Portland officials are currently deliberating on two proposed ordinance changes in response to community concerns regarding the development of a new concert venue, the Portland Music Hall, slated for downtown. The venue, a collaboration between concert giant Live Nation and local developer Mile Marker Investments, is intended to accommodate 3,300 seats at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and Myrtle Street, near Merrill Auditorium.
One of the proposals aims to increase the buffer zone required between large businesses holding entertainment licenses, which could effectively obstruct the planned construction of the Portland Music Hall. Currently, the city mandates a 100-foot buffer; the new proposal suggests expanding this to 750 feet for venues with a capacity exceeding 1,000 seats and eliminating the requirement for smaller venues.
At a recent Housing and Economic Development Committee meeting, city councilors expressed mixed feelings about the buffer zone proposal. Councilor Regina Phillips mentioned she is still gathering information before forming a solid opinion, suggesting a need for further discussion on the matter. Conversely, Councilor Kate Sykes emphasized the importance of thoroughly exploring the public sentiment surrounding the venue project, stating that dismissing it in committee would be politically imprudent.
Councilor Wes Pelletier, who sponsored the buffer zone proposal, argued that the presence of large venues in close proximity could pose challenges for urban development. He expressed concern that the city might be erroneously assuming a limited demand for entertainment, while Sykes pointed out that multiple venues might foster a beneficial synergy rather than competition. Kevin Kraft, the city’s planning director, cautioned that implementing the ordinance could lead to ownership changes being stalled and may push entertainment options to less accessible parts of the city.
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The second proposal deliberated during the meeting involves establishing a new fee structure for large entertainment venues. Councilors Sarah Michniewicz and Ben Grant introduced the idea, which would charge venues with more than 2,000 seats a fee of 1% to 2% of ticket sales. This ordinance would extend beyond the Portland Music Hall to include other sizable venues like Thompson’s Point and the Cross Insurance Arena. The developers of the Portland Music Hall had previously agreed to contribute $1 per ticket to support local bus services and arts organizations, with Michniewicz advocating for a formalization of this financial commitment for future consistency.
Although the developers support the fee concept and are open to making technical adjustments, Councilor Sykes expressed a desire to increase the proposed fees, suggesting the need for a more significant contribution from large venues to benefit the community.
The Housing and Economic Development Committee is anticipated to reconvene on December 16, continuing to address these essential issues as the community watches closely. As the discussion unfolds, it will shape the future of both the Portland Music Hall project and the broader landscape of entertainment in the downtown area.
