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Friday, November 21, 2008

Music New East Burnside Music Venue?

Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 9:02 AM

bside.jpg

See our update for the full story

- - -

We previously reported on 300b, the proposed 2,000-capacity venue in lower SE and now there might be another venue making its way across the river.

According to the action news team at KGW, Beam Development is interested in building a 2,000-capacity venue "anchored by Monqui Productions" in the space directly across from the Burnside Bridge in NE Portland.

Interesting. I don't believe that Portland in this, or any, economy could support two venues of that size, but such expansion could be a good thing for this city's role on the national music scene. We put a line out to the folks at Monqui and will post an update when we hear back.

 

Comments (13) RSS

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1
Remember the super-contentious Burnside Bridgehead project? The one that Beam lost despite overwhelming public support? What happened to that anyway?
Posted by no one in particular on November 21, 2008 at 9:44 AM · Report
2
Finally, a venue worthy of Maroon 5, Portland's best local band
Posted by Chunty McHutchence on November 21, 2008 at 9:49 AM · Report
3
Ugh, yeah, this again? I thought we already fought over this and lost.
Posted by gabriel amadeus on November 21, 2008 at 9:54 AM · Report
4
While both seem far-fetched, I'd love to see more mid-to-large options than the god-awful Roseland.
Posted by Dr. Something on November 21, 2008 at 10:45 AM · Report
5
KGW's action news team needs to take some writing lessons.

"The city's development commission has tried in vane to find an anchor tenant."

Tried in vane?
Posted by The One True b!X on November 21, 2008 at 11:05 AM · Report
6
The Bridgehead project is unfortunately still going forward. They've already torn down the restaurant on Couch and MLK and they've cleared out the tenants in the building west of that lot. I really think this is going to end up being a tacky Pearl district type eyesore on the eastside, but I don't make the decisions! On a brighter note it has resulted in a large chunk of land(parking lot north of the park up to the parking lot entrance) being given to the Burnside skatepark to add on to the park, so that's pretty awesome! Here's a link to see the latest info on the bridgehead project:
http://www.pdc.us/ura/central_eastside/bur…
Oh yeah, and at least they're not building a big box store like was originally planned.
Cheers.
Posted by j on November 21, 2008 at 11:12 AM · Report
7
No, the Bridgehead is stuck right now. The original developers relinquished their rights to develop the land, leaving the city with a nice blighted eyesore.

I wish Monqui luck, but I wonder if they carry enough clout with the PDC to make it happen. The idea of a venue at one end of the bridge, with the existing spaces and possibilities on the downtown side, makes me salivate. But alas, we are not the PDC, and I'm sure they're not going to listen to anything that doesn't include a 15-story luxury condo project.

Posted by Mikey Golightly on November 21, 2008 at 11:50 AM · Report
8
The music venue recently won a design award (for unbuilt projects) from the American Institute of Architects. It's really a stunning looking building, designed by Works Partnership, one of the city's best firms. Randy Rapaport is the co-developer with Beam, and he has a track record of great architecture in addition to being a huge indie-rock fan. It's really his brainchild more than Beam or Monqui. This could become the coolest small venue in town.
Posted by Brian Libby on November 21, 2008 at 11:56 AM · Report
9
yeah it's the same venue blogtown reported on earlier...just now in a different location by burnside instead of hawthorne somehow in conjunction with malsin on the bridgehead.

i give it 30:1 odds.

good publicity stunt though.
Posted by ben on November 21, 2008 at 12:39 PM · Report
10
Wasn't Rapaport involved with the 300b concept? Have they perhaps moved the venue closer to the bridge? Or is Rapaport working on two venues?
Posted by Amy J. Ruiz on November 21, 2008 at 12:42 PM · Report
11
"and at least they're not building a big box store like was originally planned."

Yeah, God forbid I could have ridden my bike to Home Depot last Friday to pick up 2 thermostats and some wiring. It was much more convenient to get in my car and drive on the freeway.
Posted by GLV on November 21, 2008 at 12:55 PM · Report
12
rapaport is involved and the picture in the link is the 300b, so it must be moving to burnside or at least that's an option. Randy has been shopping this "venue" idea around for years and always in different locations. probably just waiting for the right sucker to help him make it happen. malsin is the sucker of the month, apparently.
Posted by ben on November 21, 2008 at 1:01 PM · Report
13
This could really put Portland on the map for indie rock!!!
Posted by Chunty McHutchence on November 21, 2008 at 1:56 PM · Report

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