Coliseum Gardens

puerco · #1 Posted **Jul 1, 2010, 2:58 PM**

When I was a teenager the Calaroga Terrace was being built. It was the first phase of an ambitious project called Coliseum Gardens. There was a large billboard on MLK (then Union Avenue) showing a 'microcity' of numerous high rises planned for the area. Sort of an Eastside answer to the Westside's South Auditorium urban renewal. I've been trying to find a copy of that sign but so far no luck. Has anyone out there ever come across it? I think most of you would be interested in seeing what 'might have been'. The Lloyd Center area would look a lot different now if it had been completed.
"Calaroga Terrace was built in 1967 by San Francisco industrialist Roy Hedgpeth. His original goal of creating a 10-block microcity called “Coliseum Gardens” met with a lack of funding, and Calaroga Terrace never got the matching high-rise that Hedgpeth envisioned"-from Portland Life.

urbanlife · #2 Posted **Jul 2, 2010, 4:15 AM**

I would say, have you tried visiting the Historical Society Museum, but you are in SF so that might be alittle hard for you to do. This is actually the first I have ever heard of something like this.

puerco · #3 Posted **Jul 2, 2010, 1:15 PM**

I've tried looking at the archives of the Oregonian & the Oregon Journal - Portland's one-time evening newspaper - but nothing came up. I wonder if the historical society has a website? Thanks, I'll check it out.

pdxtraveler · #4 Posted **Jul 2, 2010, 5:11 PM**

I think this is a pic somewhere in the forums. I saw I pic one time and I think it was taken from a newpaper. Pretty sure it had to be here that a saw the post. I will look, but lots of territory to cover.

puerco · #5 Posted **Jul 2, 2010, 7:40 PM**

I communicated a few years ago with pdxstreetcar about Coliseum Gardens & I remember neither of us were able to find anything altho living in Portland, he was going to continue to research it. I'm posting this query again to see if anything's been found re: CG in the ensuing years.

Calaroga Terrace · #6 Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 3:16 PM**

There were three towers in the original plan of the project. We do have some historical pictures which show the proposed layout if that is of interest.

puerco · #7 Posted **Jul 24, 2010, 5:56 PM**

Yes! Please post your pictures. It looked like a very impressive addition to the Eastside skyline when it was posted on the corner on Union Ave. (MLK) back in the late 60's. I'd enjoy seeing it again.
Thanks!