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This week’s votes on Moda Center, an Albina Vision Trust development resolution, and downtown performing arts venues.
Published
What's been on my mind this week
Portland City Council passed a Moda Center term sheet! Let the negotiations begin.
This week, Portland City Councilors approved a Moda Center term sheet! In an 8-4 vote, we delivered on our promise to Portlanders: To put forward terms that would empower the City's negotiators to do their best work on our behalf and give Portland the best chance of keeping the Trail Blazers here in Rip City.
As part of that, and in response to last week's deliberations, Council President Dunphy and District 2 Councilors Kanal, Pirtle-Guiney, and I put forward two amendments that were vetted by the City's negotiators. The amendments called for strengthened considerations related to the Portland Fire, incorporated language that reaffirmed key outcomes/expectations in the definitive agreement, clarified development rights, and included an additional rent element. Both passed and will be incorporated into the final version of our term sheet.
The process leading up to Wednesday's full Council vote wasn't straightforward, and misinformation permeated the discussion from the start. I want to acknowledge the hard work of my City Council colleagues, the City's Administration, and our negotiators, all of whom dug into this conversation at multiple executive sessions and work sessions in recent months. Here are a few truths I held close throughout the process:
- In recent weeks, constituents on all sides of the Moda/Trail Blazers discussion have reached out to me. As part of that, examples from other cities and regions—particularly the cost of arena renovations around the US and the ROI of those projects—were frequently cited. From Washington, DC to the Bay Area, few of those case studies provide a good 1-to-1 comparison of conditions in Portland. Why? Because many are home to more than one major league team, multiple international brands, and/or Fortune 500 companies. When it comes to heavy-hitting, internationally recognized private companies, Portland is a one-trick pony. Comparatively, the Trail Blazers' departure from Portland would leave more significant economic and cultural damage in its wake, in both dollars and cents and heartfelt intangibles that are difficult to measure.
- What Council ultimately approved this week isn't as binding or formal as a term sheet typically is. It's a Public Guidelines and Objectives document meant to provide the City's negotiators with a framework that the majority of Councilors could stand behind. It was vital to get that framework approved this week. If not, negotiators would have to do their work without it. How could we expect them to bargain on our behalf if we couldn't even agree on our guidelines internally?
That's why we fought to keep it simple, straightforward, make as few changes as possible, and get it over to negotiators to take care of the business at hand. I was pleased that we were able to provide certainty in our next steps, and now it's time for Tom Dundon and his Rip City Management team to come to the table.
It was great to have the City, County, and State all on the same page this week. I'm optimistic about what the City's negotiators will be able to secure in terms of a deal. City Council's final Moda Center vote will be in December 2026, but before then, we'll dig into funding conversations, the creation of a multi-agency joint authority as outlined in Oregon's Senate Bill 1501, and more. Stay tuned, stay active, and stay engaged, Rip City!
City Life Committee approves Albina Vision Trust development resolution
Related to Moda Center, this week, the City Life Committee approved a resolution to name Albina Vision Trust (AVT) as the development partner for City of Portland-owned parcels adjacent to Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Your District 2 Councilors, including Councilors Kanal, Pirtle-Guiney, and myself, jointly introduced the resolution, which directs the City Administrator to advance a process to identify a development partner for City-owned properties in this important, historically significant, and evolving area of District 2 and to negotiate in earnest with AVT as that partner.
If you're unfamiliar with AVT's work, they're a community led nonprofit that was founded in 2017 to steward the future of Lower Albina—which lost 80% of its Black community to mid-century urban renewal. The organization's 94-acre restorative development plan, which would rebuild Lower Albina into a mixed-use district with green spaces, housing, new connections to the Willamette, and more, is precedent-setting and one of the largest initiatives of its kind in the US.
I was proud to work on this resolution with my District 2 colleagues. As the Mayor, City Administration, and the negotiators representing Portlanders work to secure a deal to renovate the state's largest publicly owned arena, the Moda Center, we also have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revitalize and reimagine Lower Albina, the neighborhood that includes the Moda Center. Our resolution paves the way for restorative development in Lower Albina, important work that will impact the district's vibrancy, livability, and economy for generations to come, with Albina Vision Trust at the table.
After this week's 5-0 committee vote, the next step will be to bring this resolution for a formal first reading and full Council vote at a date to be determined by the City Council President.
Tuesday's committee vote on performing arts venues
I mentioned it last week, but I want to mention it again now: As a former senior development leader at both Portland State University (PSU) and the Oregon Ballet Theatre, the conversation about the future of Portland's downtown performing arts venues has been a complicated one for me. Given my professional experiences, I've been torn about the best path forward for Portland as it relates to PSU vs. the Keller.
At this week's City Life Committee meeting, and after much thought, I voted no on a resolution that would advance a plan to create a new Broadway-capable venue at PSU. Here's why:
- Like the Moda Center, we own the Keller Auditorium and I believe we need to invest in—not abandon—the assets already on our balance sheet. The Keller Auditorium has been at the heart of performing arts in Portland for more than a century, and the fountain out front, a piece of the City of Portland's public art collection, has been a jewel of south downtown since 1970.
- Ultimately, I didn't have faith that the PSU plan, if it were to move forward, would end up with the Keller getting the renovation and modernization it truly needs. We can't afford to create conditions that decrease activity and increase blight in the core of our downtown.
- Speaking of affordability, we're in a tight fiscal position which has played out mightily with the Moda Center investment opportunity. Adding a minimum down payment of $44 million for a new performing arts center—located at the tip of downtown on PSU's campus—gave me pause. We need more clarity than what's been provided up to this point.
I want to invest in our performing arts infrastructure, and I look forward to better economic conditions that would make this important step a reality. Given our fragile financial position, I didn't see a brand new venue penciling out at this time. Right now, the Keller Auditorium is already a major arts center, and we can bolster it further with the necessary renovations. That said, my City Council colleagues on the City Life Committee did not agree, and the resolution passed with a 4-1 vote. It will now head to the full Council for a formal first reading.
Special announcements
Plan ahead: I-5 southbound closure begins September 11 🚧
Starting on September 11, 2026, all lanes of I-5 southbound traffic through the Rose Quarter—between I-405 and I-84—will be closed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for up to 5 weeks. Oregon Department of Transportation is urging drivers to plan ahead for significant delays that could back up across the Columbia River into Washington.
ODOT will be working to repair and reinforce weak areas, replace bridge joints, resurface the concrete deck, and repaint lane lines.
Portland Staycation is back! 🏷️
From September 11-13, the third edition of Portland's Staycation weekend will be jam-packed with something for everyone: a Thorns match, live music, theatre, dining, and Downtown Sunday Parkways—two car-free miles of vendors and fun for all ages.
With the potential for traffic impacts from the I-5Rose Quarter Improvement Project, this year's Summer Staycation has been curated to allow guests to enjoy a seamless, stress-free weekend without ever having to leave downtown.
Grant opportunities
Lester Viles Grant ✨
- Funder: Lester Viles North Portland Project Association
- Deadline: August 31, 2026
- Funding amount: Up to $5,000
The Lester Viles North Portland Project Association helps North Portland businesses grow and thrive through community improvement micro grants. Eligible projects for the Lester Viles Grant will provide a public benefit, and applicants must demonstrate how their project is beneficial to the public interest.
Lloyd-Holladay Relocation Grant 🛍️
- Funder: Prosper Portland
- Deadline: September 1, 2026
- Funding amount: Up to $25,000 with $153,000 available overall
Lloyd Center tenants looking to relocate into another ground-floor commercial space in the Lloyd-Holladay TIF District are eligible to apply for Prosper Portland's Lloyd-Holladay Relocation Grant! Through September 1, Lloyd Center tenants can apply for grants of up to $25,000 for moving expenses and/or tenant improvements. After that, any business or nonprofit looking to set up shop in the district can apply for remaining funds. In total, $153,000 is available to award through this limited-time program.
Scale Up Grants 📈
- Funder: Prosper Portland Office of Events & Film
- Deadline: September 3, 2026
- Funding amount: Up to $35,000 disbursed over three years
In partnership with Travel Portland, Portland Events & Film's competitive Scale Up Grant Program is designed to provide event producers with funding and technical assistance for their Portland-based events that are positioned to grow and attract attendance from beyond the Portland metro.
Echo Fund 🎶
- Funder: MusicOregon
- Deadline: September 8, 2026
- Funding amount: Up to $5,000 with $100,000 available overall
In partnership with the City's Office of Arts & Culture, MusicOregon is putting $100,000 into the hands of Portland-based working musicians across every genre. Individual awards will range from $1,000 to $5,000 and will support creative, non-performance work, including recording, mixing and mastering, promotion, distribution, gear and more.
Operating Support Grants 🎭
- Funder: City of Portland's Office of Arts & Culture
- Deadline: September 11, 2026
- Funding amount: $25,000-$145,000 annually for two years
This flexible funding from the Office of Arts & Culture helps arts organizations sustain operations, advance their missions, and expand access to arts experiences for Portlanders. Award amounts are determined by factors outlined in the grant guidelines, including organizational budget size and demonstrated service to K–12 students and people in underserved communities.