Quote:
Originally Posted by pylon
Can the MC "shell" be kept, given a little TLC and energy efficiency, and be used to house the Live! businesses? It would probably look classier and less silly than some of the structures these entertainment zones are put in. It would also make for a great glassy rain shelter to view the city from while doing things inside. Turnaround on a project like this could be done very eco-friendly and quick. With less risk and cost.
Not putting the SMART tower in here during this development seems like a missed opportunity. It would help bring business to the area when there are no games going on, and be an additional draw for conventions.
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Thats kind of what I'd like to see as well... we could insert program into the existing shell, probably having to demolish the "teacup," but could allow a huge amount of activity. Like Crodish's proposal for a 2,500 seat theater, or a concert hall, which is also part of their proposal.
I just got back home from the public presentation tonight - wow! It was quite the ordeal. I would say at least 85% of the public, if not more, were very vocal against tearing down the MC. Probably 12 or more people brought it up during the Q/comments period, each to great applause.
And, boy, did the architecture community show up in force! Not only was Randy Gragg there, but several professors from the universities, as well as a few prominent urban planners/designers.
The AIA sent a rep to denounce the destruction of the MC, calling it an architectural treasure. Many of the professionals not only were against tearing it down, but the plan itself is terrible and doomed to fail.
One of the current proposals:
One thing I would really like to know is the current value of the MC. And how much money Cordish, the Blazers, and Vulcan (???) are planning or willing to spend on the redevelopment. And why the hell aren't they looking at actually going to the river?
The current plans wouldn't even have any activity that is focused towards the most valuable asset: downtown and river views. They basically involve tearing down the Blazer's office building and repurposing part of the central plaza into a U-shaped retail building that would face the Rose Garden. Circulation would likewise remained nonexistant, with no entrances or axial circulation routes. Unsurprisingly for a project being rushed like this, it doesn't even include looking at the greater district and how to integrate the development into the area,
despite the fact that Sam and the lead city planner repeatedly claimed that it would build synergy in the district and act as a critical catalyst for redevelopment. Only one of the panels included the extensive planning done in
Lloyd Crossing and the Convention Center blocks, with no mention of the Np Greenway plan, bike access, or pedestrian accessibility from the RQ transit center. I, and many others, failed to see how it will help spur redevelopment of the district, as they neglected the most critical components: The River, Downtown Views, Broadway, Accessibility and Openness (to the street grid, which was claimed many times), and circulation.
Apologies to the length of my post, but Folks, we're headed towards a clusterfuck... Sam and the team are fastracking this project, we might even see MC razed within a month or two if they get their way. Which, I would hope does not happen, as I fail to see how this would benefit Portland in the long term.
I can't believe the city has spent years studying this area and has basically nothing to show for it. They were able to develop a comprehensive Pearl District Plan in just a few years, that has worked fantastically. And this site is mere feet from the Pearl! So much wasted opportunity.
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