North Bend board reviews plan to acquire downtown Port Theater; architect outlines costly retrofit
November 21, 2025 | North Bend SD 13, School Districts, Oregon
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The North Bend School District board heard detailed plans on Nov. 13 to acquire and renovate the downtown Port Theater as a shared performing-arts center for students and the community.
Architect Joe Slack of HG Architects told the board the existing building is roughly ‘‘about 11,000 square feet’’ and that seating counted at the time of the assessment was ‘‘just under 340’’ seats, with design options to increase capacity. Slack warned that converting the former movie house into a modern performing-arts venue requires backstage spaces, accessible routes, restroom upgrades and fire-safety improvements, and he said new-construction comparables would cost ‘‘in the $8,000,000 range’’ while a purchase-plus-remodel scenario could approach $8–10 million once outfitting and stage gear are included.
District leaders framed the acquisition as a one-time capital opportunity that would not use general-fund dollars for staffing: the board discussed trading or selling underused property (the Viking Lane parcel) and noted a preliminary offer of $630,000 that would be contingent on the Viking sale, satisfactory inspections and final board approval. The superintendent characterized the arrangement as contingent and subject to executive-session negotiations with counsel; no sale was finalized at the meeting.
Board members and the architect emphasized accessibility and code issues. Slack explained that preserving the building’s assembly use reduces the number of code-triggered upgrades compared with a full ‘‘change of use,’’ but added that ADA parking, an accessible route into the building and restroom redesigns remain essential. He also recommended sprinklering the building to simplify later code compliance.
Board members asked about timelines and phasing: staff described acquisition as a near-term step followed by phased accessibility work to allow early revenue-generating use, then longer-term investments in backstage and technical systems. Cost estimates and the purchase offer will be refined before the board considers any final transaction.
The board did not vote to buy the theater at the meeting; staff said they would return with finalized terms, inspection results and any contingencies for the board’s review.
Architect Joe Slack of HG Architects told the board the existing building is roughly ‘‘about 11,000 square feet’’ and that seating counted at the time of the assessment was ‘‘just under 340’’ seats, with design options to increase capacity. Slack warned that converting the former movie house into a modern performing-arts venue requires backstage spaces, accessible routes, restroom upgrades and fire-safety improvements, and he said new-construction comparables would cost ‘‘in the $8,000,000 range’’ while a purchase-plus-remodel scenario could approach $8–10 million once outfitting and stage gear are included.
District leaders framed the acquisition as a one-time capital opportunity that would not use general-fund dollars for staffing: the board discussed trading or selling underused property (the Viking Lane parcel) and noted a preliminary offer of $630,000 that would be contingent on the Viking sale, satisfactory inspections and final board approval. The superintendent characterized the arrangement as contingent and subject to executive-session negotiations with counsel; no sale was finalized at the meeting.
Board members and the architect emphasized accessibility and code issues. Slack explained that preserving the building’s assembly use reduces the number of code-triggered upgrades compared with a full ‘‘change of use,’’ but added that ADA parking, an accessible route into the building and restroom redesigns remain essential. He also recommended sprinklering the building to simplify later code compliance.
Board members asked about timelines and phasing: staff described acquisition as a near-term step followed by phased accessibility work to allow early revenue-generating use, then longer-term investments in backstage and technical systems. Cost estimates and the purchase offer will be refined before the board considers any final transaction.
The board did not vote to buy the theater at the meeting; staff said they would return with finalized terms, inspection results and any contingencies for the board’s review.
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