Trail Blazers Outline Plans For Rose Quarter Development

Miller (l) Says A Main Feature Of Development Would Be A "Live Block" With Bars, Restaurants

MOVED TO THE FORE: In Portland, Mark Larabee reports the Trail Blazers have been "working on the idea for some time," but it now "takes on more urgency given the fast-paced negotiations to bring" MLS to Portland. Triple-A PCL Portland Beavers and USL Portland Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson, who is bidding for an MLS expansion team, "wants the city to borrow roughly $85[M] to remodel PGE Park for soccer and build a new stadium" for the Beavers. One of the sites "under consideration for the new baseball park is Memorial Coliseum," which is located within the Rose Quarter and is owned by the city. Isaac said that the Trail Blazers are "talking with the city because the City Council must approve anything that replaces the aging arena, whether it's a baseball park or outdoor entertainment center or both." The Trail Blazers "shared no plans or drawings and said the entire project is in preliminary stages" (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/4).

DIRECT KICK: The OREGONIAN's Larabee reported Portland's MLS Task Force yesterday "backed a proposal to use city money to renovate PGE Park for the Portland Timbers and build a new baseball stadium" for the Beavers. The group voted to "forward a 13-page recommendation to the City Council backing the idea, but outlining a detailed list of concerns and conditions that members hope the council will consider." The City Council is set to vote next week on a preliminary deal. Paulson "must make a formal bid to MLS by March 19" (OREGONLIVE.com, 3/3).

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