Happy Tuesday!

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, high 84, low 58.

🎤 Sounds like: "Superpowers" by Daniel Caesar, who plays Moda tonight.

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Today's newsletter is 974 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Demolition of the fire-ravaged Centennial Mills building began yesterday, starting with four controlled explosions to bring down the building's rooftop water tower.

State of play: Ever since a blaze gutted the blighted 116-year-old Northwest Portland landmark earlier this month, nearby residents and property owners have been on their toes as city officials warn the unstable structure is at risk of collapse.

• The threat posed by the seven-floor building's husk collapsing prompted closure of part of nearby Northwest Naito Parkway and Fields Park, and halted Amtrak service between Portland and Seattle indefinitely.

Threat level: A sudden collapse could send debris containing asbestos and lead airborne and into surrounding neighborhoods.

Zoom in: Crowds started to gather along the eastern shore of the Willamette, on the Broadway Bridge and even in boats — and at least one paddleboard — hours before detonation.

• Crews could be seen attaching white explosive charges to each of the four corner beams holding up the water tower before the explosion, which was heard all over town.

The latest: The water tower removal was the first step in what officials have described as a complex demolition.

• Before the blasts, which took place at 2:28pm, contractors cleared a 300-foot exclusion zone surrounding the site. Nearby residents received a public alert an hour beforehand, followed by sirens at the three-minute mark and a five-second verbal countdown before detonation.
• Anyone nearby was encouraged to stay inside during and immediately after the blasts and wait until visible dust cleared, or wear an N95 mask if they had to be outdoors.

Flashback: Built in 1910 as Crown Mills, the waterfront complex was once one of the Pacific Northwest's major producers of flour and milled grain.

• Renamed Centennial Mills in 1949, it remained the last operating flour mill downtown until about 2000. Over the last decade, the mill sat vacant and deteriorating as several redevelopment efforts stalled.

What's next: The water tower was just phase one.

• Eugene-based contractor Staton Companies — hired by Centennial Mills' owner and real estate investor Stuart Lindquist — will now begin dismantling the building's remaining walls "in a controlled manner to minimize the spread of debris."
• The city said it could take up to two weeks to reduce the building to half of its current height. Officials did not provide a full timeline on how long the full demolition will take.

Portland has had Seattle's number recently.

Why it matters: Across three major pro leagues in which both cities have teams, Portland is 7-1 against our northerly neighbors this year.

By the numbers: The Fire completed a 4-0 season sweep of the Storm on Friday with an 84-82 win at Climate Pledge Arena.

• The Timbers are 2-0 against the Sounders, including a 5-1 thrashing at in Seattle last month.
• The Thorns and Reign have split their two meetings, 1-1.
• That makes the Reign the only major Seattle pro team to notch a victory against their Rose City counterpart in 2026.

The big picture: The Cascadia sports feud has long centered on soccer, but the arrival of the Fire has given the cities another reason to keep score.

• Consider it fresh fuel for Seattle and Portland's long-running regional rivalry.

What's next: Seattle still has opportunities left this year to try and salvage their reputation, but we wouldn't bet on it.

😢 Nick's Italian Cafe, a McMinnville staple since 1977, has closed for good just two years after its revival. Owners cited high repair costs tied to its aging kitchen ventilation system. (The Oregonian)

⚡️ Eugene voters will decide whether to create a Portland-style climate fund in November, financed by a 2% fee on some large retailers and expected by advocates to raise about $15 million a year. (KEZI)

New public records show city staff spent months coordinating PR messaging with Urban Alchemy — the city's largest homeless services contractor — after it faced complaints, including allegations of sexual misconduct, retaliation and unsafe shelter conditions. (Portland Mercury)

🐄 A conservation group is suing the federal government to block plans to allow cattle grazing on more than 24 million previously restricted acres across the West, including areas around Oregon's Blue Mountains and Mount Hood National Forest. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

The forthcoming James Beard Public Market just cleared a major hurdle: It received the city permits it needs to start the next phase of construction and is on track for a grand opening next year.

Catch up quick: The year-round food hall is perhaps one of the more ambitious development projects taking shape downtown, with plans to bring 40 small businesses under one roof — à la Seattle's Pike Place.

• The nonprofit behind the market bought the former Ungar building, located at the corner of Southwest Alder Street and 6th Avenue, for $3 million last year and is working with COLAB Architecture + Urban Design on the vision.

Plans for the 38,000 square-foot market include dozens of vendor stalls, a wine bar, brewery, cheese shop, butcher, fishmonger and restaurant, as well as a teaching kitchen and cookbook store.

😋 Meira's thought bubble: The market is landing in the midst of a mini dining boom downtown — with a number of high-end restaurants and bars steadily filling storefronts again.

• Seems like there's enough momentum to make the central city one of the most sought-after places to grab a bite once again.

🤯 Meira is reading this absolutely bonkers story.

💥 Kale can't believe he waited on the Broadway Bridge for three hours just to put his fat finger over his camera lens for half a second during the money shot.

This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz.