The Zidell family, having shelved plans for high-rise development on its South Waterfront land, wants to build a 10,000-seat performance venue there in a partnership with the promoter Live Nation.

The venue is envisioned as an interim use, said Jay Zidell, whose grandfather founded a ship-scrapping operation in what would become the South Waterfront. The plan was presented Monday to neighbors, but still requires city approval.

The site of the venue, located along the Willamette River between the Ross Island Bridge and Tilikum Crossing, has previously hosted events including the foodie festival Feast, the touring equestrian show Cavalia and the music festival Project Pabst.

“Our vision for Zidell Yards has always included a strong, vibrant and energetic arts and culture element,” Zidell said Tuesday in a statement. “We believe this project is consistent with this vision and a great interim use for the property.”

Neighbors were told the amphitheater would hold 10,000, which would put it among the largest music and performance venues in Portland. Zidell said in the statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive it was still early in the design process and disclosed few details.

The Moda Center seats more than 18,000 when configured for a concert, while Veterans Memorial Coliseum seats 8,000. The Oregon Zoo’s outdoor concert capacity is 4,000.

The Zidells abandoned their plans for 5 million square feet of development — the equivalent of four and a half U.S. Bancorp Towers — on the 33-acre site last year, citing a huge gap between the cost of infrastructure to serve the site and what the city was willing to pay.

Zidell previously said it would take $90 million to build the streets, utilities and parks to support the built-from-scratch neighborhood. Prosper Portland, the city’s urban renewal agency, had pledged $23.7 million.

Live Nation also plans a music venue in the former Nordstrom building at the Lloyd Center mall.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com; 503-294-5034; @enjus

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