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How many development teams does it take to reuse Memorial Coliseum? The city is betting on three as a ‘joint’ RFP process continues into next week.

Mayor Sam Adams on April 28 told the Rose Quarter Stakeholders Advisory Committee that he had directed the three development teams to submit a joint RFP combining the best aspects of all projects. Today was to be the due date of that joint RFP, but according to Matthew Miller of the proposal, the teams need more time. The other two teams include the concept and the .

“We’re going to try and reach a mutual compromise,” Miller said. “That might involve looking at the Rose Quarter as a whole instead of just the coliseum, otherwise we’re trying to fit three full concepts into one building.”

Doug Obletz of the MARC says that the groups are having ‘constructive conversations’ but doesn’t know how soon they will be able to report any resolution.

Miller says there have been two major shifts in the Memorial Coliseum process since he became involved that have led to this point: the city has less money to work with, and a ‘base case’ scenario is being examined. The base case, currently being developed by the Portland Development Commission would retain the coliseum’s use as a spectator venue while improving the building and the use of its spaces. That option has won favor among preservationists who don’t want to see the historic structure’s design altered.

“One of the main things we’re working through is the historic designation of the building and how the the building’s reuse needs to treat that appropriately and lightly,” Miller said. “It’s challenging from a programming standpoint. How do you reuse the building and give it new life?”

The Rose Quarter Stakeholder Advisory Committee will be briefed tomorrow on the team’s progress at a meeting at PDC at 5 p.m. The three teams plan to meet again Wednesday morning and will meet with Mayor Sam Adams on Monday.