91ÊÓƵ

Five proposals for redevelopment of Memorial Coliseum stood out to the 91ÊÓƵ Tuesday night as having the potential to move into the next phase.

With the financial backing of the Blazers and big-name designers Rick Potestio and Tinker Hatfield on board, this proposal to reduce seating in the coliseum while maintaining its ‘highest and best use’ as a sports venue has the greatest chance of success, according to Blazers president Larry Miller.


With six city blocks worth of recreational facilities, including swimming pools, rock-climbing walls, a velodrome and a running track, the MARC could become this generation’s Pioneer Square, according to developer Doug Obletz.

Though its goal of having the fewest British thermal units per occupant in the city is lofty, the idea of siting a multiuse office building within Memorial Coliseum would mean hundreds of people would be moving through the currently underused structure daily, according to Cavanaugh.

Using a unique, gigantic, concave television screen, the coliseum’s bowl would be converted into a teleconference area for 6,000 people, allowing conference-goers to attend events in other states without ever leaving the city. Architect Don Stastny’s proposal includes an ‘interactive’ bridge that would connect the coliseum to Interstate Avenue and the waterfront.

The plea by a veteran’s wife to retain Memorial Coliseum’s original design while performing structural and cosmetic upgrades is likely to be embraced by historic preservationists and veterans alike. Reusser also calls for space to be reserved for homeless veterans to sleep at night and receive hot meals.