Portland OKs plaza sale to Rockbridge
After an arrest, protests and hours of debate, the Portland City Council approved selling two-thirds of a concrete downtown park for about a half-million dollars to Rockbridge Capital, which owns the former Eastland Park Hotel that overlooks the park.
The Portland Press Herald reported the councilors voted 6-3 on the sale that has generated controversy since it was first announced. Supporters said Rockbridge’s planned construction of a one-story event center in the park area will benefit businesses in town. Opponents of the plan argued city officials should preserve the city’s public spaces.
The agreement approved by the council Monday keeps 4,800 square feet of park space at the site, which is adjacent to the nearly $50 million hotel renovation project. The company plans to reopen the hotel in December as the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel.
In a memo to the city, the company said the added event center will employ 25 people and generate $67,950 in additional property tax revenue.
The plan still requires local planning board and historic preservation board approval. The terms of the sale are conditional upon receiving those approvals by Feb. 15, 2014. After that point, the agreement would allow the company to pull out of the sale. The city will be allowed to withdraw the sale if approvals are not granted by June 1, 2014.
During the meeting Monday, one person was arrested on a charge of criminal trespass after standing and shouting at the council from the crowd. Other protesters staged a silent demonstration, kneeling with their backs turned to the council and tape over their mouths.
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