Keller Auditorium Replacement or Refurbishment | Proposed

[maccoinnich]

Portland City Council to vote on Keller Auditorium plan



The Portland City Council will take up a resolution next week to develop two "Broadway-capable" venues, avoiding a prolonged closure of the aging Keller Auditorium, according to the council agenda posted Friday.

The resolution would move Portland State University’s plans for a new theater venue forward, while also allowing for continuous operations at the Keller.

The council in August delayed a final decision on the future of the 100-year-old Keller, directing city staff to work with PSU and Halprin Landscape Conservancy, which was formed by several downtown developers, on “a collaborative solution that combines their respective projects.” Halprin was advocating a competing proposal to renovate the existing downtown auditorium, while PSU proposed building a new one several blocks away.

The existing venue has structural deficiencies, making it unlikely to survive a major earthquake, a seismic report from the city found. Renovating it would be disruptive, however, as Broadway shows, Portland Opera and Oregon Ballet Theatre all perform on the stage on a regular basis and construction would take about 19 months.

...continues at the Portland Business Journal ($).

Link to agenda item.

[babs]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

...continues at the Portland Business Journal ($).

Link to agenda item.

I love the idea of two theaters but hopefully they each have their own focus. Over time, both will get plenty of use.

[maccoinnich]

If I'm being cynical, I can't help but wonder whether this is just an effort to kick the can down the road to the future mayor / council. As much as I'd love to see two Broadway capable venues, I'm skeptical that there's demand that for that. Even if there were, any potential sources of funding (TIF proceeds, visitor taxes, state bonds, etc) are going to have other asks of them in over the next few years, including for the soon-to-be publicly owned Moda Center and sports concept at the Expo Center.

[sopdx]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

If I'm being cynical, I can't help but wonder whether this is just an effort to kick the can down the road to the future mayor / council. As much as I'd love to see two Broadway capable venues, I'm skeptical that there's demand that for that. Even if there were, any potential sources of funding (TIF proceeds, visitor taxes, state bonds, etc) are going to have other asks of them in over the next few years, including for the soon-to-be publicly owned Moda Center and sports concept at the Expo Center.

I agree. I read several weeks ago in - I believe the Willamette Week - that the Halprin Landscape Conservancy, was putting a lot of pressure on the city council. By deciding to go forward with two, they don't have to make a decision.

https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/08/08/two-groups-lobby-city-officials-for-the-future-of-the-keller/

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

If I'm being cynical, I can't help but wonder whether this is just an effort to kick the can down the road to the future mayor / council. As much as I'd love to see two Broadway capable venues, I'm skeptical that there's demand that for that. Even if there were, any potential sources of funding (TIF proceeds, visitor taxes, state bonds, etc) are going to have other asks of them in over the next few years, including for the soon-to-be publicly owned Moda Center and sports concept at the Expo Center.

Honestly, I think most important decisions should be can kicked since this council shouldn't be making long term commitments.

[maccoinnich]

The adopted -2 amendments to SB 5505 include $85.7 million for a Performing Arts Academic building at PSU, and $53 million for associated parking. This bill is almost certain to pass by the end of the week.

[colossalorder]

I'm not in the industry and have zero expertise here, so take this as an uninformed layman's response, but ... wow, we are spending $53 million on parking for an $85 performing arts center!?! That just seems way out of balance. Am I missing something or is this normal?

[maccoinnich]

The total cost of the whole complex will easily be in the mid hundred millions. This only pays for the PSU owned portion.

[sopdx]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

The total cost of the whole complex will easily be in the mid hundred millions. This only pays for the PSU owned portion.

A little confused here. This is for PSU's performing arts and academic building. I'm assuming this does not include the theater, however will be located in the same area. Will the parking garage be located in the same area as well?

[babs]

Originally Posted by sopdx

A little confused here. This is for PSU's performing arts and academic building. I'm assuming this does not include the theater, however will be located in the same area. Will the parking garage be located in the same area as well?

Where is the parking garage going? I didn't see it in the original drawings. Hopefully it's built as a buffer to the freeway.

[maccoinnich]

The PSU proposal shows 500-740 new parking parking spaces on site, underground.

[urbanlife]

So does this look like we are headed towards building a new building with the Keller building becoming a redevelopment site in the future?

[PhillyPDX]

I thought this was a bit interesting. Significant foreclosure announcement at 200 SW Market due to companies leaving. Per article below, the owner was a major voice pushing for redevelopment of the original Keller across the street from his building. I'm assuming he knew writing was on the wall and probably was grasping at straws to do something, anything, to make his building location more desirable.

"For the past several years, Russell has aggressively pitched City Hall on a redevelopment of the Keller Auditorium, the performing arts venue that stands across Market Street from the Black Box."

https://www.wweek.com/news/2025/06/25/le...-as-downtown-real-estate-crisis-deepens/

[MarkDaMan]

https://www.kgw.com/article/money/busine...283-8536fff8-f5b9-4b88-80f0-b2ded3cded42

PSU secures $155M for new Broadway performing arts center
The Oregon Legislature approved $137.5 million in state bonds Friday evening for a 1,200-seat theater, academic space and parking owned by Portland State University.

Author: Alex Jensen
Published: 2:29 PM PDT June 30, 2025
Updated: 2:29 PM PDT June 30, 2025

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland State University secures $155 million for a new performing arts and culture center in downtown Portland.

It's part of a two-part strategy approved by the Portland City Council last October to create two venues capable of hosting Broadway shows. The plan combines PSU's proposal to build a new Keller Auditorium with a major renovation of the more than century-old performing arts center.

The PSU arts center will be built first, allowing it to host productions while renovations begin on the Keller. The Keller is expected to remain city-owned and reopen in 2031. The PSU theater is anticipated to open in 2030 on Southwest Lincoln Street.

...(continues)

[maccoinnich]

New downtown Portland theaters on the horizon



Hundreds of millions of dollars are due to be invested in performing arts infrastructure at the southern end of downtown Portland, and project stakeholders are continuing to secure funding to advance development.

The Performing Arts and Culture Center (PACC) will feature a Broadway-capable theater with up to 3,000 seats. The approximately $385 million venue will be owned by the city; officials are seeking funding, according to Jason Franklin, Portland State University associate vice president for planning, construction and real estate.

PSU‘s portion of the project will include an approximately 1,200-seat theater and academic space, a 150-room hotel with conference space, and a parking structure. Late last month, the Oregon Legislature provided substantial state support by approving issuance of $137.5 million in bonds ($85 million for the theater building and $52.5 million for the parking).

“The state’s investment in Portland State University represents a profound commitment to the importance of the arts in bringing together community and activating Portland’s downtown core,” Mayor Keith Wilson stated.

The hotel building will be developed and controlled by a hotel investor. Approximately $71 million for that project piece will be supplied by investor equity/conventional debt.

...continues at the DJC.

[urbanlife]

This is fantastic news for the south end of downtown

[maccoinnich]

Market study concludes that Portland can't support both the Keller and new venue



Portland cannot support two venues capable of presenting large-scale, Broadway-style productions, according to a market feasibility study made public Friday.

The report, by Chicago advisory firm Hunden Partners, throws cold water on the city’s plans to both allow Portland State University to pursue a 3,000-seat venue for large-scale performances on land it owns downtown and to renovate the Keller Auditorium, which needs $290 million in seismic and capital improvements.

“There is insufficient market support for two Broadway-capable venues in Portland,” the study says. “Two proposed concert venues will compete for concerts and other live entertainment, negating the need for an additional large venue to host unaccommodated commercial content.”

...continues at the Portland Business Journal ($).

[urbanlife]

That's a bummer

[maccoinnich]

RFQ for a hotel developer at the PSU proposal.

Portland State University (PSU) is seeking statements of experience and qualifications (collectively Statement of Qualifications) from qualified developers (Respondent or Respondents) to develop a hotel and conference center as part of a new Performing Arts & Culture Center. Please see the link to the RFQ solicitation document for complete information.

[downtownpdx]

I really hope the city goes with a Keller revamp. Abandoning this historic location across from the fountain would be a mistake and suck the life out of the neighborhood. A nice revamp of this mid century auditorium is a much better move IMHO.