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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Police Reports APD offers internet safety class 10 things to know for Thursday Police Reports Education Levy supporters kick off campaign Bowling for knowledge Sharing black culture It's alive! SOU students create thought-provoking art Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Silvio Calabi: Range Rover Sport, the off-road GT Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Ride & Drive: The 2015 BMW M4 Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect Politics and elections Oregon secretary of state: Meeting with governor 'strange' Should Gov. Kitzhaber resign due to his fiancee's entanglements? Oregon's second in command abruptly returns from capital Mark L. Hopkins: Ranking the Obama administration Kent Bush: Fraud kept alive by the left and right State News Oregon secretary of state: Meeting with governor 'strange' Oregon's second in command abruptly returns from capital Albany father allegedly killed by son had worked in Ashland for 25 years Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Two new wolves confirmed in Southern Oregon, state reviewing status of northeastern packs Nation - World Obituaries Claire G. Craft Theodore F. 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SOU's Meister earns player of week award Opinion Latest Stories Tom Loewy: A testimony haunted by murder Editor's Notes: More local content in the Tidings Tom Loewy: A testimony haunted by murder Granlund cartoon: Jon Stewart’s replacement Letters to the Editor, Feb. 11 Editorial Our View: Kitzhaber's Delilah? Our View: GMO ruling was correct Our View: The benefits are mutual Wolves in our woods Our View: Bricks remodel is a smash Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 11 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 10 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Guest opinions Council Corner: Transforming Ashland for the future Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Guest Opinion: Why so anxious to tax marijuana? Herb Rothschild Jr.: A good day for peace Guest Opinion: A message to my health care colleagues Revels Latest Stories Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Brett Dennen plays the old Ashland Armory Cotillard embarks on a journey of hope in 'Two Days, One Night' Best Bets: Feb. 12-19 Bleep Bloop Theater Looking inside yourself and finding a character is magic Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Music Victor D. 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Oregon secretary of state: Meeting with governor 'strange' ... Calendar: Thursday, Feb. 12 ... Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) ... Oregon secretary of state: Meeting with governor 'strange' ... Calendar: Thursday, Feb. 12 ... LITHIA WAY PROJECT First Place readies for its next phase Development will include 29 residences, along with commercial space Comment By John Darling for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Dec. 23, 2014 @ 5:57 pm By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Dec. 23, 2014 @ 5:57 pm » Social News The way is virtually cleared now for construction of Plaza Central East, a three-story, 32,200-square-foot brick structure with three commercial spaces and 15 residential units, which will be situated on Lithia Way at First Street, across from the post office.    Plaza West, occupying the middle of that block between First and Pioneer streets, is just completed — and the application for Plaza Central East was approved Dec. 9 by the Ashland Planning Commission. The combined project will have more than 60,000 square feet of floor space.   The approval of First Place, as the entire project is called, included some tweaks allowing such things as staggered setbacks and balconies. Approval in December also allowed for combining the two buildings into one building as Plaza Central East, but retaining the look of two buildings.   Only one person testified  in opposition on Dec. 9, former planning commissioner Colin Swales. He said the 18,577-square-foot Plaza West was too big for central downtown and the adjacent Plaza Central East is even bigger, contending the project would create a “luxury condo canyon.”    Swales said he misses the “sunny arterial setback” contained in city rules when the project was first proposed as Northlight by developer Russ Dale. The former requirement for a 20-foot setback was changed in 2008, said associate city planner Derek Severson, who is handling the project. The original project died when the economy crashed six years ago.   The proposal, the biggest ever in Ashland’s core, still has a few hurdles, said April Lucas, administrative assistant with the Community Development Department. Some findings will be heard at a  Jan. 13  Planning Commission meeting, followed by a 13-day appeals period that ends  Jan. 27 . Only those who testified on the proposal or wrote letters may file appeals.   Plaza Central East will have underground parking, a ground floor with five commercial and three residential spaces, and 12 more residences on the second and third floors. Plaza Central West has 10 residential units and space for a coffee shop and bank, according to planning documents.   Plaza North, the final phase of the project, is a smaller, three-story building of 9,600 square feet. It will have ground floor commercial space and four residential units above.   The entire project has 56 surface parking spaces and 33 garage spaces, with 29 residential spaces (two of them affordable housing). The developers, Randy Jones and Mike Mahar of Medford are First Place Partners.   The project will have more than 6,000 square feet of plaza or public space, including sitting areas and, possibly, public art.   The 1.44-acre site long ago held Copeland Lumber and recently, a  Saturday  Growers Market. During initial excavation, the site of an apparent livery stable, with many horseshoes, was uncovered on First Street.   Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling for the Tidings Posted Dec. 23, 2014 @ 5:57 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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