Portland performing arts scene in for big boost
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Over the last several weeks, Portland has seen a flurry of approvals for projects that will bring new, or upgraded, opportunities to take in live performances in the Rose City.
Why it matters: From the Portland State campus to downtown to inner Southeast, the next few years are going to see several big developments in the performing arts scene.
Here's a look at three key projects.
A revamped Keller Auditorium
For months, the Portland City Council weighed moving forward with renovations of the 3,000-seat auditorium or scrapping it entirely to build a new theater somewhere else.
- The 107-year-old venue was renovated in 1967 but still has a few original walls dating back to 1917 and it needs seismic upgrades.
- The Keller brings in roughly half the revenue of downtown's five publicly owned theaters.
- Earlier this month, city councilors approved a $236 million plan to upgrade the Keller, with Mayor Ted Wheeler proclaiming the project would "shape the cultural and social fabric of our city for the next century."
A new venue at Portland State
In that same council meeting, city leaders also green-lit plans for a new venue on the Portland State campus near the corner of Southwest Fourth Avenue and Lincoln Street.
- Councilors approved a staggered timeline, allowing construction of the PSU auditorium, which can also host Broadway shows, to be completed before work on the Keller begins.
- The move was intended to minimize disruptions to theater events.
- The estimated costs for the project — which includes a parking structure, hotel and smaller theater — clock in at more than $850 million.
A Live Nation concert hall in Southeast
Across the river, plans for a 3,500-seat concert hall are moving forward despite strong opposition from local music advocates.
- The venue, planned for vacant lots under the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge, would be operated by Live Nation, a nationwide entertainment behemoth that critics — and the U.S. Department of Justice — have accused of anti-competitive practices.
- Despite passionate testimony at a city land use hearing, city leaders rejected an appeal by MusicPortland and paved the way for construction to begin.
What they're saying: Leroy Bynum Jr., dean of the College of the Arts at Portland State, said the recent developments have been "a long time coming," and the new projects will bring a renewed sense of vibrancy to the city's arts scene and its economy.
- "Having performances like the opera, ballet, the symphony and Broadway shows, they all have the ability to create these wonderful experiences. They make us feel more human," Bynum said.
- He also noted the venues will bring much-needed dollars and foot traffic to a downtown still recovering from the pandemic. "The financial value of the arts cannot be overstated," he said.