FILE - People ice skate in Lloyd Center in Portland, Ore., Aug. 19, 2025.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
The Portland Design Commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve a master plan to demolish Lloyd Center, including its historic ice rink.
The owners of the mall, Urban Renaissance Group, plan to tear it down in favor of multi-use development, complete with parks, housing, businesses and many different pathways.
The proposal initially received pushback from some community members, particularly because there had been no plans to replace Lloyd Center’s ice rink. The mall has had an ice rink since it first opened in 1960, and it’s the only permanent rink within Portland city limits.
A provided rendering showing proposed designs for the Lloyd Center redevelopment. The proposed master plan aims to create a mixed-use development and provide shopping and recreational spaces.
Courtesy of URG and ZGF Architects
Thomas Kilbane, managing director of the project, has said the mall and ice rink are no longer economically viable.
“The unanimous approval of this plan by the Portland Design Commission reflects years of meaningful community engagement,” Kilbane said in a written statement Thursday. “This vision transforms an aging mall that is no longer economically sustainable into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood with housing, retail, and open space where Portlanders can live, work, and play. Lloyd Center will always hold a special place in the hearts of Portlanders, and now it’s poised to play a leading role in the city’s revitalization.”
Members of the local skating community have been fighting to save the rink, including with a protest at Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s office. A petition created by the Save Lloyd Ice Coalition, or SLIC, gathered nearly 4,500 signatures.
FILE - From left, Talia Anderson, Nicole Weber, Ella Price, Kiera and Mars hold notes for Mayor Keith Wilson in front of of Portland City Hall on Feb. 11, 2026 in Portland, Ore. Portland-area skaters, parents and community members organized a walk to the mayor's office to advocate for preserving the Lloyd Center ice rink or securing a permanent replacement facility.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
SLIC organizer Jenny Gilmore-Robinson told OPB by phone Friday that her group is still exploring multiple options to keep a place to skate in the area.
“This really isn’t the final word, and what I think has become really readily apparent is how much support there is, how much passion there is in the community for protecting this rink,” Gilmore-Robinson said.
