Portland City Administrator Raymond Lee met with Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon in Texas to discuss the future of the Moda Center. The Oregonian reported it was the first known in-person meeting between the Blazers owner and a city official in months; Dundon had been largely absent from the arena negotiations to that point.
Portland City Council voted September 3 to open development talks with Albina Vision Trust for city-owned property next to the Moda Center.
The council's five-person City Life Committee voted unanimously Aug. 11 to advance a resolution giving Albina Vision Trust the first opportunity to negotiate redevelopment of city-owned parcels next to the Moda Center — two parking garages north of the arena and a green space to its south. District 2 councilors Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Sameer Kanal and Dan Ryan introduced the proposal; Councilor Angelita Morillo raised concerns about giving sole preference to one nonprofit. The measure goes to a full council vote later this summer.
The full council approved the Moda Center renovation term sheet the next day; Albina Vision Trust's stated goal is revitalizing 94 acres of the historic Albina neighborhood.
The council's five-member City Life Committee voted unanimously on August 11 to advance a proposal giving Albina Vision Trust the first chance to redevelop city-owned parcels adjacent to the Moda Center; District 2 councilors Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Sameer Kanal, and Dan Ryan jointly introduced it. Angelita Morillo voted to advance the plan but said it gave sole preference to one nonprofit: "We can just have a harder discussion at full council, because this committee is unwilling to do some of the hard work here."
The proposal goes to a full council vote later this summer.