To Preserve, or Not To Preserve? Portland Has A Problem.

I've lived in Portland for seven months now. In that short span of time, I have seen so many preservation fights between the city and local organizations that I could write an entire book of case studies. So far, I have felt unwilling to speak out publicly on any of the issues, because I still have so much to learn about the city. However, I do know that Portland is not unique. Many cities have the same problem, struggling to balance preservation and progress. I, for one, see the two going hand in hand -- newer isn't always better, or greener, or more beautiful (well, unless it is). For the sake of argument, I'll leave beauty out of this equation, because really, it's not relevant. One person's U.S. Armory might be another person's Memorial Coliseum; and the two might never agree. My point is that there needs to be an evaluation process that takes place before battles begin over hurried demolition permits. We need to include historic resources as part of statistics on job creation, and environmental effects, and potential revenue -- not as a barrier.

The latest fight is over the Memorial Coliseum at Rose Quarter here in Portland. The building was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and completed in 1960 as a memorial to veterans and an arena for cultural opportunities for the Portland community. It's one of the oldest sections of the Rose Quarter and has been home to numerous Portland sports teams since its completion -- a lot of Portlanders have a soft spot in their hearts for the coliseum because it's part of their history. For my "George Washington Slept Here" preservationist friends, the Beatles played a concert there on their 1965 tour.

There is a lot of talk about how Coliseum is in extreme disrepair and the bulldozer and wrecking ball are the best option (in the name of job creation). In full disclosure, I bristle up whenever I hear about plans for expansion of sports facilities. Why? Because, in my opinion, the city rarely wins. I'd like to think that Portland is different than, say, the District of Columbia that was so starved for recognition and enamored by bright shiny objects, the city officials pretty bent over backwards when Major League Baseball waltzed into town. However, Mayor Adams' massive, hurried development plan makes me pause and wonder why? The plan doesn't seem in step with the sustainable growth ideals that have made Portland such a spectacular place to live.

Modernism is part of our collective history (both good and bad), just as the Coliseum is part of Portland's. Not only is Memorial Coliseum notable for it's cultural significance to the city, but also for it's architecture. It is a unique example of arena construction during this era and has clearly stood the test of time. The building's transparency gives hints to the activity going on inside, unlike many sports or cultural venues that tend to be massive and imposing on the landscape. One of my favorite local architecture blogs, Portland Architecture, describes this it best, "the Rose Garden across the street, dark and lifeless without a game inside, seemed like a boulder to the Coliseum's diamond." It's hard to argue with backing from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects, and numerous local preservation and planning organizations in favor of preserving this city landmark. What exactly is the City Council thinking? Unfortunately they seem to have fallen victim to the fact that their eyes may be bigger than their stomachs.

Will Portland be able to stomach the outcome of these new plans? Or will "retiring" Memorial Coliseum provide just another case study for future urban planners and historians on how not to build a great city? We need to slow down and carefully think about the impact of losing some of Portland's great historic resources -- the Memorial Coliseum is not the only issue here, it is just one point on a long list of things that have been taking place in recent months. I truly hope that the Mayor and City Council are swayed in the next couple days as they make their final decision. Regardless of the turnout on this particular issue, the Coliseum should serve as a wake-up call for all Portlanders. We need to respect and understand our history (which, ahem, includes modernism) in order to thoughtfully and successfully strengthen our city's future growth.

I have not yet had a chance to go out and photograph the building myself, so I borrowed photos from a local Portland photographer. For more stunning shots, check out his blog: Blue Ruin.