Portland City Council approves plans for Keller renovations, new Broadway venue

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Thursday, greenlighting plans to develop two Broadway-capable venues downtown amid questions over the future of the Keller Auditorium.

The resolution approves a joint plan between Portland State University and Halprin Landscape Conservancy to develop the two venues -- including renovating the Keller and building a new state-of-the-art venue on PSU's campus.

City Council directed PSU and Halprin Landscape Conservancy to develop a plan together in August after debate over whether to renovate the Keller with seismic upgrades or to build a new auditorium elsewhere.

“This next chapter for the Keller Auditorium will shape the cultural and social fabric of our city for the next century,” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said during Thursday's City Council meeting. “This resolution will restore our beloved Keller stage while also creating a new premier venue at Portland State University, a strategy that I believe will achieve the best possible outcome for all of Portland.”   

The resolution kicks off planning and development stages for the project. This includes conducting a market feasibility study to determine if the Portland market has enough demand for two Broadway venues, along with a traffic impact study.

Additionally, the resolution directs the city administrator to designate a steering committee to oversee the project and calls on the city to develop a letter of intent with PSU on future site development, including a financial evaluation.

During the City Council meeting, officials presented an estimated project timeline, which showed the next few years being dedicated to planning and development with construction starting around 2027 through 2032. Under the plan, Keller renovations would not begin until PSU's venue is complete.

"Portland is embarking on an exciting new project that will have a century's worth of impact on arts and culture — and the City of Portland won't go it alone. As one of the most active developers in downtown Portland and a proven partner to governments and nonprofits throughout the region, PSU is stepping up to deliver on this visionary project for all Oregonians," said PSU President Ann Cudd. "We've always known Portland can do big things and we can't wait to raise the curtain on the city's next great era."   

“We applaud the decision to move ahead with a reimagined, renovated Keller Auditorium. Removing the cloud of uncertainty and committing to the future of this beloved, profitable venue, is the right decision for the future of Portland’s arts and culture economy and for the future of downtown,” said Bob Naito, co-chair of the Halprin Landscape Conservancy. “On behalf of the Halprin Landscape Conservancy Board of Directors and the many community organizations and individuals who have advocated for a renovated Keller, we look forward to working with the City and PSU to turn this exciting and inclusive vision into a reality.” 

The project comes after a March 2020 seismic analysis found that the century-old Keller Auditorium might not withstand a major earthquake — sparking debate over whether to renovate the historic venue or build a new one elsewhere.

Several groups proposed ideas for the future of the Keller, including Halprin Landscape Conservancy, which is overseeing the Keller restoration effort, along with PSU, which proposed building a new “state-of-the-art” facility on campus.