Photo: Cynthia ThompsonA bit of Transformit history was recently uncovered when the Portland Press Herald ran a picture of this outdoor structure by Cindy Thompson and Charles Duvall. The installation defined and shaded the stage area of a summer concert in Portland's Congress Square Plaza. The square, a city park located in the heart of Portland's arts district, is currently the subject of controversy surrounding its future.
The square's neighbor is the Eastland Park Hotel (the Radisson back in 1996), which was recently acquired by Starwood Hotels, extensively remodeled, and renamed the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel. The hotel's plan to buy a large part of the square to create an event venue was approved by the city council, but encountered opposition from those concerned about the loss of public space in the downtown area, as well as advocates for homeless and low income residents. This coalition created a citizens' ballot initiative to block the sale, which passed by a narrow margin in early June.
A lively debate has ensued, pitting development interests against public space and street life advocates. As of yet, no proposal is a clear winner. We're hoping a solution will be found that satisfies all the stakeholders, and makes Portland a better place than it already is! We certainly think that the fabric structure made for a more inviting space.
