✏️ PPS high schools will all be new

A Groundbreaking for Cleveland High School’s New Building

Last week, a ceremonial groundbreaking for Cleveland High School’s new building marked a historic moment for Portland Public Schools. Fifteen years ago, voters rejected a plan that would have rebuilt Cleveland. Now the project is finally getting underway. [Oregonian]

• History: The district learned from the 2011 defeat — their first effort a bond for high schools but not the last — paring back plans and switching which schools would go first. [Oregonian]
• Finishing the plan: Portland Public Schools had a twenty-year plan to overhaul all the aging high school buildings. Voters have now approved four successive school bonds — in 2012, 2017, 2020, and 2025. With that last bond, the district has enough funding to finish all the schools. Cleveland is in the final wave, along with Ida B. Wells and Jefferson. [OPB / Oregonian]
• More to go: Most of the district’s elementary and middle schools are still in aging buildings. Presumably, they could also benefit from major overhauls. For now, the district is working on upgrades to some of the least earthquake-ready elementary and middle school buildings, including Beverly Cleary and Rose City Park. [Willamette Week]

The Sports Bra Is Losing Money

The Sports Bra, the first-of-its-kind women’s-sports bar, has been looking for crowdfunding as it expands its franchise. But financial filings reviewed by the Oregonian show the bar is in rough financial straits — and was on the brink of insolvency at the end of last year. Still, the bar is in startup mode, with plans to franchise in five other cities and open a larger location here in Portland. [Oregonian]

Portland’s Best Tacos

Oregonian restaurant critic Michael Russell has new favorite tacos in town — at Tope, the rooftop bar at the Hoxton Hotel. Russell recommends their ribeye tacos, which come with onion rings. [Oregonian]

• Visit: Tope is better known for its margaritas and views. But now there’s one more reason to visit.

The Opposition to Moda Center Subsidies

Opponents to the public subsidies for the Moda Center's renovation point to other cities where the ownership has put in some of the funding for upgrades. That’s not the case in Portland — as of now. On the podcast today, we have the latest on the effort to keep the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland. [City Cast Portland 🎧]