Central Eastside News

[downtownpdx]

Production studio signs lease for big Portland expansion

7-se-stark-1281 by Ryan Miller, on Flickr
By Sara Edwards – Commercial Real Estate reporter, Portland Business Journal
Sep 11, 2025

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2025/09/11/blue-ox-films-netflix-nike-jordan.html

Blue Ox Films is expanding in Portland.

The production company signed a 16,500-square-foot lease for space in the Seven Southeast Stark building on the Central Eastside. It expects to move its offices from its current location in North Portland by the end of the first quarter.

Blue Ox signed a seven-year lease. It will occupy the building's top floor.

“We believe in Portland and what it brings in terms of quality of life and access,” Executive Producer Taylor Kavanaugh told the Business Journal. “And that matters because we are attempting to build one of, if not the, best creative teams in production and entertainment and media.”
...

Kavanaugh said the company has been growing fast over the last couple of years, which prompted the move to the Stark building. Once the company relocates, Kavanaugh and Willcox expect to more than triple headcount to between 100 and 150 employees.
...

7 Southeast Stark was built in 2018 by Harsch Investment Properties, now rebranded as Schnitzer Properties. The 10-story building has 80,000 square feet of office space. Apple is one of the major tenants along with energy storage company GridStor.

[sopdx]

https://www.portlandmaps.com/detail/permit/2025-074452-000-00-EA/5190597_did/

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by sopdx

https://www.portlandmaps.com/detail/permit/2025-074452-000-00-EA/5190597_did/

Is that the location of the defunct Sturgeon development proposal?

[maccoinnich]

Same site, client, and architect (but a new program):

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

...continues at the DJC ($)

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Same site, client, and architect (but a new program):

Oh I don't recall that being an office building originally. Hope it actually moves forward this time.

[stan]

Just checked Portlandmaps on the Water Avenue music venue and looks like permits were issued for it. So is this actually under construction? I saw it was under inspection, but I didn’t see anything going on last time I was in the area.

I always assumed that either this project or the Lloyd District music venue were going to actually proceed to construction but not both. Is this town big enough for the both of them?

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by stan

Just checked Portlandmaps on the Water Avenue music venue and looks like permits were issued for it. So is this actually under construction? I saw it was under inspection, but I didn’t see anything going on last time I was in the area.

I always assumed that either this project or the Lloyd District music venue were going to actually proceed to construction but not both. Is this town big enough for the both of them?

Drove over the Marquam NB bridge the other day and it looks like site prep is started. There was some dirt moved around and they put up fencing, sediment control barriers, and there is some equipment around the property.

[DMH]

Originally Posted by stan

Just checked Portlandmaps on the Water Avenue music venue and looks like permits were issued for it. So is this actually under construction? I saw it was under inspection, but I didn’t see anything going on last time I was in the area.

I always assumed that either this project or the Lloyd District music venue were going to actually proceed to construction but not both. Is this town big enough for the both of them?

To answer your question about sustaining two similar concert venues, check out the Lloyd Center thread with its report of demolition of the old Nordstrom building which will be replaced by the other concert venue. We shall see if they both prosper.

[maccoinnich]

Building permit issued for Portland Live Nation venue construction

• Live Nation venue in Portland receives building permit despite opposition.
• New 62,000-square-foot venue will seat 1,280 with 3,500 capacity.
• Portland's second new entertainment venue under construction at Lloyd Center.

A building permit issued for a new Portland Live Nation performance venue provides a look into the planned Central Eastside project.

The permit calls for the construction of a two-story building at 1211 S.E. Water Ave. with a mezzanine, spaces for food services, artist locker rooms, a loading dock, offices and artist lounge. Once complete, the 62,000-square-foot building will have 1,280 seats and a maximum capacity of 3,500 occupants.

Colas Construction and Beam Development will build the venue designed by Lever Architecture.

The issuance of a building permit comes in spite of a local campaign to stop the venue from being constructed. In June, Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals allowed the project’s construction to move forward after an appeal by Double Tee Concerts sought to stop its development.

...continues at the Portland Business Journal ($).

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

...continues at the Portland Business Journal ($).

What are the chances the city has had an apparent need for this sized venue forever, and only now do we get 2 competing venues u/c (hopefully they will break ground soon) at the same time.

I'm not sure how this industry works. Livenation/ticketmaster gets their own promoted national acts, and then Monqui will be able to book from the remainder? Will there be any acts that the venues will have to compete for?

[maccoinnich]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

What are the chances the city has had an apparent need for this sized venue forever, and only now do we get 2 competing venues u/c (hopefully they will break ground soon) at the same time.

Both permits now show as "under inspection". I thought one of the two would go on hold... but maybe both can survive. In Denver, a similarly sized city/metro area, Live Nation operate the Fillmore Auditorium and AEG operate the Mission Ballroom (like the Lloyd venue, designed by Portland's WPA). Those venues are similar in scale to the two that are now under construction in Portland.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Both permits now show as "under inspection". I thought one of the two would go on hold... but maybe both can survive. In Denver, a similarly sized city/metro area, Live Nation operate the Fillmore Auditorium and AEG operate the Mission Ballroom (like the Lloyd venue, designed by Portland's WPA). Those venues are similar in scale to the two that are now under construction in Portland.

Will be interesting to see it play out. And while that happens we all benefit.

[jb111120]

888 SE Adler looks just about complete

[maccoinnich]

Drove by the Live Nation venue, and it’s definitely actively under construction. Lots of earthwork equipment moving on site.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Drove by the Live Nation venue, and it’s definitely actively under construction. Lots of earthwork equipment moving on site.

I've always wanted to see a vertical farm tower on one of those sites. I remember one of the architecture studio classes at PSU exploring this idea years ago.

[maccoinnich]

Design Advice Request notice for Flatworks Affordable Housing at 240 SE Grand Ave

[maccoinnich]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Design Advice Request notice for Flatworks Affordable Housing at 240 SE Grand Ave

Drawings [30 MB] and Staff Memo.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by urbanlife

I've always wanted to see a vertical farm tower on one of those sites. I remember one of the architecture studio classes at PSU exploring this idea years ago.

Is that the next XBox?

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

Is that the next XBox?

It even comes with it's own renewable energy source

[PhillyPDX]

Rogue closing. One of the original national craft beer brands, and maybe the most iconic Oregon brand on a national stage. Will leave a hole in SE Portland, especially after Cascade closed across the street last year. (Is this Central Eastside or SE proper? Area still feels industrial so figured it's Central)

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2025...reds-of-thousands-in-rent-and-taxes.html

Beer industry is hurting of late as people drink less and the industry needs to right-size after years of rapid expansion as way too many mediocre brewers opened up. Hopefully the remaining strong brewers can pick up the talented beer makers from the closing ones and we get even better beers out of it.

Otherwise, this will really hurt Newport. Pretty much the only reason I hear people to go there is the aquarium and Rogue (usually combined as a trip).