Portland City Council City Life Committee 06/23/26
Hollywood Theater wants $6M for a renovation and a new "Hollywood Film District," already has $3M raised and a Movie Madness relocation lined up. City council gave no money, just talk about signage and a possible crosswalk. No decision made.
Summary
The Hollywood Theater is seeking city support for a $6 million capital campaign to renovate its 100-year-old building and create a formal Hollywood Film District in Northeast Portland. Film Forever Northwest — which also operates Movie Madness and an airport cinema — has already raised $3 million, secured a donor to purchase and renovate the building across the street for a relocated Movie Madness (with a new 45-seat cinema), and attracted approximately eight film-related organizations to the neighborhood before construction has begun. The theater renovation would replace original 1926 plumbing, bring the building up to ADA standards, expand seating, and restore historic features. Councilors Ryan and Pirtle-Guiney expressed interest in helping navigate city processes including PBOT signage and wayfinding, and discussed the possibility of a pedestrian scramble crossing on Sandy Boulevard near the theater. No financial commitment was made, but councilors indicated openness to exploring public-private partnership options.
The committee also referred a five-year lease extension for City Kids Child Care at Crowne Plaza to full council with a unanimous do-pass recommendation. The program, which has operated since 2000 and moved to its current location during the Portland Building reconstruction, serves roughly 80-90 children downtown with approximately 70% of slots filled by city employee families. Tuition runs about $2,169 per month for infants — an estimated $400-$500 less per month than market rate due to the city's subsidized lease. The program is now participating in Multnomah County's Preschool for All, which covers costs for eligible three-year-olds and has helped bring occupancy closer to full capacity. Councilors Avalos and Pirtle-Guiney noted interest in future conversations about whether the subsidy structure could be expanded to support more lower-wage city employees.
During public input, a Salem-based nonprofit called Americans for Equality offered free AI and cybersecurity training to residents displaced from Prosper Portland workforce programs that were recently cut, asking for a referral arrangement, a community space for a summer workshop, and a conversation about the FY28 budget cycle. The next City Life Committee meeting is scheduled after the council recess.
Key Points
- Hollywood Theater and Film Forever Northwest presented plans for a Hollywood Film District, including a $6 million capital campaign to renovate the 100-year-old Hollywood Theater and relocate Movie Madness across the street into a new facility with a 45-seat cinema
- Public testimony included a resident sharing a personal story about community connection on a Portland bus, and a Salem-based nonprofit offering free AI and cybersecurity workforce training to displaced Prosper Portland program participants
- The committee voted to refer a five-year lease extension for City Kids Child Care and Development Center at Crowne Plaza to full council with a do-pass recommendation
Votes (1)
Document 2026-216: Extend Lease with Urban Office and Parking Facilities for City Kids Child Care and Development Center
Extend the lease for City Kids Child Care and Development Center space at Crowne Plaza by five years, amending CLM Contract 10014, with a 3% annual rent increase
Action Items
- Councilor Pirtle-Guiney and Councilor Ryan to assist Hollywood Theater/Film Forever Northwest with navigating city processes including PBOT signage, wayfinding, and traffic pattern changes (e.g., pedestrian scramble on Sandy Blvd)
- Committee members to share contact information for Saul Kedar (Americans for Equality) with full committee and potentially connect with Prosper Portland
- Bureau of Fleet and Facilities to bring City Kids lease extension (Document 2026-216) to full council for a vote
- BFF real estate team to begin market survey around year three of the City Kids lease to evaluate relocation or renewal options
- Councilor Ryan to visit City Kids Child Care Center (approximately two blocks from City Hall)
- Future discussion needed on whether city subsidy for City Kids could be extended to support more city employees, including lower-paid staff, potentially through a sliding scale
- Next City Life Committee meeting scheduled after council recess
Issues Discussed (10)
Film Forever Northwest presented plans to the City Life Committee for a $6 million capital campaign to renovate the 100-year-old Hollywood Theater and establish a formal Hollywood Film District in Northeast Portland, highlighting that $3 million has already been raised and approximately eight film-related organizations have committed to the area. No financial commitment was made, but Councilors Ryan and Pirtle-Guiney expressed interest in supporting the effort through city processes such as PBOT signage, wayfinding, and a potential pedestrian scramble crossing on Sandy Boulevard, and indicated openness to exploring public-private partnership options.
The committee unanimously referred a five-year lease extension for City Kids Child Care at Crowne Plaza to full council with a do-pass recommendation. Councilors Avalos and Pirtle-Guiney flagged interest in future discussions about whether the city's subsidized lease structure—which saves families an estimated $400-$500 per month compared to market rate—could be expanded to better support lower-wage city employees.
Harm reduction programs were not discussed in this City Life Committee meeting. The meeting focused on the Hollywood Theater capital campaign, a City Kids Child Care lease extension, and workforce training offered by a Salem-based nonprofit.
Referenced during broader discussion of public-private partnership options for the Hollywood Theater capital campaign, but no specific TIF proposal was presented or acted upon in this meeting.
Mentioned in committee report but no action taken. The Moore Street Shelter does not appear in the meeting summary for this City Life Committee session.
Mentioned in the meeting agenda but the session focused on the Hollywood Theater capital campaign, City Kids Child Care lease extension, and workforce training testimony; no discussion of housing-first strategies appears in the meeting record.
Referenced during the meeting but not substantively discussed; the City Life Committee's agenda focused on the Hollywood Theater capital campaign, a City Kids Child Care lease extension, and public workforce training testimony, with no reported action or debate on fire rescue staffing.
Film Forever Northwest presented plans for a Hollywood Film District in Northeast Portland, including a $6 million capital campaign to renovate the 100-year-old Hollywood Theater and relocate Movie Madness to a new facility across the street with a 45-seat cinema, noting $3 million already raised and eight film-related organizations already committed to the area. No financial commitment was made, but Councilors Ryan and Pirtle-Guiney expressed openness to exploring public-private partnership options and assisting with city processes such as PBOT signage, wayfinding, and a potential pedestrian scramble crossing on Sandy Boulevard.
During public input, no direct testimony was given on this specific issue, but the committee's discussion of the City Kids lease extension prompted Councilors Avalos and Pirtle-Guiney to flag interest in future conversations about whether the city's childcare subsidy structure could be expanded to better support lower-wage city employees. The lease extension itself was referred to full council with a unanimous do-pass recommendation.
Councilors Avalos and Pirtle-Guiney raised interest in future discussions about expanding the City Kids Child Care subsidized lease structure to better support lower-wage city employees, noting that current tuition of approximately $2,169 per month for infants — while $400-$500 below market rate — may still be out of reach for many. No formal action was taken on this specific question, as it was flagged as a topic for future conversation separate from the lease extension vote.