🔥 The best hot springs to visit this winter

Spurring Housing Development

The Portland City Council is looking to help developers build more housing by ending or suspending some regulations that get in their way. In the final stages of that effort, there is a controversy on how far to go in reducing community input and environmental protections. “We are talking about bird glazing, ecoroofs, and neighborhood contacts as if they were the primary impediments to affordable housing in our community,” said Mayor Ted Wheeler, expressing hard-won skepticism of some developer claims. [Portland Mercury]

Possible Lloyd Center Venue

The latest plans for Lloyd Center mall include demolishing the old Nordstrom, which has been closed since 2015, and building an entertainment venue in its place. But the possible project is in the very early stages, and it might depend on whether a massive Live Nation venue also planned for the East Side moves forward. [Willamette Week]

• Related: The Lloyd Center is delightful right now! [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Weeks-Long Closure for 2 Middle Schools

Some school districts were rethinking when to give high school students semester exams, and how much weight to give them. In Beaverton, students won’t be penalized for a low score but can improve their grades with a high one. Meanwhile, two middle schools in Portland may stay closed till the middle of February after pipes burst. [Oregonian 🔒]

• Related: The Gorge was hardest hit by the ice and snow. In Corbett, schools were still closed yesterday, and there was a warning to boil water in some areas. [KOIN]

The image is the figure of a rock climber hanging on by their fingertips after successfully scaling to the peak of a building. It’s part of the sign advertising Portland Rock Gym at East Burnside Street and 12th Avenue.

A shout-out to the first 10 readers who knew the location: Leo Schaefer, Melissa Collins, Hilary Price Waks, Theresa, Kathy Robinson, Eva G., Marissa Long-Peak, Tim Casebeer, Gabriella Bloedorn, and Jackie Magerl.

Today’s scavenger hunt is from Bryan M. Vance, City Cast’s director of digital strategy. Hint: it’s large and in the suburbs.

Do you know where to find him? Please email your answers.

We welcome your ideas for photos to feature in this segment. Please also email me your submissions.

An Insider’s Guide to Oregon Hot Springs

Now that we’ve had our first giant winter storm of the year, a lot of us are torn between wanting to get out of the city and not wanting to freeze. Lucky for us, Oregon is full of natural hot springs. Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding shares her picks for Oregon’s best hot springs and explains why resorts might be a good idea this winter.