Hollywood Theater leaders outline $6 million renovation plan and push for a formal 'Hollywood Film District'

Executives from the Hollywood Theater and partners presented the City Life Committee with details of a capital campaign and a broader vision to formalize a Hollywood Film District in northeast Portland.

Doug White, executive director of the nonprofit that runs the theater, said the campaign aims to renovate the 100‑year‑old Hollywood Theater and strengthen the neighborhood’s film ecosystem. “We already have $3 million committed,” presenters reported, and the theater has set a benchmark goal of $6 million to complete the planned renovations and related work.

The presenters described an anchor strategy that pairs the theater with Movie Madness, a 100,000‑title film archive and storefront the nonprofit acquired. White said a longtime supporter “ended up coming in and buying the building” for Movie Madness and will “rent it back to us at under market” with an option for the nonprofit to buy the property in ten years, a result staff said gives the nonprofit a runway to proceed with the district vision.

Kristen Gillman, deputy director for Film Forever Northwest, outlined the renovation scope: a full plumbing replacement for the theater’s original 1926 pipes, upgrades to meet modern ADA accessibility standards, increased seating and restoration of historic finishes. “This is the first significant infrastructure renovation in the theater’s history,” she said, adding that some work will require temporarily closing the venue during construction.

Elise Taylor Liburd, film industry project manager at the Portland Events and Film Office (housed at Prosper Portland), said the neighborhood already hosts multiple industry organizations and discounted office spaces that make a film district feasible. “I feel like this is the easy part of our job,” she said, describing business interest and a growing waitlist for office space in the district.

Presenters cited economic figures to illustrate local impact: they referenced an American for the Arts‑style methodology and said the theater “currently generates more than $13 million in annual economic impact” through organizational spending, audience spending and neighborhood activity, and also cited industry data on visitor spending beyond admission.

Councilors pressed presenters on the city’s potential role. Councilor Avalos sought clarity on whether the group was requesting policy changes or financial support; presenters asked for assistance navigating PBOT, Metro and other city infrastructure partners and for advice on signage, wayfinding and traffic treatments around the theater. Councilors suggested options such as a scramble crosswalk on Sandy Boulevard and pledged to follow up with relevant bureaus.

Presenters gave a timeline and fundraising target: they reported $3 million committed to date, a $6 million campaign goal to be raised by December 2027, Movie Madness renovations underway and a planned start for theater renovations around January 2028 (theater closure anticipated to be about five months). Staff said they are pursuing state cultural funding and additional public‑private partnerships.

The committee did not vote on any direct financial commitment at the meeting; presenters left with an offer of council help in navigating city permitting, traffic and signage processes. The committee asked presenters to return with additional details and follow‑up on how city resources might support the campaign’s public benefits and traffic safety measures.