MARC » Press

Oregonian Commentary by D.K. Row Gets it Totally Right

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:17:13 +0000

“But one reason I’m drawn to Obletz’s plan is that it’s a personal vision, an expression of the athletic Obletz’s love of sport and community and the goodwill they foster. It’s not a pastiche of ideas cobbled through elaborate polling and Old Portland-style backroom dealing. You can’t fake that kind of authenticity.”

D.K. Row – The Oregonian – 7/10/10 – Full article is here: http://bit.ly/c5QgNe

DJC: “Would-be Memorial Coliseum developers left in the dark”

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:55:21 +0000

The latest on the project is nicely sumamrized in this 6/24/10 article in the Daily Journal of Commerce:

See: http://bit.ly/8YTUpL

DJC: “Memorial Coliseum Revamp Put on Hold”

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:21:28 +0000

“A verdict on the future of Memorial Coliseum has been delayed while three development teams respond to direction from Mayor Sam Adams to work together on a joint proposal for the building’s reuse.”

5/24/10 – Nathalie Weinstein – Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland (on-line) - http://bit.ly/bCjSk9

A Leading Real Estate Pro’s View of the RQ Supports MARC Plan

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 22:21:53 +0000

In Sunday’s Oregonian (5/23/10), D.K. Row interviews Craig Sweitzer of Urban Works Real Estate, a company Row calls “perhaps the city’s most successful retail brokerage firm.” As part of the lengthly interview, Row asked Sweitzer his views on the Rose Quarter:

“Q: What are your thoughts on the Rose Quarter development process going on right now? What kind of retail or activating presence would work in that area?

A: That’s a complicated situation. I think Paul Allen’s group had an opportunity when they built the Rose Quarter to get things right. But they didn’t get it right. Theirs is a corporate approach to an important part of Portland that doesn’t have long legs. I think whatever happens to the Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Quarter should be an authentic Portland experience versus a national retailer’s perspective on what works.

In my opinion, the plan (a community athletic complex) presented by (developers) Shiels Obletz Johnsen is a good model, because it creates daytime traffic and generators that are critical to growth. It brings people to the area for reasons other than a Blazers game or a concert, reasons other than to drink and see a ballgame. And that gets to the problem overall. We’ve been evaluating success in that area solely in terms of what happens to the Blazers. But business cannot succeed based just on the Blazers’ winning record. It has to succeed when they are winning and losing.”

The full article can be found here: http://bit.ly/cW4CuG

D.K. Row of the Oregonian Provides Update

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:41:53 +0000

“Portland Mayor Sam Adams continues to insist that three proposals for developing Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Quarter be combined into one.”

5/15/10 – D.K. Row, Oregonian – http://bit.ly/bjAUc2

D.K. Row Takes on the RQ Process: “Openness, with an Asterisk”

admin — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:49:49 +0000

“Many participants in this process — from city commissioners to the most vocal critic, Will Macht, a Portland State University urban studies and planning professor — have outlined concerns. They argue that even though this public process has embraced the appearance of openness and inclusion, it actually favors a deep-pocketed private company with a financial connection to the city.” (emphasis added)

–5/4/10 – D.K. Row, Oregonian - http://bit.ly/cjhmC3

MARC Advances as City Council Approves Next Steps

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:54:39 +0000

“The key to enlivening the Rose Quarter and making the Coliseum an even better facility is to add activity to it,” said MARC mastermind Doug Obletz.”

–4/15/10 – kgw.com video is here: http://bit.ly/9A5LmB

Track & Field Supporters Running Hard in Support of MARC Plan (Updated)

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:52:09 +0000

Track & Field supporters will push hard at City Council tomorrow in support of World Class indoor track as part of MARC proposal.

See: http://bit.ly/cmneqt http://bit.ly/bhcfcQ http://bit.ly/bVs2Zv

“A plan that would include a competition-level, 200-meter indoor track as part of a Memorial Coliseum redevelopment was one of three to get a go-ahead from the Portland City Council on Wednesday. Advocates for each plan now are expected to come up with a more detailed proposal.”

4/15/10 – Ken Goe, OregonLive.com. See: http://bit.ly/bcVAse

Neighbors Question Urban Renewal Funding for Blazers’ JumpTown Plan

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:45:53 +0000

“I haven’t heard a single person from ICURAC of the various neighborhoods within the boundary say that they support the Rose Quarter expansion,” said Chott. “The Trail Blazers have had the right to develop the Rose Quarter properties for the past 15 years, why are they deciding that right now is the right time to do it?”

–David Chott, land use chair for the Overlook Neighborhood Association

See: http://bit.ly/b6gqen

Onward Oregon takes on the Blazers’ Coliseum and JumpTown Proposal

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 05:37:40 +0000

Onward Oregon takes on the Blazers’ Coliseum and JumpTown proposal and calls for action:

“As you may know, the leading contender is the Trail Blazers’ plan to create an entertainment district called “Jumptown.” Many feel that such a district, including their proposal for the Memorial Coliseum, would serve a narrow demographic and will privatize a space that was once shared and owned in common. We are concerned that Jumptown & the Trail Blazers’ plan for the Memorial Coliseum will make Memorial Coliseum a commercial and community deadzone.”

More at: http://bit.ly/bZhp4l