May 07, 2004
Powell's To Abandon Pioneer Courthouse Square
Decision Comes Despite Potential Improvements To Site
There's a rather annoying item in today's Phil Stanford column that we wanted to get into:
No public announcement yet, but by the end of the year, Powell's Books plans to close its travel bookstore in Pioneer Courthouse Square. ... It's happening for all the usual reasons -- down economy, Internet competition, yada, yada, yada, according to a memo sent to staff members by top dog Ann Smith -- "and the store's underground location has always been a challenge."
We say this is annoying not merely because we don't wish to see that store abandon the Square (especially because there are only two fixed businesses in Portland's Living Room, and Powell's is the only one that's local to Portland), but because the recent draft "place audit" conducted through the Project for Public Space includes several suggestions for improving that portion of the Square.
That region of the Square -- at SW Yamhill and 6th Avenue -- is referred to in the draft report as Site 3. Here are some exerpts:
Observations
This corner is in many ways,the weakest part of the Square. Workshop participants felt that being greeted by a blank wall did not welcome pedestrians coming up 6th Avenue. They also felt that the outdoor food court and Powells Travel Book Store were both hidden and not sufficiently supported by the amenities that would make this area an attraction during any season. Ratings were fair in all areas but poor in terms of sociability. People mentioned the lack of "friendly" amenities,the clutter of the food cart area,the walls and steep stairs that inhibit circulation and the general lack of weather protection. In the area along 6th Avenue,the wall and sculpture also block the visibility of the bookstore and further separate it from the street.
Vision
This can become a vital corner anchored by one of the nation's most famous bookstores and Portland's most fun place to get quick and inexpensive food. Its future should revolve around supporting Powells and a better food and retail area that also serves as a catalyst for helping to revive retail on adjacent 6th Avenue.
After detailing suggestions for the food court area, the report goes on to offer suggestions specifically regarding the Powell's area itself:
Powell's on the Square.
If Powells had a more visible presence on the Square,it could function much better as a major anchor for this area of downtown. These changes would not only showcase Powells,but also informally provide tourist information and serve as the "library" to Portland's "living room".
For short-term improvements, the report suggests: Move bike racks to another area and provide a comfortable place to sit (double sided benches) to attract seniors,and for people to meet and/or wait; Something to attract kids.
For longer-term improvements, the report suggests: Improve the visibility of the bookstore by making the entrance more prominent from a distance and from the area above;improve signage; Consider a more prominent entry feature in front of the bookstore such as a sculpture (e.g.,a large book), a map of the world or of the Portland area in the ground outside of Powells (both could be a temporary exhibit); Create a new enclosed glass newsstand on the corner that also serves as the entrance to Powells. This could encompass the current steps up to the food court and potentially expand over the steps down to the current entrance of Powells. The newsstand would feature magazines,postcards,some of Powells smaller travel publications,etc.
Despite these potential changes -- or at least the obvious and potentially-productive conversation they could spark with Powell's and with the community -- it seems that Powell's is simply going to cut and run.
According to a spokesperson for Pioneer Courthouse Square: "Basically, Powell's have opted not to renew their lease. End of story."
We hope that's not the case, and we admit that despite Powell's being a private entity we find ourselves wishing they had decided to make this a public discussion and decision, given that the space being discussed is, after all, a part of Portland's Living Room.
But we'll see what they have to say about their side of this. As of this writing, we are awaiting a comment from Powell's.