December 22, 2004
Ding Dong The Rink Is Dead
Which Old Rink? The Wicked Rink
"Due to public reaction to the proposed skating rink, a public process was initiated to solicit comments on the proposed siting of a rink and the desirability of such as project," the ordinance reads in part. "This public process has been completed and it has been determined that the skating rink project will not proceed."
This morning, City Council adopted a resolution which amended a provision of City Code regarding monies collected from downtown businesses to help fund the now-infamous proposal for a seasonal skating rink which would have dominated Pioneer Courthouse Square for a full four months out of every year.
Today's action eliminates the collection of any further funds for rink purposes, and recognizes that such funds already collected will be returned to the businesses who contributed.
At the comparatively brief hearing on the ordinance, Kevin Montgomery-Smith of the Portland Business Alliance said that the decision two years ago was to "contribute to the construction of an ice rink it it were to be finalized, approved, and implemented". In the end, however, the powers-that-be when it comes to this proposal "have come to the conclusion that that's not going to happen".
"Is it that the Board didn't want to proceed, is it that the financing wasn't there, [or] is it that the public didn't want it?" asked Mayor Katz.
After the proposal was laid out, said Montgomery-Smith, "there was a public conversation that led Portland Downtown Services, Inc. to believe that the ice rink wouldn't be going forward." He added that there is now a broader discussion about year-round activitiy in Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Calling the refund "the right thing to do," Commissioner Francesconi credited those involved with being "creative and flexible to do it in the first place" and also "creative and flexible to undo it".
Commissioner Saltzman also called the refund the right thing to do. "Although I will say that i still like the idea of an ice rink in Pioneer Square."
"I guess I'm in the minority," said Katz. "I thought the idea was a wonderful idea for the downtown. I'm not sure it's the right decision, but I'll abide by it."
And so, with the Council unanimously adopting the ordinance supporting the refund of monies collected for the rink, and the amending of City Code to remove references to the rink proposal, the Pioneer Courthouse Square skating rink proposal finally and effectively comes to a conclusive demise.
As we've recently mentioned a number of times, we first began writing about the rink proposal two years ago today, on December 22, 2002. Between that timing, our two-year anniversary here, and the lingering likely approach of this site's own end, it's almost as if, in reality, the entire reason for this site's existence was to defeat the rink proposal.
One good thing, perhaps, has come out of the abomination that was this proposal: It's possible that the controversy and public outcry that it caused may lead to more public interest in the mentioned broader conversation now taking place about the Square.
As that new discussion continues, perhaps people will think of it as "what they're thinking of after the ice rink" and want to find out more. Preusming we're around, we will continue to cover that new discussion.
But for now (well, presuming you opposed the rink project), just go celebrate. For our part, we've actually seen and covered the entire arc of a single story, which is as good an anniversary present as any.
Comments (2)
MarkDaMan on 23 Dec 2004
I personally think an outside, downtown ice skating rink all winter long would attract tons more people, specifically families, downtown. In turn more people will use their purchase power to strengthening our retail, attracting more businesses and therefore a more healthy central city. Although I didn't necessarily support tying up the square, has there been any word on whether or not they are going to build a permanant winter rink at the new park they are building across from the Fox Tower?
The One True b!X on 23 Dec 2004
I haven't seen anything on that, although that location was one of the alternatives opponents to the Pioneer Courthouse Square rink proposal raised as an alternative. And that block, I believe, is intended to be a hard-surface plaza park, not a greenway park.
At the same time, however, that's a half-size block and a rink would pretty much mean it couldn't be used for anything else, and I'm not sure that's the vision they have for the Park Avenue plan.
Not that this means it can't be interjected into the discussion and see what happens.