PORTLAND -- Public brainstorming over the future of Memorial Coliseum has stalled, says Mayor Sam Adams, and he's stepping into the process.
The Mayor said he wants to "infuse" his ideas into the public process after it yielded what he thought were unaffordable, unfeasible results.
"Three mayors have worked on it and all have failed to get it going," said Adams. "I'm taking it on because the clock is ticking on some important funding on the table."
The last three mayors were J.E. "Bud" Clark, Vera Katz and Tom Potter. Adams served as chief of staff to Katz for over 10 years.
Adams said $18 million in urban renewal money and another $7 million in borrowing could at least spruce up the aged facility.
Beyond that, the Portland Winterhawks would need to renovate their hockey venue. There might be room leftover for a competition swimming pool and a name change, said Adams.
"We're going to rename it the Veterans Memorial Coliseum which is what it should've been named in the first place."
The Trailblazers had hoped the Coliseum would dovetail with their round-the-clock entertainment concept for the Rose quarter, called Jumptown but Adams is now shooting down that concept.
"I love the name. I don't love the initial concept that was proposed by the Blazers with national alcohol-infused sort of entertainment," he said.
Trailblazers Senior Vice President J.E. Isaac said his feelings aren't hurt over the Mayor's rejection.
In fact, he wants to get started on a new set of ideas and suggestions that mesh with the mayor's new expectations.
"Is it hard? Yes, we knew going in that this wasn't an easy thing to do," said Isaac.
One of the 31 citizen volunteers that helped brainstorm the best use of the Coliseum says Adams was getting ahead of himself.
Portland State University Urban Development and Planning Professor Will Macht says as long as the Trailblazers are in charge of operating the Coliseum, the team's natural interest is to make sure the Coliseum doesn't outshine the Rose Garden next door.
"The mayor should take the lead in restructuring the operating agreement" instead of focusing so much up-front attention on the development agreement, he said.
The Mayor will take all this into consideration as he crafts a new Coliseum approach for the City Council's consideration.
Adams says there is no room for a bicycle racing track at a newly renovated Coliseum.
He does wish to create a one-stop resource center inside the venue for veteran's in need of assistance.
