Memorial Coliseum Gets Historic Landmark Designation

Just as I told you would be the case earlier this year Memorial Coliseum in Portland has been granted an official historic landmark designation. And a task force has been charged with coming up with ideas by the Fall of 2010 for future use of the old run down barn that is more of a money suck than anything else. I can't say I am surprised by this designation as I have heard its been in the works for months. Now tearing down Memorial Coliseum will be close to impossible. Portland clearly lacks the city leadership to come up with a viable use for the Coliseum or for the land the Coliseum sits on. 14 years after the Rose Garden opened everyone is still trying to figure out what to do with the building the Rose Garden replaced. Amazing. As I have said many times on SBR the most underdeveloped section of the city of Portland is the Rose Quarter. There is no reason that land should not be developed just like has been the case in the Pearl District - with retail living space and office space as well as a hotel and some entertainment destinations. But because there are so many cooks in the kitchen - the city of Portland the Trail Blazers architects and historians who don't want the Coliseum to be torn down we continue to see zero progress. Talk is cheap. I don't really care what is going on behind the scenes at this point with task forces and fancy drawings. I like many others want to see results. We'll discuss the future of Memorial Coliseum as well as why this has dragged on for so long on our Portland-edition of SBR on Sunday from 5pm - 7pm - after Seahawks football on 95.5FM The Game. I will have many sharp opinions to share and I welcome your phone calls as well.

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