Big Pink owner floats rooftop observation deck

State of play: In a video on Instagram, Swickard floated the idea of adding a rooftop observation deck to Big Pink, which is Portland's second-tallest building, standing at 536 feet with 42 stories.

• The roof was once used by high-profile executives and their helicopters, but now is mostly used to store HVAC equipment.
• Flipping that largely utilitarian space into an observation deck could give tourists a new downtown attraction and locals a new perch.

Yes, but: Don't get too excited.

• "The probability of even being able to permit it is very low," Swickard told Willamette Week.

Flashback: Swickard bought Big Pink last year for $45 million, a fire sale price compared to its $372 million price tag in 2015. Earlier this year he bought the nearby Five Oak building, too.

• Big Pink was roughly 75% vacant earlier this year after losing major tenants like its namesake U.S. Bank, New Relic and SurveyMonkey, per WW.

What we're watching: Swickard is also asking Portlanders on social media what they'd like to see at Big Pink as he looks for ways to help the tower — and downtown more broadly — regain its energy.

• For example, a ground-floor food and beverage plaza could also be on the horizon, according to Swickard. We'll just have to wait and see.