The expansion, onto its own parking lot on the south side of the building, is adding 105,000 sf to the existing 150,000 sf of exhibition space, as well as an 800-slip underground parking lot. The regional government Metro owns the convention center and contracts out its operation to the Metropolitan Exposition-Recreation Commission.

The effort to enlarge the center--in order to attract larger conventions and not lose existing ones to expanding centers in other West Coast cities--has been going on for four or five years now. In November 1998, voters rejected a property tax measure for the expansion.

Between then and the serendipitous failing of an anti-tax ballot measure in November 2000, the local hospitality industry came to the city and gave the nod to increase the tax on its patrons to cover the bill. The additional 2.5% tax on hotel and car rental receipts also will fund an expansion of Downtown's Fareless Square and renovations to the Center for the Performing Arts and PGE Park.

In preparation for the expansion, crews were removing the mature trees that landscaped the south parking lot and driving them to the Oregon Garden in Silverton. The parking lot closes to cars today (Monday); the ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 8, at 9:30 a.m.