a showcase of human-powered vehicles.

The Cabaret, a music and entertainment area comprised of small theaters for live performances.

The Danceteria, a human-powered dance floor, patterned after the one in the Watt Club in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

ArtGolf, an 18-hole mini golf course designed by local artists.

The Plaza, the area outside the building, with plantings, benches and sculptures, stationary human-powered vehicles, and small sustainable dwellings.

It's time to light up the Memorial Coliseum; to give the Glass Palace an infusion of energy; and to create an urban commons for Portlanders and visitors from all around the world.

This concept is available for public review
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Amusement Center - Jan. 8

Concept Group: Players

Concept Summary: Indoor Amusement/Entertainment Center. Project will provide entertainment for individuals and groups of all demographics and ages. The draws would include quality amusement park rides, such as roller coaster(s), rocket rides, and other rides that would fit the physical limitations of the Memorial Coliseum. The basement could provide excellent space for an electric go-cart track, laser tag, and/or bowling lanes. In addition, night clubs, video games, billiards, mini-golf, and a children's play area could be included in the master design. The main restaurant and bar would begin with a micro brewery, dining and bar services.

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The Memorial Coliseum would provide an amusement center two giant economic advantages... INDOOR SPACE AT VERY LOW COST AND SUPERB LOCATION.

The Amusement Center could raise all the money itself for improvements and upgrades for the Memorial Coliseum because the business plan would make money. See income statement below.

Sales(annual) 16,000,000

Food & Alcohol 1,500,000
Labor 3,000,000
Advertising 1,500,000
Utilities 1,000,000
Maintenance 1,000,000
Miscellaneous 1,000,000
Rent 1,000,000

Income 6,000,000

The initial investment would be about $60,000,000 to improve the Coliseum and provide construction and equipment needed. Return on investment = 10%

In conclusion, an Amusement Center for the City of Portland would be a fantastic fit for the Rose Quarter. It would draw thousands of customers into Portland each day, using the transit systems already in place for the Rose Quarter. The business would be year round consistent and would not significantly change the existing Memorial Coliseum, parking garages, and surrounding area. It could work well with other plans, such as the Blazer Zone and a Nike Museum. Finally, it would be a tourist draw for the entire City of Portland, providing an excellent activity for residents and visitors alike.

This group is looking for partners
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CHAPWACT - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: CHAPWACT: Coliseum Hydraulic and Pressurized Water and cyclinder Transport.
I have envisioned a docking system for water vessels and a public boarding area to board as well as; i.e. the Portland Spirit, other vessels also. A toll will be charged. A holding tank of pressurized water would drive the clear cylinder up to the entrance where both passenger off loading and returning is done. Waterways could even be routed around the entire building or even throughout.Many possibilities! Think (ROMAN). Each cylinder could carry as many as 30 or more people at once and there could be 2 cylinders run simultaneously.

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As for the entrepreneurial side of the building we could have several levels. The specifics can be:
Lower level = vendors
Mezzanine = relaxation type activities & library with computers & so forth.
2 level = physical fitness.
3rd level =any and on up from there.(To be determined later)
And on the upper levels or floors can even have condominiums.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Coliseum Shelter - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: Over the last few years we have seen the homeless population in Oregon grow beyond belief. I think that turning the Coliseum into a homeless shelter, or a shelter of some sort where they can come get food and stay warm and have plenty of restrooms. You can add a floor or two and you can make one floor a gym for kids to run around and play (because we all know that there are TOO MANY homeless children!!) Maybe a couple of floors could be turned into an area for all sorts of beds and places for people to sleep. Also they could have another floor or section for some sort of healthcare or just a little first aid area. I think this would not only help out the homeless but it will also help out the community with taking those homeless people off the street.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Coliseum Gardens - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: From Portland’s Living Room at Pioneer Square over a bridge to Portland’s Kitchen at Coliseum Gardens. Think Portland Bowl: a bountiful oval bowl displayed in a massive glass box. After all, everyone congregates in the kitchen. Coliseum Gardens is a mixed use resource and destination for Portlanders and visitors alike. Taking full advantage of the windows of the Coliseum as literally a green house with living walls and edible landscapes on the structures both inside and outside and rooftop, creating a living laboratory for sustainable food system- agriculture, water conservation, sustainable agricultural business hub.  It would offer classes for aspiring gardeners, provide agricultural education and job training, serve as a site for a farmers market or public market, and sell sustainable gardening supplies. This is a healthy food systems hub, where people could learn and participate in growing, preparing and selling healthy food in a beautiful, lush, inspired environment.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Rejuvenated Walls and Places - Jan. 8

Concept Group: J2B Group

Concept Summary:We seek to create urban places to rejuvenate the Rose Quarter by Facilitating curiosity, energy, gathering, interaction, dwelling, re-linking, social and economic growth, and the preservation of living history and culture. We see the proposed renovations to the Memorial Coliseum as responses to the opportunities and challenges brought forth from a vision plan that embraces the issues of re-making the Rose Quarter into a vibrant and integrated part of the inner East Side Community.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Coliseum 7 Cinema and Related Rose Quarter Ideas - Jan. 8

Coliseum CinemaConcept Summary: The ideas being submitted here were first proposed in two papers I wrote years earlier: 1) The Future Rose Quarter - A Part of Portland, Oregon (September 18, 2001; 10 pages), and 2) The New Memorial Coliseum Complex (October 13, 2003).

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For the Memorial Coliseum, the primary ideas are:
A) Convert most of the northeastern seating bowl to a movie cinema (brother Andis ’ idea) - the “Coliseum 7”
B) Maintain rest of seating for current arena uses, such as hockey (capacity about 4,800)
C) Allow Coliseum’s convention area to be converted for retail use; perhaps, a smaller ‘big box’-type store
D) Move marble commemorative walls to new plaza (with water features) in the northeast corner of the Coliseum’s plaza
E) Add video game arcade to lower-east corner of “Coliseum Box”
F) Open new veteran’s center near Coliseum

For the Rose Quarter, additional ideas are:
G) Narrow Broadway and extend Weidler to the Broadway Bridge (parking garages removed)
H) New high-rise housing incorporated into structures with replacement parking
I) Construction of a new tunnel for traffic leaving Interstate-5 southbound at Vancouver and heading east

This concept is available for public review
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OregonXperience - Jan. 8

OregonXperienceWeb site: www.oregonxperience.com

Concept Summary: The OregonXperience will transform the Memorial Coliseum into a year-round destination providing a permanent source of entertainment for local residents, a unique tourist offering for visitors/conventioneers and a pinnacle attraction that the city can proudly promote. The OregonXperience can best be described as ‘Oregon in a box’.

The OregonXperience (the “OX”) redevelopment will take full advantage of one of the Coliseum’s defining features; its unique glass shell. The transparent exterior brings the outdoors inside and allows the natural light to filter in from all directions. The interior of the building will be transformed into an immersive environment offering interactive attractions that bring to life some of the Northwest’s most exciting outdoor activities. The OX will educate and encourage visitors to take advantage of Oregon’s natural amenities and draw attention to the vibrant arts and music scene.

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Premier attractions may include indoor skydiving, rock climbing/bouldering, indoor wave surfing, etc. Overhead, zip lines and repelling platforms will allow thrill seekers the ability to observe the Portland landscape from a bird’s eye view and catch a glimpse of the fantastic view afforded by the ‘glass box’.

Smaller, secondary attractions located throughout the venue may include virtual golf simulators, competitive basketball shootout, downhill skiing/snowboarding trainers and other sports, adventure and seasonal attractions.

Retail and food offerings will be tailored to compliment the experiences as well as provide a pre and post event gathering place for Rose Quarter spectators to meet and spend time.

By tying the attractions to Oregon landmarks and points of interest, Oregon’s best natural resources will be promoted and brought to life on a smaller scale. Kiosks providing relevant information on the area will serve to educate patrons, generating excitement about experiencing what the area has to offer.

This concept is available for public review
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HOP: Heart Of Portland - Jan. 8

Concept Group: Portland HeartWorks

Concept Summary: The Rose Quarter is the center/ the Heart of Portland and our proposal is to bring this Portland Heart to life. As a great attractor in the city, we imagine making the Rose Quarter a destination. By conserving natural resources on site in a green sustainable manner, we will be making a wonderful place for Portlanders to be proud of and to call home. We imagine the inclusion of beautiful and functional Permaculture gardens, art, science, resource conservation, and regenerative ecology. Our proposal will showcase the best and most prominent of our new leading edge green city ways, while preserving our cultural heritage. In this mecca of Portland, where the city's transportation routes merge, the HOP will be jumping with 24/7 life. From educational programs to creative local business, the new Rose Quarter can provide exciting options for people between transportation connections.

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We imagine developing a vital sculptural landscape to set off the Coliseum while preserving the character of the existing facility. We see the Coliseum functioning as cooperative spaces with flexible uses. These uses may include: offices for permaculture gardens and community educational programming, art studios, historic displays, music practice rooms, performance rehearsal spaces for dance, yoga and sports, sound stages, and community programming for exciting large-scale events. This proposal can work hand in hand with many of the other proposals and looks to partner with other uses for the Coliseum including Jumptown, markets, museum, and others. We propose utilizing small, unused spaces inside and surrounding the Coliseum while transforming it’s function into a state of the art green building and community gathering place.

This group is looking for partners
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Recreational Experience Complex (REC) - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: This center will be an embodiment of what our region is known for - healthy recreation. Recreation experiences that can be created in this area:
1. Kayaking
2. Skiing
3. Climbing
4. Mountain biking
5. Etc.

The center will also have classrooms for teaching recreational skills as well as holding classes in environmental preservation. Some revenue can be generated from space leased to merchants and recreation-associated businesses. Revenue can also be generated from leasing space for large events.

The REC is a concept congruent with Portland's reputation of being a wholesome and active community.

This concept is available for public review
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Veterans Memorial Coliseum Upgrade - Jan. 8

Concept Group: General Arling/Veterans Team

Concept Summary: The dedicated purpose of the Memorial Coliseum is two-fold: cultural opportunities and a memorial to the veterans who gave their lives for our freedoms. (See plaque at entrance, copy attached) The entire coliseum is the memorial. It was dedicated to serve these purposes forever. For many, the "honor walls" with the names of those veterans are the closest they and their families will ever have to a grave and a proper place to mourn. It is sacred ground. "Time will not dim the Glory of their deeds" General John J. Pershing. The Memorial Coliseum was built because of the support of the Gold Star Mothers of the veterans who are honored in this memorial. Now, the coliseum is also on the National Registry of Historic places. It is one of our treasures. We must cherish, honor, and maintain it, no matter what. If we cannot keep this promise to the taxpayers, citizens and veterans, then we have no credibility at all for anything we do.

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These goals are best accomplished by developing this building into a world class facility by continuing to serve all current clientele and expanding the events to other groups. We need to provide young and old with learning experiences and meaningful visits by providing Pacific Northwest/Portland museums, a veterans’ library, a chapel, a chaplain’s office, a meditation room, and a beautiful sculpture at or near the entrance or near the three flags, and other additions for sports, the arts, dining and entertainment.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Portland Art & Design Center - Jan. 8

Concept Group: K & S Design Group, Inc.

Concept Summary: The communities of artists and designers in Portland are large and diverse, yet they lack a gathering space for their members and their products. The Art & Design Center proposes to enrich the growth of these communities by providing members with spaces for exhibitions, business meetings, and to present their works. It also gives local products exposure to the public.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Rose Quarter Community Crossroads - Jan. 8

Community CrossroadsConcept Group: Vision Into Action

Web site: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47777552248

Concept Summary: The Rose Quarter Community Crossroads proposal is uniquely community-driven. Within the context of the Rose Quarter Development Vision, our design aims to transform the Memorial Coliseum site from a single-use facility into an active, pedestrian oriented, mixed-use district. In doing so, our proposal will address three goals which reflect the values of Portlanders:

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1. Re-introduce the community into the Rose Quarter on a continual basis. Currently, the Rose Quarter’s areas and grounds are deserted more than they are utilized. Use of the exterior grounds is rare.
2. Create an enlivened, vibrant public-use space by introducing new activities that will generate continual use of this public area.
3. Provide gathering and education space for community-based groups and local businesses representing stakeholders in the neighborhoods in the vicinity of the Rose Quarter.

This proposed design will achieve these goals by creating five new uses and building clusters within and around the existing Memorial Coliseum:

1. Multi-cultural Center to house activities of diverse community groups.
2. World Market Place featuring foods, crafts, music and performers in a globally-themed market that will be as lively as Seattle’s Pike Place Market.
3. Affordable Housing
4. A Boutique Hotel to serve the Rose Quarter, Convention Center and Old Town. The hotel will provide a revenue stream for the revitalized area.
5. Affordable Senior Housing along the river.

Three of the new uses will penetrate the existing walls of Memorial Coliseum – the World Market Place, affordable housing and hotel. Memorial Coliseum, thus opened and with an additional opening in the roof, will become a "jewel box" for activities within. It will become the largest indoor-outdoor public space on the West Coast; it will have the advantage of being sheltered from weather, yet will have fresh air and an outdoor feel.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Memorial Tribute Panels - Jan. 8

Concept Group: Urban Outfitters Development Group

Concept Summary: The concept is very simple and very direct in its approach. Its about capturing and promoting the CIVIC PRIDE OF PORTLAND by replacing the existing white panels at the top or UPPER-HALF of the building with back-lit "ETCHED Or RAISED" images in stainless steal panels.

Each panel would be artistically etched or raised with an image of some "memorial" tribute to a person, place or thing best reflective of Portland and the Veterans Association. Ideas include highlighting several of the panels with images to be determined and selected by the Veterans Focus Group as well as including the Portland Trailblazer logo and the Portland Rose Festival logo. We have formulated a listing of images to be considered as part of our presentation. As an well several metal artists local to the City Of Portland and/or the State Of Oregon.

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Additionally our proposal calls for the replacement of the smaller rectangular sections on the LOWER-HALF of the building to be replaced with a new fully extended wall to the ground acting as a stainless steal "skirt". By doing so it will provided an enclosed, climate controlled maintenance corridor around the complete lower exterior of the building.

The alternative idea for the LOWER-HALF panels would be to simply replace them as is without any etching or to have them etched each year (starting with 2010) with a listing of significant events that occurred in Portland. Each “History Panel” would be etched and dedicated on New Year’s replacing an existing stainless steel “blank” panel. This concept would act as some what of a time capsule/capture.

We also have additional concepts to help “blend” the building in with the surrounding Rose Garden Arena Complex. Concepts that will promote keeping the Coliseum unique in its presentation and preserve its original intent in representing Portland as a memorial to veterans that have served the fine City Of Portland, State Of Oregon and the United States Of America.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Memorial Athletic & Recreation Center (MARC) - Jan. 8

MARCWeb site: www.marcpdx.org

Concept Summary: The Memorial Athletic & Recreation Center (MARC) is a bold and captivating idea that symbolizes what Portland is all about. It supports many of the civic and social values that are important to our community by promoting health and wellness, serving kids and families, preserving our architectural heritage, commemorating our veterans and enhancing tourism and economic development. MARC will house the New Memorial Coliseum, an entirely new, 6,500-seat arena, along with more than 200,000 square feet of community recreation, athletic training, and competition facilities in what will be North America's most comprehensive center for public recreation, sports events, athletics and training.

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MARC will be the home for the Portland Winterhawks, PSU men’s and women’s basketball and Oregon high school championships in wrestling, dance and drill, cheerleading, swimming, and other sports. It will serve kids and families, recreational athletes and be a headquarters for athletes with Olympic aspirations. MARC will be a public facility that is accessible to all and a destination for athletes throughout the United States and abroad. From national caliber swimming competitions, to basketball and volleyball tournaments, this landmark facility will have the ability to host a vast array of amateur athletic competitions. MARC will have a uniquely Portland spin by including facilities supporting our emerging bicycle and running cultures, including an international-quality, demountable 152 meter velodrome and a demountable indoor track capable of hosting regional and national track and field competitions. A key goal of the project will be to utilize the existing elements of the veterans’ memorial to develop an enhanced, expanded and highly accessible memorial facility that is both highly visible and respectful of those that sacrificed themselves for our community and country. A new memorial would be designed in cooperation with veterans and constructed in the plaza area east of the MARC.

This concept is available for public review
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BOXPlayhouse - Jan. 8

BOXPlayhouseConcept Group: Aquarius LLC

Web site: www.boxplayhouse.com

Concept Summary:The Rose Quarter is an island. Land-locked by the Willamette River, railways, the Interstate freeway, and major automobile arteries, the Rose Quarter "island" cannot connect to its context. This disconnect makes The Rose Quarter suffer culturally, economically and spatially. The BOXPlayhouse offers a solution for this problem. BOXPlayhouse is a hub for local, regional, national, and international entertainment and commerce, bringing life to the district and commerce to the City.

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The BOXPlayhouse is a mixed-use and telepresence venue combining commerce and entertainment at an intimate scale. It would replace the existing seating bowl for 12,000 people with a new, state-of-the-art theatre for up to 6,000 people, and leave the glass envelope of the Memorial Coliseum intact. Unlike previous teleconferencing efforts, telepresence is the perception of “being in the presence of another”. The technology of a no-delay experience is immersive. It’s as though you are seated in Portland and your colleagues in Chicago are across the table from you. Similar to how the smaller Cisco or Hewlett Packard telepresence rooms for up to 18 people work, our platform of professional grade capture is broadcast through a robust combination of options, whether it’s the surrounding virtual hotel telepresences or your hand held—the technology is business transforming.

It is a way for a Fortune 200 company, to connect to all of their people anywhere in the world, without the expense and energy consumption of the typical convention, trade show, or corporate event. This multi-use theatre not only hosts corporate events, but is ideal to host other uses that have proven profitable for the 2,500 to 6,000 seat venue.

The City becomes the playground making Portland the entertainment, convention, and meeting hub for the Pacific Rim, effectively reaching audiences around the world.

This concept is available for public review
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Jumptown Plaza - Jan. 8

Jumptown PlazaConcept Group: James M Harrison and William R Taylor

Web site: www.jamesmharrison.com/info_jumptown.html

Concept Summary: This place-making plan helps create a regional destination with public market and entertainment amenities, while optimizing the existing facilities and strengthening ties to the surrounding neighborhood. There is also the option of adding hotel and office space in two designated towers.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Oregon Sports Hall of Fame & Veteran's Memorial - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: A) Hall of Fame

Incorporate the new location for the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame into Memorial Coliseum, which will have reduced seating capacity of about 5,000 - 7,500 spectators while retaining the arena's glass shell design. Extend the new Hall of Fame outward from the Coliseum, possibly towards N. Broadway while maintaining the loading area on that side of the arena. The Hall of Fame should include a museum containing memorabilia and artifacts that document and celebrate the history of sports in Oregon, and an interactive gaming area for kids similar to the NHLPA Be a Player Zone at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto (see http://www.hhof.com/html/exbapz00.shtml).

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Renovate the arena section of the Memorial Coliseum and Hall of Fame combination into a suitable permanent home for the Portland Winterhawks. Additionally, the arena could be designated as a premier location for regional and national youth, high school, and college hockey and basketball tournaments. Other tournaments and competitions could include tennis, volleyball, and gymnastics.

B) Veteran's Memorial

Move the current memorial to a more prominent and visible location in the plaza leading up to the Coliseum's main entrance. Expand and update the memorial to memorialize a greater number of Oregon veterans and develop separate sections dedicated to specific wars and conflicts. This rebuilt memorial should include a conspicuous water feature, eternal flame, or other distinguishing characteristic.

This concept is available for public review
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Memorial Urban Sports Center - Jan. 8

Urban Sports CenterConcept Group: Architecture W

Web site: www.arcw.com

Concept Summary: Imagine a new kind of urban sports center. Imagine a place where amateur athletes rub shoulders with the professionals, youth sports leagues showcase themselves daily, and the sporting community is united. The Blazers can be playing at the same time as the top local rugby clubs duke it out to see who rules Portland. Local league offices, restaurants, and shops keep the area vibrant all day and night. Imagine living with access to ultimate sporting facilities in your backyard.

Think of it as our own Olympic Village.

This is the Memorial Urban Sports Center.

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By updating its exterior and transforming its interior, Memorial Coliseum becomes a market for entertainment, retail, commerce, sport, and, ultimately, a beacon on the grass. Powered by wind and open all hours, the underside of the bowl becomes filled in with shops, restaurants, and facility offices.

Stretching out from the Coliseum are the sporting fields, hosting any sport league or pick up game the city has to offer all day. Literally showcasing all of Portland’s sporting communities, the fields on the grass become a new iconic public space for the city. With parking and through traffic located underground, the entire MUSC becomes one large field which everyone can utilize. The Coliseum’s grounds will extend out over Interstate Ave towards the river and a new mixed use development on the Willamette. Extending down from the foot of the Broadway Bridge to the new “Silo Condo’s” to the south, the waterfront development provides engaging mixed use buildings terracing down to the waterfront creating the most sustainable and healthy living environment in town.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Miniature Working Replica of Downtown Portland - Jan. 8

Concept Group: SMARTT Scale Models, Arts & Technologies, Inc.

Web site: smarttinc.com

Concept Summary: I'm going to keep this short and sweet as possible. I am currently doing a similar proposal to the City of Seattle including Safeco and Qwest Stadiums. SMARTT would replicate the City of Portland, including all Willamette Bridges (working draw bridges optional), MAX (operational),Trimet, surface streets, Rose Quarter, Union Station along with all other downtown buildings and features decided. OHSU could be included with working a Tram.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Jewel in a Box - Jan. 8

Jewel in a BoxConcept Group: Team 2+3

Concept Summary: Memorial Coliseum was conceived as a performance venue with a civic identity. The glass walls open the interior space to the outside views and showcase the vast interior volume and sculptural bowl. With the construction of the nearby Rose Garden Arena in 1995, the Memorial Coliseum was no longer able to function as a large event venue beside a more modern counterpart resulting in two buildings with redundant functions. As a result the Memorial Coliseum has languished without a steady stream of visitors moving through its doors and enjoying its unique architecture. The Memorial Coliseum needs people. Team 2+3 proposes creating a multi-use village composed of a variety of tenants including office, retail, service as well as entertainment putting people back in the building seven days-a-week.

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Rather than relying on the sporadic population provided by mega-attendance events for a few hours each week, Team 2+3 proposes uses that would offer a combination of predictable full-time worker occupancy with extended hour retail and restaurant as well as off-hour performance and entertainment events. According to its National Register listing, the architectural significance of the building lies in the idea of a sculptural object within a glass box. We propose to maintain this expression by creating sculptural “pods” within the glass box that would serve as tenant suites as well as open circulation paths that connect and create the streets of our village. In addition to the miscellaneous event areas, the basement floor will provide ample space for the insertion of a “black box” theater accommodating larger events requiring controlled lighting, acoustical separation and privacy control. The Memorial Coliseum will become Portland’s new paradigm for sustainable urban development with the reuse of a historic modernist building to house a civic program of centrally-located, ultra high density, mixed-use activities responsive to changing market opportunities.

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States Memorial Park - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: Citizens of Oregon will vote by over 3/4 to voluntarily surrender 1776 sq. feet of our state to areas surrounding Memorial Coliseum to each respected state or territories as their own property governed by their own laws. Administration, development and maintenance of Memorial Islands belong to each state.

Embed marble monoliths surrounding Memorial Coliseum bearing names of those that gave their all.

Oregon's motto says "The Union".

Visit all states of the Union with a morning walk amongst forest of blossom trees. States Memorial Park emotionally valued destination.

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Coliseum arena supports grid platforms holding blocks of ice frozen in dimensions of Coliseum.

Place, carve and tunnel these blocks of ice to create hundreds of small ice caves.

Turn over to the State of Oregon all ice caves so that our State Park Bureau may administer them. Secured entry campsites are not required to have individual toilets and showers. Faculties will be centralized; they currently are, as other campgrounds. Hundreds of campsites available for reservation.

Green? Yes. Construction material is water. Deconstruction material is water.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Portland Aquarium Complex - Jan. 8

Portland Aquarium ComplexConcept Group: Baumberger Studio

Concept Summary: The Portland Aquarium Complex will be a new icon for the city of Portland, a glowing “jewel” that represents the region’s sustainable culture. The concept retains the glass-box architecture of the Coliseum and converts the structure into a world-class aquarium. This new public amenity would be a regional attraction – surrounded by restaurants, hotels, and office space – breathing new life into the district with a vibrancy that goes beyond game-day.

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The Aquarium is envisioned as an inside-outside experience. Exhibits within the Coliseum structure would take advantage of the building’s volume and transparency. With the abundance of windows, the ambiance would be influenced by the day’s weather, giving a unique feeling for each visit. The experience would continue outside to a series of exterior exhibits and a plaza that extends toward the Willamette River. At the far edge of the plaza, an elevator takes visitors down to a river-level exhibit. Because of Portland’s river-based location, exhibits could revolve around riparian environments and conservation, differentiating it from other regional aquariums.

The overall site concept unites the Coliseum with the city and the other Rose Quarter venues through increased pedestrian access, a mixture of uses and new public green space. The site would be re-graded to increase accessibility between the Coliseum and Rose Garden and to provide public access to the riverfront. A “lid” over the train tracks mitigates the rail lines that run through site and provides the basis for a new public park. Interstate Avenue is also lidded over.

Several new structures on the site enhance the district’s mix of uses. These buildings could house a mixture of commercial office space, hotel, restaurants, and/or residential units. Existing parking structures at the northeast corner of the site have been lined with residential units above ground-level retail to take advantage of well-located street frontage.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Veterans Recreation Center - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: Turn it into a Veterans Only recreation center catering to older veterans but for all veterans. All art work etc. should be of such that displays the values of veterans for our country.

This concept is available for public review
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The Rose Memorial - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: The Memorial Coliseum is to be renovated where necessary. The wood floor is to be refurnished to its original glory. It is to serve as the "Gathering" Place with a diversity of functions. Seating will be refurbished. The 12,000 seats will be retained with ADA requirements as necessary. Its primary use is to be as a train station. This would be dependent upon the fast train alignment constructed from Eugene to the coliseum.

It is anticipated that the state of Washington would attempt to construct a similar leg from Washington State. It appears that existing rail alignments are adequate with minimal improvements.

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The structure is to be restored to its original condition.

Additional parking is to be constructed underground using a computerized system. It is anticipated this system will be more efficient. This will allow removal of on-grade parking and construction of a pedestrian plaza, landscaping, water features and sculptures are featured in conjunction with the construction of a Veteran's Memorial.

The Rose Memorial Plaza should extend to the Rose Quarter and Convention Center. It could serve as a venue for theatre productions, light shows, large screen video, and other types of education and entertainment activities.

Connections to the surrounding context for train passengers to detrain to shop and visit. Provide a link to the existing Portland Train Station. It is anticipated that passenger traffic will have a great economic impact.

Implementation of this project would be almost entirely contingent upon acquisition of federal stimulus money in connection with the governor's proposed development of the Fast Train Program.

Due to recent events, it may be prudent to consider security control. A perimeter barrier with limited access would be desirable. Latest technological improvements should be considered.

Access during disasters, terrorist activity, or other crowd control events should be considered.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Non Profit Incubator - Jan. 8

Concept Group: 0009.org

Web site: http://0009.org/blog/2010/01/08/portlands-non-profit-incubator-future/

Concept Summary: Portland gets municipal branding! We have become a model city in so many ways, let's take it further.

The Memorial Coliseum will be transformed into the nation's (or world's) premiere incubator for, and center of, critical non profit activity. Think of it as Sand Hill Road for the 501c3 set. Offices, workshops, symposiums, conferences, events, rallies, classes, and more will take place in this world class center for change. Interaction with the general public on a daily basis, as well as with business and movement frontiers-people will stimulate the city of Portland like nothing else.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Activeeation - Jan. 8

Concept Group: IronWill Designs

Concept Summary: IronWill Designs presents a well conceptualized plan for converting the Memorial Coliseum into a financially viable design, which will utilize the current architecture to create the Entertainment Capital of the Northwest. The design presented in this context will be sustainable and will also include a Veteran's Memorial Museum, which will honor the Veterans of our Great Nation in a way that we can be proud of. This conversion of the Memorial Coliseum will draw people from all over the Nation to visit Portland and will greatly increase tourism and visitors to Portland, which will in turn, create many new jobs and increased business to local venues which include dining, hotel, public transportation, etc. The designs will incorporate the use of the parking facilities, public transit system, and will enlighten the lives of all of Oregonian living inside and out of the local Neighborhood, City, County and even State.

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This design will utilize the current structure and incorporated a new Veterans Memorial Museum, Hotel, Indoor Water Park, Rock Climbing, Arcades, Go Carts, Seasonal conversion areas, Dinning Facilities, Tour of Portland Virtual Reality Ride showing the must sees of Portland, Movie Theater with daily showings historical films along with new release movies. Activiation will help to revitalize our economy and utilize our efficient local public transportation system to reveal Portland to the world, while supplying the Northwest with a much needed, year round, entertainment attraction. It will incorporate the local Willamette River edge by making it clearly accessible for activities and part of the historical tour walk or ride. There will be leased retail spaces to businesses that will help to support the purpose of this enlightening project. The building is already equipped with the space, ventilation systems, location, parking, public transportation, and is now needs IronWill Designs to help the Memorial Coliseum enlighten Portland with Activiation!

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Trail Blazers and Winterhawks Concept - Jan. 8

JumpTownConcept Group: JumpTown

Web site: www.imaginejumptown.com

Concept Summary: Thank you for the opportunity to present our concept for the Veterans Memorial Coliseum (VMC), a historically important venue that will play a central role in transforming the Rose Quarter into a green, vibrant and economically viable neighborhood.

We’ve assembled a project team with the experience and resources to complete a vision that creates jobs, connects neighborhoods and spurs economic development on Portland’s eastside.

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A modernized and more intimate VMC: We will preserve the building’s architectural character, value and history as a veterans’ memorial and multi-purpose sports arena. We will create a more attractive venue by reducing seating capacity to match promoter demand. New club seating, restaurants, regulation ice sheet, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard will help attract new events and ensure a bright future for the Winterhawks, Rose Festival parade and other community users.

Non-event activity: We will add restaurants to the VMC concourse that will make the venue accessible to the public on non-event days. We will better utilize event level space by creating a community athletic center that will also serve as an additional practice facility for the Trail Blazers, Winterhawks and visiting teams.

Honoring veterans: We will designate a meeting space in the VMC, accessible for veterans’ gatherings and other uses, as requested during outreach. We will continue to partner with veterans for memorial elements that increase access and visibility to pay proper tribute to veterans’ service and sacrifice.

Green, vibrant mixed-use district: The VMC will be integrated into the design plan for JumpTown – a mixed-use development including office, retail, restaurants, housing, free live events and more. JumpTown will help increase activity at the VMC and add to the 430,000 guests who visit the arena each year. A vibrant, mixed-use district, with a potential 250-room hotel, holds the promise of additional Convention Center business and visitors.

This concept is available for public review
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Oregon State Veterans Museum & Resource Center - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: This building would contain all memorabilia of "all" wars....past and present....the building could have all agencies that are here to help our serviceman and women ... medical offices, rehab, re-entry to employment .. family service to our veterans... Attorneys offices .. Veterans Affairs offices....this should be a one stop place for our veterans so they can get what ever they need done at one place ....also a place they can use or offer to vet's to have meetings or conventions...as it was use in the deployment service for our Oregon National Guards this last year...this facility is already handicapped accessible and has adequate parking and is centrally located and bus and max accessible....this I see would be giving back to our service men and women of all of this great United States....the museum would be a great benefit to all ...school field trips and vacationing tourists and all of the great Oregonians that would use it....this would mean jobs for our Oregonians that are in need...it would also benefit the motels and restaurants and business of our beautiful town..This center would be large enough to benefit all of their needs and this would keep the name "VETERANS " the proud and respected name it is....

This concept is available for public review
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Oregon Film Center - Studio, Museum, and Education Facility - Jan. 8

Concept Group: Compressed Pattern

Concept Summary: For years Portland has taken aggressive steps to become a top destination for film and television production in the Northwest. At almost 140,000 square feet, with 100’ floor to ceiling column-free clearance – the Memorial Coliseum would be an ideal building for a production facility. These characteristics alone would make the studio extremely competitive with even the largest facility in Vancouver, B.C. Additionally, the location is a natural fit because of existing loading docks, parking lots, and central location. The building’s windows would provide impressive sweeping views of our city – leaving a lasting impression on our out of town visitors. The production activity would draw a consistent flow of activity to the Rose Quarter area, supporting local businesses and even the proposed Convention Center Hotel.

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To accompany the studio, we propose the development of an Oregon Film Museum and film production education program. The museum would highlight films made in Oregon over the years, along with information for upcoming and ongoing projects. The education program would provide training for those who want to enter the field of television and film production, furthering the support of this growing industry. We also propose building a park adjacent to the Coliseum to highlight the mission of the veteran’s memorial.

Overall, we believe the development of the Memorial Coliseum as a production studio is a concept that could contribute significantly to our economy by bringing in dollars from outside of our state. As a regional destination, the studio, museum and education facility will compliment the surrounding neighborhood small businesses as well the Rose Quarter and Convention Center.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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The Seed Hub - Jan. 8

Concept Group: Seeds for America's future

Concept Summary: Create an incubator hub and launch pad for 100+ new start up companies. Who's who list management team that will be driving and coaching the hub. Businesses in a wide variety of industries diversified like a strong portfolio Warren Buffett would own. Also young aspiring artists in all mediums.

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All businesses selected and qualified by directors criteria. All offices will be as transparent as possible, even their offices will be mostly windows. The hub will have every resource available to ensure each company and artist will become successful. There will be a food court, printing shop, post office, dry cleaner, day care, gym, theater, acct. dept, receptionists, legal counsel, partnerships with VC firms, onsite research library. It will have a university atmosphere, guidelines,rules to follow, mandatory business meetings, seminars, lectures, homework, book reports, group presentations, motivated, encouraged, and challenged by their peers and will have the right to vote a company out. Unlike Survivor, everyone wins. Unique concept, diverse business backgrounds work together helping all to succeed. All for one and one for all. Recession? What recession? Pull up your boot straps and move forward to create and build your dream company. Possibility to shop the networks for televisions best reality show yet where the rest of the country can take notes and want to buy in on the franchise. CEOs from major companies will be invited for group educational series, even Donald Trump might make an appearance now and then. There will be a two year waiting list to get in. There will be corporate sponsorships like scholarships to help fund and invest in Americas future. Team atmosphere with the synergy and energy of everyone. Innovation created out of necessity. Welcome to the Hub... where having fun building a successful company with the help of many just became a reality. An incubator for the next Google or Picaso. Bring your dream to the Hub.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Memorial Market Place - Jan. 8

Concept Summary: Just like the Pike Market in Seattle we could have a big market place with a fish market and veggie market where the stalls are rented out to different venders. We have Sat. Market but that doesn't sell everything just homemade stuff mostly this could have restaurants and other things year round because its indoors.

This concept is available for public review
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Portland Action Sports Complex - Jan. 8

Concept Group: Action Sports Northwest

Web site: www.actionsportsnw.com

Concept Summary: Convert the Coliseum into a sports complex and resort focused on Action Sports. The complex would contain the best parks and facilities for sports including Skateboarding, Surfing, Moto-x, BMX, Kayaking, and Rock Climbing. The complex would compliment the Rose Garden in its focus on sports and entertainment and would provide permanent facilities for some of the most popular sports in the US (More people in the US skateboard then play soccer). These facilities could be accessed year round and could be used to host some of the largest competitions in the world, similar to Dew Action Sports Tour and the X Games. The complex would include an indoor wave pool for surfing and boogie boarding, a skatepark with street course and 1/2 pipe, BMX course, Moto-X jumps, climbing wall, and white water kayak course. The complex will also include shopping/retail opportunities and hotel/hospitality (may be located nearby/off complex).

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The creation of an action sports complex would be a world first. It would provide a year round recreation and training facility for Pacific Northwest residents and it would attract people from all over the world, becoming the first choice in action sports destinations. It also supports the great resources we have here such as Mt. Hood ski resorts, the Columbia Gorge – arguably the best wind surfing and kiteboarding location in the world, the Oregon coast, which despite its cold and sharky reputation, has excellent surf, and all of the local skateparks – which are some of the best in the country.
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Dream Success - Jan. 7

Concept Summary: "Dream Success" becomes available at a uniquely challenging and exciting time for both the City of Portland and of our nation.

The City of Portland has an opportunity and a conservatively progressive "moment in time" to lead the nation on the issues of resolving homelessness, hunger, education, and assisting the most vulnerable citizens of our Community (children, single parents, disabled and aging Veterans and elderly non-Veterans, and those who suffer from physical and mental health concerns)in a collaborative manner WITH these populations.

"Dream Success" will become a place of innovation, growth, and compassion.

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Combining existing agencies of City, private, and non-profit under one roof with a 5-7 year Mission to address and eliminate any and all barriers to the most vulnerable citizens of our City. Barriers that currently exist for one reason or another (e.g. identification lost = social security office, DMV, birth records all in different buildings across the City. Without reliable transportation or adequate monies available, a large barrier is created for people to “move forward.”) Mental health facilities (with appointments taking 4-6 weeks to get adequate assistance) will be included.

Aspects of many of the other concepts put forth (e.g. Winter Saturday Market, Gift Shows, Concerts, etc.) will be brought in on weekends, with the general Mon-Fri (8am-8pm) reserved for a “Mall of Success” with positive, realistic, and FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE targets. Job creation (with an advanced CCC Model of barter/ positive rewards, pay, even eventual “stock plan” for clients in case JumpStart ever DOES want the space in 5-7 years.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Veterans Memorial Arts and Athletic Center (VMAAC) - Jan. 7

VMAACWeb site: www.vmaac.com

Concept Summary: The VMAAC is a proposed mixed-use redevelopment of the Memorial Coliseum for arts, athletics, and entertainment. It seeks to be a catalyst project that would reinvigorate the Rose Quarter and foster a cultural renaissance in Portland.

At the center of this concept is preserving the essence of the main arena for 8,000 spectators. This would allow for maintaining virtually all current Coliseum activities, including the Winterhawks, Rose Parade staging, and entertainment events. However, the VMAAC endeavors to integrate more successfully with the City of Portland by providing additional venues that can operate concurrently. To make this possible, new space has been allocated between the central bowl and exterior curtain wall, within the north stage lot, and in place of the obsolete exhibition hall, making additional programming possible.

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The increased athletic space would provide for amateur athletics, personal fitness, and an Olympic class training facility for swimming, diving, ice skating, and gymnastics. Hosting regular sport competitions could be a consistent funding source. The redesign would also provide state of the art facilities for music, dance, multimedia, and theater. These would include practice facilities and performance venues for the public’s enjoyment as well as for regional art and theater festivals. It could also be a magnet school offering exceptional students a stepping stone to a career in the creative arts. Therefore, the VMAAC has the potential to foster cultural tourism.

Additional opportunities for fulfillment and fun are provided throughout the VMAAC complex such as a large sports bar atop the rock gym, a teen center, sky boxes, a restaurant, and top floor event galleries offering prime views of downtown. A museum, retail space, and an enhanced memorial are also included. The crown jewel of the new Coliseum would be a night club for jazz. Through these initiatives, the VMAAC adheres to the Coliseum’s original 1961 dedication.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Portland Aquarium - Jan. 7

Portland AquariumConcept Summary: A public aquarium located in the Rose Quarter. It would occupy the 40,000 square foot Exhibition Hall underneath Rose Quarter Commons and 10,000 square feet of the ground floor of the Coliseum, leaving the remainder of Memorial Coliseum intact and available for other uses. The aquarium would focus on fresh water ecologies: lakes and rivers of the world. The major focus would be on the Columbia Basin, but it would include other ecologies as well, such as the Amazon River, African Great Lakes, or the Everglades swamp.

The space would allow for roughly 30,000 square feet of exhibit space and public circulation, with the remaining space used for filtration/life support, maintenance, offices and other support. It would also have classrooms, event facilities, a gift shop and concessions. In the future, the aquarium could be expanded (if needed) into the lower level of the parking structure underneath One Center Court.

This concept is available for public review
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HKS, Inc. - Jan. 7

Concept Group: HKS Sports and Entertainment

Web site: www.hksinc.com

Concept Summary: The HKS Sports and Entertainment Group is interested in helping the City of Portland by leveraging our award winning Sports and Entertainment Architecture in the development of Memorial Coliseum and its surroundings.

This group is looking for partners
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Oregon Sports Factory - Jan. 7

Concept Summary: Eugene is Track Town USA. Bend is Bike Town USA. Portland is know for its sports and recreation companies, small and large, world wide. Oregon has the coast, Mt Hood with the Palmer chair lift and climbing, the Columbia River Gorge, world class golfing, fishing, boating, sailing, biking, you name it Oregon has it. Portland could bring all the sports and recreation designers and manufactures based in Oregon together and show case them in and around the coliseum and Rose Quarter. Companies could rent small offices and show rooms in and around the coliseum and Rose Quarters. Oregon has so many existing companies that could be show cased it would create a real dynamic neighborhood. Let the restaurants and bars open in the corners of the coliseum and in the old buildings around the Rose Quarter, even deluxe food carts to start. Put all the companies, based in Oregon, logos on the outside of the coliseum. They would be electric so at night there would be some color and light which is missing now.

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It is one of the most boring parts of town at night now. The front of the coliseum could be a gravity/wind/human powered/skate park/park. Build the worlds biggest outdoor climbing wall, ie., Smith Rock State Park. I always thought Portland should build a sail park. This Concept could create a one stop show place for all of Oregon's sports and recreation companies for buyer from all over the world. This would include companies from all over the state, small and large, and maybe the state would help fund it.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Smithsonian West - Jan. 6

Concept Summary: Although this concept would take some political muscle in Washington DC I would propose converting the building into a museum that would display exhibits from the Smithsonian Museum probably on a rotating basis. Currently these items are all housed in the Capitol area where only a few citizens can view them. Additionally only a small fraction of the materials that the museum has can be displayed at any given time. This concept would allow more display space, make it more accessible to the people, and be a great tourist draw. Additionally it might attract some government and Smithsonian funds to subsidize the project.

This concept is available for public review
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Memorial Conservatory - Jan. 6

Memorial ConservatoryConcept Summary: To fulfill increased need for localization of food production, use the facility's glass and concrete structure as a greenhouse for promoting urban farms and generally demonstrating sustainable gardening practices.

All adaptation would preserve the historic fabric--including the curtain wall and "tea cup"--of this significant example of International Modernism.

Operation would be a partnership with government and non-profits such as Growing Gardens. Produce would help feed Portland's growing homeless and unemployed populations.

Funding would be sustainable, long-term investments, compared to foodbanks and meal programs.
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The Rose Quarter Underground - Jan. 4

UndergroundConcept Group: B&M Design Studio

Concept Summary:Upgrade and maintain Coliseum exterior and interior bowl seating to preserve the site's historical significance and continue to use the facility for various sporting and non-sporting functions.

Convert the Coliseum exterior to an eco rooftop equipped with solar panels similar to the California Academy of Sciences building.

Remodel and design Coliseum entrance level (with aesthetics influenced by natural surrounding elements) that expose dual lower level promenades with trees, gardens, sculptures, etc.

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Convert and add to the existing lower level convention area to create an underground entertainment area consisting of a combination of following: restaurants, clubs, an ESPN Zone or Dave & Busters type facility, a bowling center, office space, limited shops (this redeveloped area should promote shopping at the Lloyd Center).

Add a new 3-4 story recreation/gym center (similar to the Kroc Center in Salem) on the northeast side of the Coliseum (2 stories above ground, 1 or 2 below). Portion part of the of building to serve as a full time assistance center and as a shelter unit during winter.

Redeveloped area to be green and solar with a water reclamation system.

Not affiliated with any groups or names listed.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Veterans Memorial Botanical Gardens Conservatory - Jan. 3

ConservatoryConcept Summary: Intention: Save the building in a financially viable way
Make the site into a substantial tourist attraction
Retrofit into a sustainable "Green" project
Instead of a throw-away, tear down mind set, revitalize
Showcase Portland and Oregon's emphasis on Green solutions for both local and worldwide interpretations and use.
Beautify the stately building to intensify local interest
Education Hub for environmental issues

Narrative: This esteemed structure could be a nationally recognized example Public/Private endeavor for revitalization with a real cost benefit to Portland. The area is already a nexus for light rail/pedestrian friendly access.

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Suggestions for Physical Revitalization:

Roof: Water catch basin to completely irrigate plants
Solar panels to warm in Winter
Glass transom type roof for sunlight, fresh air, ventilation when needed
Architecturally designed (pyramid ?) glass structures on roof

Building: Installation of decorative entrance similar to New York City and European conservatories

Interior: Showcase habitat for not only native plants, but also exotic meditation paths, walls for art

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Velodrome - Portland Velodrome Committee - Dec. 21

VelodromeConcept Group: Portland Velodrome Committee

Web site: www.pdxvelo.org

Concept Summary: Place an indoor cycling track, (velodrome) inside the MC.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Summer Dome - Dec. 21

Summer DomeConcept Summary: With 8 months of dampening weather, many Oregonians find themselves trapped in their homes. Most of which would enjoy the outdoor activities afforded during the summer but during the winter months are nowhere near. Turning the memorial coliseum into an internal great outdoors with warm weather would greatly benefit our community on multiple levels.

Having a place bountiful with summer like conditions, would be uplifting during these depressing times. The conversion of which would have to adapt the current building that is in use without major structural change. It would also have to cater to a range of participants and be designed for a range of accommodations and businesses.

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There is no simple plan to be written, but it is easily able to be dreamt about. The underground can be used as an area of exploration, with either a maze of man made caves or even small channels for people to canoe down. The upper stage floor can be turned into a large lagoon, or part of an intricate bike course that runs through an atrium of native, or even foreign tropical plants. The walls can be turned into big climbing apparatuses for those who rock climb; the boxes can be turned into small lodgings for overnight stay built into cabaña like fashion.

The exterior floor could be a maze of intricate trails large enough for even riding horses. An indoor dog park can be installed in the employee parking. The upper floor could be covered in beach sand with small hot tubs, ponds and a lazy river rippling with full service bars and accommodations, like that of Mandalay bay in Vegas. The place could be designed to separate age groups and diversify the setting for any patron.

It could be an absolute charm for the senses and absolute money maker for the coliseum. Not only would it drive more people to visit the unique setting (think of Dubai and its snow lodge in the desert), but it would also give the community something to look forward to.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Rose City Concert Hall - Dec. 18

Concept Summary: One of the single, most significant additions and incentives to the development of the musical arts community in Portland would be to construct a world-class concert hall for symphony performance. I am an acoustical consultant (Kaul Auditorium) I currently travel to Seattle if I want to hear classical music performances because of the vast superiority of Benaroya Hall to Schnitzer. (It has nothing to do with the symphony organizations) Other cities that have constructed similar high quality venues have experienced great resurgences in performing arts interest and support. Because of the quality environment of such a hall, more people attend and participate in the arts community.

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The memorial Coliseum could serve as the enclosing exterior shell for a concert hall, as well as other coexisting performance uses, e.g. recital hall, jazz club, musical theater. Light refreshment venues could also exist for before and after concert gathering. Benaroya Hall, in Seattle, includes similar cafe, coffee, gift establishments on their east mall.

The musical arts community has progressed to significant stature primarily from shear desire and personal investment. Isn't it time that a concert venue is constructed that worthy of its talents and investment?

This concept is available for public review
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World Class Bowling Center and Arena - Dec. 18

Concept Summary: We propose that ramped from the mail entrance to the exhibition level of the historic structure we propose to convert the entire level to an 80-100 lane bowling tournament center.

We are, willing to work with other developers and test the viability of joining this bowling operation to this coliseum project. It is doubtful that this proposed component would generate any positive direct revenue for the city or the Rose Quarter itself, however there are two or more issues we bring to the city.

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  1. A substantial amount of business for existing and new hospitality providers.
    and
  2. The commitment to the community that we are willing to make to the community with emphasis on youth while serving its citizens of every age. (see below)
    and
  3. Although not yet investigated, there is potentially the huge visibility generated through such sources as ESPN (or other cable) television outlets.

Briefly the the bowling and ancillary operations would be self supporting and not require city money or investment. It would provide reasonably priced bowling to local and regional bowlers and would bring into the city and its hospitality industry major utilization. The preliminary projection is over 2 million guest room nights annually.

We understand the desirability for local involvement and would integrate into our programs the most dynamic low cost youth bowling program ever proposed to utilize the facility during low use periods.

In the USA 66 million persons bowl each year and the origins of today's American Tenpin Bowling are traced back to Egypt, possibly 200BC.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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CityView Neighborhood - Dec. 11

Concept Group: Hoytco

Concept Summary: Master plan an mixed-use neighborhood bounded by N. Interstate, Hancock St., N. Wheeler Ave., and the Memorial Coliseum (MC). Within the shell of the MC construct a wrap building with structured parking in the middle surrounded by a mix of office, hotel/entertainment, and condo depending on market research. To the full extent possible demolish the Portland Public School/Multnomah County building located at the north end of the study area - relocating employees into the MC. Sell land to private entity for redevelopment. Remove the parking structure on west side of Flint Ave. - sell land to private entity to wrap the remaining structure with market appropriate structure. Sell land between MC and Broadway to a private entity for market appropriate development. Create a walkable street grid and capture value created with tax increment financing.

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Redevelopment Coliseum - Dec. 10

Concept Summary: Remodel inside of Coliseum install Baseball Field with seating on two sides along glass walls. Leaving the 4 outside glass walls in place where they are. Would not have to demolish the existing structure.

This concept is available for public review
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Diversify - Dec. 8

Concept Summary: The MC should be renovated so that the perimeter provides for a circle of shops (each around 20' X 20' selling food, clothing, art, etc.) Shops could either be rented to chain stores or a host of smaller, local designers and artists *(perhaps a mix of both). The concept of a year around farmers market is great but not that much space is needed in the winter so maybe an approximately 40,000 sq. ft. area could be built on the perimeter of one end for a grocery store (conventional grocery) that could rent/provide space for local farmers (1/4 - 1/2 locally produced food). There is a need for a smaller than the Rose Garden but larger than Berbatis venue for music (although I heard there are plans for a 2000 person venue in the area so maybe this next part is not as important).

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The MC could install mobile dividers so that events that called for the entire venue could still occur but on nights with no wrestling/biking events booked, 4-8 smaller events could also happen at the same time. The parking area could be modified so that there is underground parking (increase current capacity) and parks/community gardens could be over the parking. A skate park would make a great addition but it could be more inclusive and include a small skating rink for people other than the traditional skater/bmxer. For safety build a small police/fire station on premises. An improved waterfront would be nice as well with a connection to the river that is not rip-rapped and with no concrete walls (like oaks bottom). A tourist attraction is almost always a plus; a restaurant built on top of the MC overlooking the city would be lovely. The roof could generate electricity (wind/solar) and a microhydro plant could generate electricity on the Willamette (should also consider restoration for salmon). A community center could also be included for outreach, services, etc. Finally, if all else fails, turn it into a school. I am more than happy to provide concept drawings upon request.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Indoor Cycling Velodrome - Dec. 8

Concept Summary: To push our city's reputation as a town that loves cycling, we should go all the way and include an indoor velodrome to compliment the small outdoor one at Alpenrose Dairy. Indoor cycling is the ultimate spectator sport. There is always the possibility of dangerous crashes coupled with the amazing speeds of talented national and international sprinters. Amazing local food and beverages can be served, and local cycling businesses can be provided a location to advertise that may attract additional business - that is if the site is made into a world-class velodrome that will attract world-class athletes and a new kind of tourist to our city for the first time.

This concept is available for public review
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Smithsonian West - Nov. 23

Concept Summary: 1000's of artifacts are kept in vaults that the government does not put on display because of room. Build a mini westcoast Smithsonian to show many of the different artifacts all the different Smithsonians involve. That would give you jobs (government) and give you year around employment, government funding and being that is right off of I-5 you would get the pass thru traveler. Plus it is free because it is government funded. Also, think about the learning tool for our children. Washington, DC never has a recession.....And since the Coliseum is a war memorial it would fit right in line. Also you will not need an investor, you have the US Government. Remember the lines when the declaration of independence came to town a few years back...

This concept is available for public review
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Environmental History and Future Museum - Nov. 23

Concept Summary: I propose driving new tourism to Portland with a museum that reflects Portland's interests. An Environmental History and Future Museum would have two major goals; to provide exhibits discussing change in the world environment and to showcase green technology to deal with future change. With the generous space available, the showcase model could recreate the Missoula flood - the massive Ice Age lake in Idaho that burst through an ice dam, created the largest waterfall in history, and scoured out the Columbia River Gorge. Giant models could also depict projections in sea level changes, perhaps showing how much land would be lost in South Pacific islands. Demonstrations of Italy's efforts to control the frequent flooding of Venice would be of interest, with model flood gates and "flooding" of the public square. A frozen model of scaled-down glaciers can show their retreat. City models can demonstrate urban expansion, past, present, and future. A tsunami simulation, perhaps in concert with OSU and their current research model, would be of interest. The key here is models on a scale not seen elsewhere in the world to visually overwhelm and inform.

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The second goal is to showcase the technology being developed, often here in Oregon, to mitigate our environmental troubles. Hopefully the companies in the soon-to-be-built sustainable research building in downtown Portland will also contribute. But this museum can also function as a stage for the world's best ideas, even a great location to unveil advances to the media. This would send the message that Oregon is working to become a center for research and industry in sustainable products and environmental solutions. The museum can also function as a retail store for solutions, both products and services, you can purchase today.

Portland is a city of thoughtful planning about our common future. That is becoming the heart of our identity, the strength of our progress, and possibly the bedrock of our economic future.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Tear the Sucker Down - Nov. 23

Concept Summary: The Memorial Coliseum is ugly. U-G-L-y. Ugly. Tear the darn thing down, create a park around the memorial wall honoring veterans--heck, why not update it with veterans who gave their all since the Ugly Thing was build? Create a ball park and let it be used for high school and college sports. An important note is that parking at the Ugly Thing has always been close to an impossibility. Let's have a retro stadium where we could watch the West Hills at sunset, sip on a micro brew, and ignore the pretensions to grandeur that major league soccer represents.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Portland International Center for Diversity and Sustainability - Nov. 22

Concept Summary: The Rose Quarter Area would become home to Portland's International Center for Diversity and Sustainability, providing our city with the opportunity to showcase its cultural and economic strengths while offering the global community an opportunity to benefit from our community's efforts. The Center will include:

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The Center for Promotion and Education to Advance Cultural Exchange (PEACE) would reside within Memorial Coliseum. This organization would work with non-profits and NGOs from around the world to develop and promote cultural and economic exchange programs at all levels. This Center would reach out to Old Town/Chinatown groups such as Mercy Corps to strengthening cross-river ties.

The Center for Agricultural Diversity And Permaculture Training (ADAPT) would feature permaculture landscaping, and facilities would be developed to showcase agricultural diversity and help educate students in the use of sustainable agricultural practices, including urban agriculture. Portland Farmers Market's successful market in North Portland could be encompassed in this effort, providing regional food shed study opportunities and neighborhood outreach.

The Center for Renewable Energy Now - Educating a Workforce (RENEW) would team with regional renewable energy companies, educators and workforce development groups to provide classroom space and facilities for worker training, including windmills and solar energy systems which will be used to provide power for the entire Rose Quarter development.

Ultimately, the International Center also could be served by a streetcar line running north from Burnside and looping to include MLK and Mississippi, creating an east-side balance to the Pearl-South Waterfront line.

Finally, the overall Development would include retail shops, restaurants and markets that reflect the character of its mission.

This concept is available for public review
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A Family - Community Recreational Center - Nov. 22

Concept Summary: Water Park, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor, Fudrucker's Hamburgers, Pitch & Putt, etc. (just suggestions)

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Peace Garden Hotel - Nov. 22

Peace Garden HotelConcept Summary: The Memorial Coliseum can be re-purposed as a Peace Garden and Convention Hotel. The Exterior can be fitted with grand trellis frames featuring native plants. The main floor can become a farmer's market surrounded with bright cafes and fountains. The lower seating can become community planting levels, each filled with prized plants from each of our PDX gardeners. All of them will come to the site to care for their planting, hang out at the cafes and market, filling the building with happy Portlanders daily. The upper deck is converted into a hanging garden hotel, with stunning world-class views into the rain-free grand garden space, filled with life from pubs, jazz, and nitelife. The glorious space will have waterfalls shimmering through morning sun, and nighttime light shows. The facility can host fashion shows, symphony events, and mayoral inauguration parties.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Indoor Dog Park - Nov. 21

Concept Summary: Woof! How about a place where I can go all year to sniff around, get some exercise, and meet other dogs? Not everyone likes the rain! And I think our masters would like it since they could socialize and meet new people. I'm not sure if you can grow grass and trees very well indoors, but with glass walls and a glass ceiling, maybe there would be enough sunlight...if not the artificial stuff would be fine too. I would love to run around some obstacle courses to show off my athletic skills. You could hire some trainers so I can learn new things. No pet store though, I don't want to shop when I'm there and I like going to the independently-owned pet stores that we should support.

This concept is available for public review
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Indoor Public Market - Nov. 21

Concept Summary: Indoor market for produce, seafood, flowers, spices, small cafes. Also, could incorporate music venue. This city sorely needs something like this. ie. Pikes Place. In such a rainy city this could draw more winter tourists, not to mention all the residents that live here.

This concept is available for public review
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Continuous Slope Ski/Snowboard Recreational Area - Nov. 21

Web site: Skitrac.com

Concept Summary: A year-round artificial snow bowl which rotates within the existing building shell providing 'endless' ski runs. The facility provides recreational ski and snow board activities to the public, provides practice facilities for training camps, and the facility could be made available to a variety of non-profit organizations to allow members to access these unique recreational opportunities for free. User fees generated would support and pay off the facility. Please note the external website link listed within this concept summary is only to provide additional information on the concept--this particular company would not necessarily need to be used for design or construction, I have no affiliation whatsoever and am just submitting this idea for consideration.

This concept is available for public review
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Open the Box! - Nov. 21

Concept Summary: Remove the south and west walls of the Memorial Coliseum and insert a ballpark. Keep some of the roof so Portland baseball fans can stay dry. Give us a beautiful view of downtown over the center field fence.

This concept is available for public review
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Baseball Stadium - Nov. 21

Concept Group: Portland Green Sox

Concept Summary: Partial demolition and restructuring to keep the essence of the architectural value. This was completed in Greensboro NC and Cleveland Ohio, keeping the downtown vigorous, especially during the summer non NBA months.

This team is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Portland Studios - Nov. 21

Concept Summary: Why not convert Memorial Coliseum into a t.v. -film -movie making production facility that could be used for all aspects of movie including making -sound stage(s), set production capability, such as: offices for casting directors, sound engineers, make-up, editing, and literally anyone and everyone involved in the production of film making.

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Why?

Because it would provide Portland with a great centralized facility to market one-stop shopping for all aspects related to the production of making films (t.v. series, feature length films, small films, etc,).

Because it would simultaneously offer local citizens working in the film industry an opportunity to rent and work in a localized setting at a competitive rental rate in an environment that would hopefully prove much more conducive to the creative process.

Because Portland could solicit monies from the State that are currently earmarked for luring business of this nature.

Because Federal grant monies could be sought by Independent film makers.

Because a use of this nature would in effect require a variety of supporting businesses such as: restaurants, lounges, coffee shops, etc.,.

It's a thought.

This concept is available for public review
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Hotel and Casino - Nov. 21

Concept Summary: A casino, jointly run by all of the Oregon Indian tribes. Save the Gorge, and the endless leapfrogging of Indian casinos. Put a casino (and hotel) in the Coliseum - urban use where MAX, and two freeways and many bus lines come together. The tribes will build it, operate it, and the City can get a percentage.

This concept is available for public review
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Museum of Functional Art (artistic engineering) - Nov. 20

Concept Summary: As this building has been described as an example of functional art itself, it would be an appropriate place to display other works of functional art from local and regional designers and manufacturers.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Simply Restructure Management Contract - Nov. 19

Concept Summary: I am submitting this proposal in support of the analysis outlined by task force member Will Macht, in his report, "Coliseum Choices."

The link to Macht's report can be found by clicking on "library," then scrolling down. The key details of Macht's analysis begin on PDF page 14.

Macht's main point is that Memorial Coliseum's primary problem is the poorly-structured management contract, which does not contain incentives for the current management company to aggressively market Memorial Coliseum.

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Macht goes on to make the point that the best possible use for Memorial Coliseum is still the use for which it was originally designed.

In fact, from what I've observed, most of the criticisms aimed at Memorial Coliseum simply aren't credible. Despite years of deferred maintenance, Memorial Coliseum is still an attractive, well-designed, and functional venue.

So, the simplest and quickest course of action is to re-structure the current management contract, and then simply give this new plan time to work. This approach also ties in perfectly with the course of action described in the "Arena Advantage Portland" proposal, posted on November 11. And it would not preclude the adoption of proposals dealing with other Rose Quarter issues.

If this plan doesn't work, then no harm has been done, and some other plan can be pursued. If this plan works, deferred maintenance will still have to be phased in, but that will cost far less than most of the other proposals which have been suggested.

One additional expense which I would suggest is that the existing seats, which are very narrow, be replaced with wider seats. That would reduce the seating capacity by 15-20%- which is what some people have suggested might be beneficial in terms of marketing -- but would not require any structural alteration of the existing bowl. And an added benefit is that new seat designs are slimmer, and would therefore create more leg room.

This group is looking for partners This concept is available for public review
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Three Redevelopment Ideas - Nov. 17

Concept Summary: Please consider these options for redeveloping Memorial Coliseum:

(1) Train station for high speed, long distance rail. (Long range plan) Benefits: great connections to regional bus, light rail, freeways, and convention center. Same side of river as main north/south interstate rail lines. Allows building shell to be preserved. Union Station could be re-used for a new purpose. Opportunity to access federal and state transit funds.

(2) World Class Amateur Sports Facility (also known as the MARC Concept, developed by Doug Obletz). Benefits: Shell can be preserved. Great amenity for the region, for tourism, and the economy. Could host collegiate competitions and Olympic trials, in additional to daily use by local citizens. Difficult to fund with local tax dollars but great sponsorship (including naming) opportunities for local companies such as Nike, Adidas or Columbia Sportswear.

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(3) Same But Improved Option: Continue existing use of the concourse and bowl by Winterhawks and concerts but expand use to new events (roller skating in concourse) and those that formerly used facility (such as state high school basketball tournament). Preserves building shell and seating bowl. Install skylights to daylight basement meeting rooms to make them more marketable. Invest in deferred building maintenance. Combine this with Blazers' efforts to add retail, restaurant and night life in Rose Quarter and support new housing nearby, such as Joe Weston's planned point tower at east end of Broadway Bridge. Use existing or new urban renewal funding. Together these could build synergy to make the Coliseum more profitable and better utilized.

This concept is available for public review
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Portland Memorial Botanical Garden - Nov. 14

Concept Summary: I would like to see a botanical garden with tropical plants and have nice restaurants in there for people to enjoy in our long, dark winters. Maybe have butterflies in there too. Seattle has one and there are others around the US that I have been in and always enjoyed and returned to. Maybe other possibilities to include with it such as demonstration vege gardens and other types of flowers.
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Memorial Coliseum Hybrid - Nov. 13

Concept Summary: The highest and best use for the Coliseum would be a modification to an open-air covered pedestrian plaza and integrate with a new baseball / multi-use stadium. Exterior architecture would be retained less back 1/4 portion of structure. Interior may include veterans memorial at entrance, various concessions, small entertainment stage, benches, fountains, tributes to Portland achievements, cobble stone floor and gas lamp lighting.

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The high ceiling design of the existing structure would lend itself to house a portion of the stadium seating for the new ballpark giving honor to the original design of a venue in a glass enclosure. The site lines entering the ballpark area of the coliseum would be breathtaking, as the seating would afford premium views of downtown and the river. This design would require some construction over the existing road. However, it is restricted to a strip of the baseball outfield reducing weight load requirements and cost.

  1. This plan improves on the original design of the coliseum rather than converting it to a less than ideal retrofit for a new use.
  2. The building now is very energy inefficient in existing mechanical systems, glass, insulation and original design. An open-air conversion is the most energy efficient and green solution while preserving the original design integrity. A very Portland solution.
  3. Creating a veterans memorial at the main entrance would be viewed by thousands of fans annually actually improving the meaning of the Memorial Coliseum.
  4. The new minor league ballpark will be an expandable design to accommodate major league baseball. This will give Portland an economic advantage the next time the city is approached to become Americas next Major League baseball city. MLB draws an average 2.5 million fans a year.

This concept is available for public review
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Film Studio - Nov. 13

Concept Summary: Make the coliseum available for use as a film studio. Motion pictures, television series, and commercials do not have adequate facilities in Oregon. The coliseum is large enough for a major production build. The side rooms are perfect for costume, set decoration, equipment, and other support services. Some could permanent tenants. There is enough space, office and production, for multiple productions at the same time. Set construction facilities could be on site as well. The height, open span, parking, and truck access is ideal.

The building would not need to be retro fit prior to use. Each production would make building modifications to suit not only their immediate needs, but within the scope of long term planning for the facility. Any "out of scope" modifications would be removed by the production.

This concept is available for public review
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ESPN Zone - Nov. 13

ESPN Zone

Web site: ESPNZone.com

Concept Summary: What about an ESPN Zone? Keeping with the sports theme, but you can eat there too. I know a lot of people that would hang out there all the time. I know I would. If you want to make the Rose Quarter a happening area, that'd be a great place to start.

Note: the submitter of this concept is not affiliated with ESPN Zone, ESPN or its affiliates.

This concept is available for public review
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Memorial Ballpark - Nov. 12

Concept Summary: Raze the Coliseum and create a new ballpark for the Beavers that doubles as an outdoor concert hall similar to what exists in Millennium Park in Chicago. Build an outfield garden/sculpture park to house a proper memorial to our Veterans, something that is open and visible year round. Create a plaza/adjacent building to house a Nike museum/Oregon sports hall of fame. On leftover space, build some restaurants/bars and maybe a hotel to support the convention center.

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Water Park - Nov. 12

Concept Summary: I think that if the Coliseum was turned into an indoor water park not only would it make the area more of a draw to the younger set but also the mature sect if they had their own time/day. You then have a year round place for families to go rather than heading out of town. It's as easy as that.

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Rose Quarter International Hall - Nov. 12

Concept Summary: Memorial Coliseum should be converted into a combination indoor mini New Orleans Bourbon Street and a Boston Faniel Hall except with a more mixed international touch to it. A German area including German style dance hall with, dining, music and dance. Irish area with Irish style pub, including Irish style food, drink and music, New Orleans style night club and restaurant with cajun food, music etc. A mix of other things could also be included to bring people there during the day as well as at night. Unique gift shops, fruit & vegetable market, old fashion candy & ice cream store, a store selling international food and drink items, flower shop, a Trader Joe's type place etc. A few Disney like indoor type rides for adults and kids could be put outside to create an even more festive atmosphere if desired. Old fashion gaslights, brick streets & walk ways, plantings etc. could be incorporated to make the exterior area look attractive and unique.

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A minor league ballpark and other such things would be a money loser and a big mistake. The area needs to be developed so it attracts a large amount of people year around as well as day and night. It would also be a fun place for tourists and locals attending sporting events, conventions, etc. in Portland.
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A District for All - Nov. 12

Concept Summary: The Rose Quarter redevelopment project should incorporate concepts that will draw all walks of life to the area. For example,the Coliseum should be converted into a amphitheater for outdoor concerts. Having such a facility would prevent Portland residents from having to sit in rush hour traffic to go to shows in Clark County. Incorporating smaller music venues and clubs (i.e., Beale St.) would allow the area to truly have that Jumptown feel. Plus, if there is any way to redevelop the PPS maintenance area, you could also tie in the businesses along Interstate (i.e., Gotham Tavern, Widmer Gausthouse)into this new area. Redeveloping the PPS building into a facility for the younger folk (using the three-story athletic concept originally proposed for the MC) would bring this area full circle, and provide all walks of life with an area that is not only fun, but one we could all be proud of
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Veterans Memorial Center (or Complex) - Nov. 11

Concept Summary: Bulldoze Memorial Coliseum. Build whole new complex/center still to commemorate veterans and their contribution. Center to include music performing hall with various size venues (to get rid of Keller cavern and Schnitz sauna both of which have abysmal acoustics), outdoor baseball field for Beavers on top of music hall building. This baseball field could then also be used for outdoor concerts in baseball's off season. Parking garage could be on ground floor (or excavate to put parking floors below and at ground level) with music hall above that and then baseball field on top of that.

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If not structurally feasible to have baseball field atop building, then only have outdoor baseball field with retractable roof(no music hall)--venue could then be used year-round including outdoor concerts that would be right next to the river. If that is not workable, then build performing arts center (still to get rid of Keller and Schnitz) and an outdoor amphitheater facing the river. May be possible to then have concerts from a barge on river so people could gather and listen from McCall waterfront park and this one too. Also would add a lot of new viewing room for Christmas Ships, dragon boat races, fire works, annual Oregon Symphony 4th of July concert etc.... I think this could be a very distinct and iconic visual landmark much like the Sydney, Australia Opera House..but on a scale to fit the available space. Any of these ideas could make a great opening aerial video for tourism promos and when national media coverage is here--NBA Playoffs etc....
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Arena Advantage Portland - Nov. 11

Concept Group: Rally The Real Promoters of Oregon

Web site: AmericasBestUSA.com

Concept Summary: My suggestion here is to create a real collaboration with the amazing group of experienced promoters, businesses, schools and universities, and the city to use the Memorial Coliseum.

I have rented the Memorial Coliseum over 50 times and it is a truly great advantage our city has....it is a very well maintained 12,000 seat arena. The Davis Cup Final was a $7 million boon to the city...and it can happen again...and in other sports and the convention business.

Portland is also blessed with some very capable promoters. I commend the efforts to bring a task force together for MC's future...but I think you should get the real promoters around the table...and let link them to the business leaders and sports organizations we are also blessed with.

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And let the creativity of such a collaboration bring the Coliseum alive with events.

Portland is one of only two cities in America that have two buildings side by side. This gives us a significant competitive advantage to other cities in landing events...and staging community events ...existing and new.

I believe we should be marketing that advantage to the rest of the country more aggressively....too all the Olympic sports organizations...many of whom would like to combine sports festivals...and international competitions that all of the sports want to host ...International Volleyball, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Fencing etc.

One time to do this would be any nationally televised Blazer game to talk about the Portland's Arena Advantage.

I believe that the US Tennis Association would consider Portland for a regular site for Davis Cup and Women's Fed Cup Competitions.

Philadelphia is the only other American city with two buildings.

With Nike and Adidas headquartered here, think of all the world's greatest athletes and teams those two organizations represent...and therefore have a connection to Portland. Provide both those organizations an incentive to feature those organizations athletes.

This team is looking for partners
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Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History - Nov. 11

Concept Group: The Museum Project

Concept Summary: A 140,000 square foot museum of natural and cultural history, specializing in the Pacific Rim, from land to sea as well as the development of cultural societies in this region, and their impact on the natural world. Collection fields will include artifacts from paleontology, anthropology, marine biology, ichthyology, entomology, archaeology, and botany as well as others. The museum will function on a four level interpretive plan: local, state, region and rim. This will allow us to include the local history of not only the facility, but the the stories of local underrepresented groups. Annex space will be provided for these groups as well as the Oregon veterans who have a rotating exhibition. The museums vision aims to create a holistic understanding of our region and the Pacific Rim, by linking the past to the present. Natural events, species migrations and human settlements have all shaped our biosphere and the way we live today. Through interpretation and hands on learning, the museum hopes to inspire people to become active citizens for the sustainable future of their local and global environments.

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A unique rotating exhibition plan will allow for a diverse collection of artifacts, as well as a building space that will support large items, such as that of successional whale fossils, that because of their size, are not normally displayed for public viewing. The museum will not seek permanent fixed collections, and instead will utilize through inter museum loans, the 99% of the worlds scientific collections currently stored in museum basements. Facility to include: large exhibition space, research labs, research center, classrooms, library, interactive multimedia, computer labs, restaurant, gift shop, as well as meeting/conference, and office rental space. The museum will also seek local, national and international academic/scientific and business partnerships with for the purposes of program and project development.

This team is looking for partners
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Portland Aquarium - Nov. 11

Concept Summary: I think it would be great if Portland had an Aquarium similar to the one in Newport. It would compliment the Portland Zoo, and OMSI.
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Manufacturing - Nov. 11

Concept Group: Alan Smith and Associates

Concept Summary: Remove the interior, recycle or sell the parts and convert the shell into a multi-manufacturing facility of bamboo bicycles and corn-based products. Or create a place where we can manufacture the propellers for the wind machines. Or convert the space into manufacturing solar sails. Or convert the space into manufacturing solar panels. The idea is to employ residents. I like the idea for wind machine turbine or propeller manufacturing.

This team is looking for partners
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Memorial Coliseum Facade - Nov. 10

Concept Summary: The memorial coliseum is an architecturally unique building. Got it. The Beaver's need a stadium. Got it. Veterans will be upset for demolishing a building serving as a memorial. Got it.

How about keep two walls as a facade for a baseball or multi-use stadium? You would lose the bowl in box aspect of the stadium, but keep several of the unique glass walls. I'm sure architects could do some amazing things with the idea.

This team is looking for partners
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Portland, the Park - Nov. 10

Concept Summary: An indoor amusement park that similar to the indoor park at Mall of America. Consisting of roller coasters, log flumes, swings, and even a waterpark area. This park would also have a theme, the city of Portland. Rollercoasters will be named after local rivers, roads, and landmarks. The waterpark will feature a large wave pool named after the willamette river, with many other local rivers and lakes represented. (example Lake Oswego as the children's area) The purpose of this park will be to bring families together and to celebrate our beautiful city.

This team is looking for partners
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Portland Beavers Baseball Park - Nov. 10

Concept Summary: The best idea for the Coliseum site is the original idea--turning it into a ballpark for the Portland Beavers. The Beavers belong in a location that is centrally located to all who live in the Portland Metro area, not just those in one section of the suburbs. The current Coliseum site is owned by the city (thus saving the cost of acquiring land) and is close to MAX and bus service that connects to all areas of the tri-county area. Mayor Adams and Portland City Council, please reconsider your abandoning of the idea of a ballpark at the Coliseum site. Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter.
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Indoor Amusement Park - Nov. 10

Concept Group: PDX-FAN (Fantastic Amusements of Nostalgia)

Concept Summary: Bring an amusement center to PDX that it is now lacking. Bring back some of the old history of Council Crest and Jantzen Beach amusement parks and incorporate new ventures. Indoor rides and activities would be highlighted including water park style attractions and traditional amusement park activities, laser tag and paint ball stadiums, log rides and roller coaster. With the close proximity of Lloyd Center could be easily spun as the Northwest's smaller answer to a "Mall of America" type of experience. Add in a dedicated street car line between the rose quarter and Lloyd Center with no stops between the two on the north side would be a nice compliment to the MAX connection on the South.

This team is looking for partners
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Public Market - Nov. 7

Concept Summary: A portion of the Memorial Coliseum could be used for indoor public market spaces similar to Pike Place Market in Seattle, providing a permanent indoor location for Saturday Market and the Portland Farmers Market. Parking is available, and location close to the Max lines is ideal. A permanent, indoor location would facilitate vendor participation, and provide usage year-round. Such a market could provide a creative hub to help revitalize the Rose Quarter area.

This team is looking for partners
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The Memorial Concert Hall - Nov. 6

Concept Group: Tyson Staab UofO Architecture Student

Concept Summary: I am an architecture student in my 5th and final year at the University of Oregon. I have chosen for my thesis to renovate the memorial Coliseum into a concert hall, but more for educational and community purposes.

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Baseball Stadium - Nov. 5

Concept Summary: A baseball stadium for the beavers is by for the best place to keep them in town and not be moved to beaverton or wherever they are going to be relocated. Keeping Portland with a Basketball team, MLS soccer team, and a Triple A team is definitely a draw to all types of crowds, especially when you look at all of the benefits for the community around each of these stadiums.

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Portland Beavers - Nov. 4

Concept Group: Judie Lindquist

Concept Summary: Make this the new home of the Portland Beavers
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Mount Life - Nov. 3

Concept Group: Dawn

Concept Summary: We see the Memorial Coliseum as being a wonderful place to create what we will call Mount Life. After having been an advocate for intergenerational settings, this location has much promise.

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Beginning in the bowl – Could be divided into four sections via the use of heavy curtains to present to four different audiences, creating an inclusion of sorts between speaker, staff, and guests all in participation of their event. Each corner of the building – could have hands on training or creation areas.  Thoughts include a sound studio where artists could share their gifts, an area to create a works of art speaking to the creator's heritage, an indoor garden in one corner to teach, learn and grow in the area of plants necessary for a health environment. The main concourse level could house a great kitchen for instruction and service. The concession areas rented to community for distribution of their talents - goods related to events, supplies to include items one would sell in a college dormitory setting, an area should be for books, research, and to highlight the history of the building, campus, city, state and so on. On the event level, there is a place to incorporate showers and a clothing room to guests unable to find their needs met elsewhere. Community agencies of a wide spectrum could have a “table or spot” from which their networking could be under one roof.  A place for everyone with everything in place. An ongoing twelve step program and other like daily settings could be available to “sow the seeds” of possibilities. With the schools, universities, governmental entities and churches all being represented with access for expansion to the entire Rose Quarter Campus the conversations and extensions to the great beyond are endless, with avenues leading to everywhere for everybody, for the common good. Gifts of knowledge and life experiences shared from this campus are already in place and we are ready to “dream a great dream with the power to move the hearts of all”

This team is looking for partners
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Shared Tribal Casino and Convention Lodging - Nov. 3

Concept Summary: A shared tribal casino with entertainment space and lodging would be built in the Rose Quarter. The casino would operate as a cooperative between all of Oregon's tribes.  The lodging and entertainment facilities would be included within the cooperative. The lodging would operate jointly with the Oregon Convention Center to increase convention options for the district.

This team is looking for partners
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Roller Coaster - Nov. 2

Web site: www.pdxcoaster.com

Concept Summary: A roller coaster. Not inside the coliseum, but next to it. Doesn't have to be huge, but it would be a nice draw to the area. There are few "real" coasters in the area so this alone could be a draw to the area. Plus, anyone already going to the district would have the option of paying some money to ride it. This concept works well at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, where there is a sports venue, shopping, dining, entertainment, and a roller coaster. I've visited there and there is always a line for the moderately priced ride. Please have a look at the website and consider a similar concept.

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