OVERALL DEVELOPMENT

Trail Blazers’ role in Rose Quarter development:

The Trail Blazers are committed to creating a green, mixed-use development that builds on the area’s historic roots as an entertainment district for NE Portland. Our vision is to make the Rose Quarter Portland’s “rec” room, providing an experience at the intersection of sports, music and entertainment, that could potentially include a one-of-a kind Nike interactive center.

The Trail Blazers’ role is to facilitate, with our partners, creation of a district that’s deeply rooted in Portland values and the legacy of Jumptown. The Trail Blazers own one of the largest properties in the Rose Quarter and have development rights for other city-owned properties in the area. The Trail Blazers are committed to an economically and environmentally sustainable project that better connects the area with adjacent neighborhoods.

We also recognize the importance of this project to our surrounding community, and are eager to hear your thoughts. Our vision is only a starting point for the conversation. If you’d like to schedule a presentation to your neighborhood association or community group, drop us a line here or call us at 503.797.9718.

Memorial Coliseum plans:

Planning is in the early stages, but we envision retaining the Coliseum’s value and benefits to the community as a multi-purpose arena within the glass walls. Our vision would improve and update the facility, while lowering the capacity to provide a more intimate and attractive setting for patrons and tenants alike.  These updates would help ensure a bright future for Winterhawks, the Rose Festival and the many other current tenants, and make the building more attractive to prospective tenants.

Design integrity and sensitivity will guide our architectural process. We will stay true to the modernist structure’s architectural expressiveness while improving the facility adn adding new usages. The strategy maintains the integrity of the bowl and the “teacup in a box” while increasing the venue’s economic and environmental performance.

Why the timing works for Rose Quarter development:

Although development plans have been discussed for years, for the first time we have a mayor and city council making Rose Quarter development a priority and development partners with the expertise, resources, and interest to realize the area’s potential. Today, we have the momentum and the sense that the area’s time for resurgence has finally arrived. An alignment of viable public and private financing, political will and renewed community interest provides the best chance in a generation to build something great.

Our approach prioritizes use of the Memorial Coliseum as a catalyst for a wider effort to reconnect the district with adjacent communities. It’s a vision that enhances the vitality and energy of Broadway, and potentially creates a one-of-a-kind Nike interactive center and community gathering place at the intersection of sports, music and entertainment.

The Trail Blazers understand that a successful effort must be rooted in Portland values, and we want you to be part of the process. Let us know what you think of our project ideas and vision, and how we can make it better.

The origins of the name “JumpTown”:

Long before the city developed the Memorial Coliseum, this neighborhood served as a gathering place and focal point for African-American culture in our city. As chronicled in Robert Dietsche’s book, “Jumptown,” jazz clubs like the Dude Ranch and the Chicken Coop were hopping, and they became important venues for established artists like Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker, as well as up-and-coming local talent.

The neighborhood’s origins and unique history are part of the larger story of the post-war Pacific Northwest. A thriving shipbuilding industry and bustling port attracted workers from the American South, bringing with them cultural influences and artistic talent to this one-of-a-kind “jazz village.” Cheap hydroelectric power fueled the area’s economic growth, and the creativity and energy of the district strongly influenced Portland’s post-war music and culture.

Looking forward, the working name of our project – JumpTown – seeks to honor the area’s heritage as a jazz and entertainment district while invoking an experience at the intersection of sports, entertainment and unique Portland culture.

Project benefits:

World-class design and best practices in green construction and operations will showcase Portland’s commitment to sustainability to the rest of the country. And JumpTown will pay tribute to the honor and bravery of our veterans.

Immediate benefits will include workforce development, minority contracting and well-paying construction jobs for a state-of-the-art green development. JumpTown will create thousands of permanent positions once completed. Also, the district will stimulate additional private investment in properties surrounding the Rose Quarter and will increase tourism and convention business to the Oregon Convention Center. We’re also exploring options to incorporate hotel properties to accommodate additional travelers.

As the greenest entertainment district in the country, JumpTown will help showcase Portland’s sustainable values – and growing green economy – to the rest of the nation. The district will also better connect Portlanders with the Willamette River and fit more seamlessly with adjacent neighborhoods. For cyclists, JumpTown will offer an improved connection from the Williams/Vancouver couplet to the Esplanade and, equally important, more of a reason to stop and hang out.

We want JumpTown to be a source of community pride, and would love to hear your thoughts.

Types of businesses to expect in JumpTown:

JumpTown will include a blend of entertainment, retail, housing, office and sports facilities to ensure that the district serves as a community asset and a hub for eastside activity. The vision includes better connecting the district with adjacent neighborhoods by maximizing development on Broadway. The project is also exploring live/work workforce housing options to better anchor the district.

The project team is in active conversation with a local sustainable grocer to provide residents and neighbors more convenient access to consumer amenities. In addition, JumpTown will likely feature an extensive representation of Portland’s beloved microbreweries and pubs. Nike is exploring the creation of a one-of-a-kind interactive center to tell their story in the neighborhood where Nike founders Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman first shook hands and decided to start the company.

How this project will help our local economy:

JumpTown will create family-wage jobs during construction and thousands of permanent positions once completed. In addition, the district will stimulate additional private investment in properties surrounding the Rose Quarter and will increase tourism and convention business to the Oregon Convention Center. And as the greenest entertainment district in the country, JumpTown will help showcase Portland’s sustainable values – and growing green economy – to the rest of the nation.

How the project will reflect Portland:

JumpTown will create a mixed-use sports and entertainment district that pays homage to the rich musical heritage of Portland’s eastside while showcasing our community’s green values to the rest of the nation. A potential one-of-a-kind Nike interactive center would help tell the story of one of the region’s iconic brands and provide visitors with a hands-on, exciting experience that fits Portlanders’ love of sport.

Our project leaders are committed to a robust public process that incorporates community feedback and provides a meaningful way for neighbors, veterans, design professionals and others to weigh in and help shape the vision. We want a project that is of, and for, Portland.

Neighbors and community members will have a meaningful voice in what’s built:

We intend to lead by listening. A central goal of JumpTown will be to create a community gathering place that’s better connected to adjacent neighborhoods and Portland’s eastside. We want neighbors to have a meaningful say in the district’s planning to create a project that contributes to the vitality and livability of Portland’s eastside.

Our vision is a starting point for the conversation, but we’re eager to hear what you think. Let us know here. If you’d like to schedule a presentation to your neighborhood association or community group, drop us a line here or call us at 503.797.9718.

Our commitment to a green and environmentally sustainable project:

JumpTown will help showcase Portland’s sustainable values to the rest of the country while featuring innovative energy efficiency and green building technologies. Our vision is for JumpTown to be the greenest mixed-use sports and entertainment district in the country, both in terms of construction and ongoing operations.

Enhanced amenities for cyclists will lower the district’s carbon footprint. Solar and wind energy systems and green roofing are also being considered.

Portland enjoys a well-earned reputation as a leader in the green economy, and JumpTown will provide an important platform to highlight our city’s environmental commitment to the world.

JumpTown will be a unique, exciting district rooted in Portland’s unique culture:

Local Portland values will guide this development to ensure its long-term success.

Portlanders value sustainable development, and the project will help showcase Portland’s commitment to green design to the rest of the county. Portlanders like beer, and we’ll have plenty of microbreweries on tap. We like our bikes, and the development will feature an improved bike corridor for folks commuting downtown.

One of the things that attracted us to the award-winning Cordish Company was their creativity and their ability to tailor their projects to their locations’ context and character.

Our vision is a starting point for the conversation, but we’re eager to hear what you think. If you’d like to schedule a presentation to your neighborhood association or community group, drop us a line or call us at 503.797.9718.

Plans for the waterfront property where The Red Lion used to sit:

The waterfront parcel – and its unparalleled views of downtown – will likely serve as a site for office and residential development during the second phase of the project. The housing will provide residents excellent alternative transportation choices while better connecting the project with the Willamette River. In addition, residential development will also serve the project’s goal of increased foot traffic, street-level activity and a vibrant, 24/7 community.

JumpTown will accommodate biking:

JumpTown will provide enhanced amenities for cyclists, including added bike parking and an improved bike corridor to and from the Esplanade to the Vancouver/Williams couplet. Each day, more than 10,000 cyclists travel this route, and the northbound section east of the Rose Quarter needs improvement for cyclists. JumpTown’s vision is to make a district with world-class green amenities, including thoughtful accommodation of Portland’s thriving bike culture.

Project funding:

As a development partner, the award-winning Cordish Companies will provide significant private resources for the construction and operation of JumpTown that will complement their expertise on major mixed-use developments. JumpTown will create hundreds of permanent jobs and utilize local and minority contractors when possible.

To achieve a vibrant Rose Quarter, public financing will be required. Tax increment financing can serve as a tool to foster economic growth and further additional private investment without the use of the city’s general fund dollars. As a city-owned asset, the Memorial Coliseum will require public dollars for capital improvements. The Trail Blazers are committed to ensuring that the Coliseum’s renovation fits into a larger eastside renaissance to maximize the benefit of public investment.  Our vision is viable, sustainable, and firmly rooted in the area’s cultural legacy.

JumpTown will create living-wage jobs and local and minority hiring opportunities for the project:

JumpTown will not only serve as a vibrant, mixed-use destination for Portland’s eastside, it will help foster economic activity and create well-paying jobs during construction. Project leaders are absolutely committed to creating living-wage construction jobs and maximizing minority contracting opportunities. Jumptown will create family-wage jobs during construction and hundreds of permanent positions once completed.

JumpTown is deeply invested in delivering the “triple-bottom line” value of social, environmental and economic project benefits. We want to use this project as an opportunity for workforce development, local job creation and further private investment in Portland’s economy.

Timing of construction on JumpTown:

Incorporating community feedback is a priority of the JumpTown project team, who understand that a robust public process with the community will take time. The development timeline is yet-to-be finalized but will be part of the conversation within the Mayor’s Stakeholders Advisory Committee process.

To learn more about our development plans and get up-to-date information on construction schedules when they’re set, enter your address in the ’stay informed’ box on this page.

Why we’re considering a public/private partnership for the project:

At a time when many sports teams across the country were fleeing to the suburbs, the Trail Blazers invested more than $232 million in private funds to build the Rose Garden as a central city venue. Unlike many other stadiums of its kind, the facility was 100 percent privately financed.

However, the Memorial Coliseum remains a city-owned asset in a unique position to help foster additional private investment. The Trail Blazers have worked to bring a project that creates significant community benefits and uses public dollars to leverage substantial private investment. In addition, JumpTown will foster job creation and further development along Broadway and other adjacent areas.

Benefits of limited public investment in JumpTown development:

Private dollars will constitute a substantial portion of total project financing. And Oregon’s high unemployment makes the benefit of living wage job creation for our hard-hit construction sector that much more significant.

It’s important to note that the Memorial Coliseum is a city-owned asset, and its capital needs are covered by city funds. Due to this fact, there is existing taxpayer risk in maintaining the Coliseum status quo, given the millions in anticipated capital expenses.

Investing public funds to develop the Rose Quarter and modernize the publicly owned Coliseum will leverage millions in private capital, add millions of dollars to the property tax rolls and help create thousands of permanent jobs for the local economy. In addition, JumpTown will complement existing bars and restaurants by helping to create a critical mass that will attract travelers and visitors from outside the city.

The Trail Blazers position on placement of the Memorial Coliseum on the National Register of Historic Places:

The Trail Blazers hold a deep appreciation for the architectural heritage of the Memorial Coliseum and are committed to a renovation that’s thoughtful, sensitive and respectful of the original design and the building’s status as a memorial to our fallen soldiers. The Trail Blazers are also proud to have helped play a role in the Memorial Coliseum’s original preservation during the construction of the adjacent Rose Garden at a time when other cities were razing comparable facilities.

Number of events hosted each year the Memorial Coliseum:

The Memorial Coliseum held more than 150 major events last year, helping the Rose Quarter host more events than any other complex in the country. However, the facility will require millions in anticipated repairs during the next few years. For this reason, the city is leading an open public process to explore adaptive reuse ideas to better make the Coliseum economically and environmentally sustainable.

Background on the site’s history as a potential baseball venue:

The Memorial Coliseum is a city-owned facility controlled by the Portland City Council. In early 2009, the city of Portland asked the Trail Blazers to participate in a two-day design charrette with the City and Merritt Paulson to explore siting a AAA baseball stadium.  The Trail Blazers were open to exploring a vision of the district that included a baseball stadium; ultimately, after the city’s public process and dialogue with the community, Mayor Sam Adams decided to seek another location for the stadium.  We believe our plan for Memorial Coliseum will serve the same goal as the original baseball proposal: to increase the district’s vitality and foot traffic.

The Trail Blazers’ commitment to honoring our veterans:

There is a clear need for a more visible memorial to appropriately pay tribute to the honor and bravery of our veterans. The Coliseum’s current configuration places the memorial walls outside of the normal flow of foot traffic, and the fountain is showing its age.

We are deeply appreciative of our veterans’ service, and we thank the many veterans who are already involved in the effort to improve the memorial.  To add your voice about how best to improve the memorial, please give us your thoughts here.

The case for retaining and improving Memorial Coliseum is strong:

Currently, the venue hosts more than 150 major events a year, and hundreds of smaller meetings and conferences. It has recently hosted major international events, such as the Davis Cup and President Obama’s first campaign rally in Portland. The City of Portland is spending more than $500,000 per year on capital improvements, and while it doesn’t have all the amenities of a newer arena, it is a comfortable and functional venue that is chosen by many organizations and promoters for their events.

The Memorial Coliseum holds the key to a larger district that’s green, vibrant and firmly rooted in northeast’s jazz heritage. Its architecture represents one of Portland’s strongest examples of the International Style, and the building recently won placement on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

JumpTown is fully committed to a plan that’s viable, sustainable and part of a larger eastside vision.

The Trail Blazers’ management of the Memorial Coliseum is a good deal for taxpayers:

As part of the original agreement for the Trail Blazers to invest more than $230 million for construction of the Rose Garden, the city negotiated six percent of every ticket sold in the complex to be directed to city coffers, along with all revenue from city-owned parking garages. The operating agreement is actually a smart deal for Portland taxpayers. In fact, the surplus from this arrangement after bond repayment helps cover operating deficits and capital improvements at PGE Park, the city’s other major spectator facility.

The agreement helps minimize overhead costs for the Memorial Coliseum by using Rose Quarter staff for both facilities, resulting in significant savings. This economy of scale – combined with the high number of events at the Rose Quarter – is an important factor in the Coliseum’s ongoing operations, given its proximity to a larger and more modern facility.

The reality of the status quo is that event promoters often opt for the Rose Garden’s larger seating capacity and enhanced amenities. However, the JumpTown vision will help revitalize the Coliseum to make it a more attractive venue for concerts and major events.

A development partner with a strong track record:

Cordish brings a track record of award-winning districts that successfully navigate complex adaptive reuse issues while reflecting their location’s content and character. As one of the most successful real estate development firms in the country, the firm has built a deep expertise on mixed-use entertainment districts to inform our planning. Cordish is also in a position to self-finance a private contribution to the project, helping to ensure the vision actually breaks ground in the face of a difficult lending market.

Cordish’s team will be paired with local architectural and design talent – including Rick Potestio and Nike’s Tinker Hatfield – to create an experience  that creates a vibrant, mixed-use district while better connecting the area to adjacent communities. Public involvement and commitment to design excellence will guide our process.

The Trail Blazers take their responsibility to the community very seriously. We work to be good neighbors and a positive force for Portland, and it’s important that JumpTown reflect these priorities.

Your participation and feedback can help strengthen the project. Help guide our vision with your ideas and don’t forget to sign up for project updates so you can get the latest news as plans progress!