Neighbors of the Lloyd Center concert venue under construction on NE 9th Avenue have three weeks to weigh in on proposed changes to the building's entry canopy, signage, and a new ATM before the city decides.
The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability posted the land use notice for proposal LU 26-047189 DZM on July 27, accepting written comments through Monday, August 17, at 5 p.m.
What's changing
The application, filed by architect Michael Reis of Works Progress Architecture on behalf of property owner Careyoke JV LP, asks the city to approve three modifications to the concert venue design that the Portland Design Commission originally greenlit on Thursday, October 17, 2024:
Entry canopy. The soffit material would switch from multi-hued polycarbonate panels to black metal panels, and the lighting would change from linear recessed fixtures to an array of exposed-bulb light fixtures.
New ATM. A building-mounted automatic teller machine would be added to the south elevation, facing the public plaza.
New signage package. The proposal includes 85 square feet of face-lit channel letters spelling the venue name at the south plaza entry, 170 square feet of digital screens wrapping three sides of the entry awning to promote upcoming shows, a 59-square-foot blade sign on the NE 9th Avenue facade, and a 100-square-foot parapet sign on the NE Multnomah Street elevation.
The digital screens require a code modification because they exceed the 20-square-foot threshold for "changing image" signage under Portland Sign Code Title 32.32.030 D.4.C.
The bigger picture
The 67,000-square-foot venue, co-developed by Portland-based Monqui Presents and AEG Presents according to Next Portland's April 2026 reporting, is being built on the site of the demolished Nordstrom between NE Halsey Street and NE Multnomah Street.
It will hold 2,000 to 4,250 attendees and is expected to open in 2027.
The site sits in City Council District 2, represented by Councilors Dan Ryan, Elana Pirtle-Guiney, and Sameer Kanal.
This is a Type 2 land use review, meaning city staff will make the decision after the comment period closes. No Design Commission hearing is scheduled.
The application arrives as Portland's design commissioners are separately debating a proposal to suspend mandatory design review citywide for two years, according to the Daily Journal of Commerce.
How to comment
Written comments must arrive by Monday, August 17, at 5 p.m. The Development Services Center at 1900 SW 4th Ave. is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; appointments are recommended.
The Lloyd neighborhood does not have an active neighborhood association, according to the city's neighborhood directory, but residents can reach the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods at [email protected].
