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0 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 Cold temperatures will stick around through Wednesday Poetry appreciation event planned in Phoenix 10 things to know for Tuesday Police Reports Ashland ex-swim coach gets 40 months after reconnecting with victim Education In the new year, be sure you have your 'ICE' file ready Walker students show creative chops at Invention Convention Teacher's Tips: Second — and third — chances are there for students For a friend: AHS seniors team up to help former fellow student Ashland builds a bridge across the STEM gap Environment New TAP pumps bolster Ashland's options Most residents speak against gas pipeline proposed for Southern Oregon Home Help: Make your new house feel like home ‘Tis the season — for wild mushrooms Business Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Ride & Drive: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Silvio Calabi: Infiniti Q50 offers business-class driving Looking for crown's halo Silvio Calabi: GLA250 is a Merc for the masses Politics and elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Local rep to testify before U.S. Senate panel Tuesday Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means State News Police officer shoots armed driver near Reedsport In Portland, mindfulness classes ease stress of high school Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Death Notices Death Notices Charlene Mae Death Notices Edith J. Winn Shareable Sports Latest Stories Harbaugh vows 'excellence' at Michigan Oregon RB Tyner returns to full strength Gutches storms into Midlands semis Winston considers Ducks sans Ekpre-Olomu Looking for crown's halo High school Shibley-Styer, Malcolm lead Grizzlies to comeback win over Henley Feinberg scores 17 in Grizz loss Grizzlies tripped up late in tourney loss to Ridgeview Grizzlies' comeback attempt falls short against Mazama Ashland girls win three duals in home swim meet Southern Oregon University Harbaugh vows 'excellence' at Michigan Oregon RB Tyner returns to full strength Gutches storms into Midlands semis Winston considers Ducks sans Ekpre-Olomu Looking for crown's halo Opinion Latest Stories Shayne Looper: Who we were, who we are and who we aspire to be Guest Opinion: The minimum wage and democracy Granlund cartoon: New Year Late Night Granlund cartoon: New Year's predictions Granlund cartoon: Russian economy Editorial Our View: Is the Flutie effect real? Our View: Embracing downtown's future Our View: Good news this week The vaccination deniers Other Views: Hunting helps the economy Letters Letters to the Editor, Dec. 29 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 23 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 11 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: The minimum wage and democracy Herb Rothschild Jr.: New Year resolutions Herb Rothschild Jr.: The role of charity Guest Opinion: Vaccination editorial was disrespectful Guest Opinion: Zionism is not the problem Revels Latest Stories 4 Things to do This Week Community blog: Resolutions for writers SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party 4 Things to do this Weekend Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Putting the music into 'A Christmas Carol' Meet the real Jacob Marley Music Rating old-timers’ albums from 2014 SOU presents all-percussion concert Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Interview: Chris Kyle’s widow talks about ‘American Sniper’ film Ed Symkus: My top 15 films of 2014 Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Walk this 'Wild' way, and observe Movie review: ‘Into the Woods’ is dark and deep Food and Drink Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Mark L. Hopkins: New Year’s resolutions and more HealthStyle: New year, new you Kent Bush: Problems with getting old Religion news: Buddhist temple offers same-sex marriage ceremonies Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW Cold temperatures will stick around through Wednesday ... Ashland Calendar ... Guest Opinion: The minimum wage and democracy ... Cold temperatures will stick around through Wednesday ... Ashland Calendar ... Guest Opinion: The minimum wage and democracy ... OUR VIEW Our View: Embracing downtown's future Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Dec. 24, 2014 @ 12:01 am Posted Dec. 24, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News The biggest downtown development project in Ashland's history is poised to move toward completion after the Planning Commission gave its approval earlier this month. The project will be an exciting addition to Ashland's central core and is exactly the kind of development the city ought to be encouraging as it evolves from a small village into something more urban. The first phase, Plaza Central West, is finished. The second phase, Plaza Central East, will add a three-story, 32,200-square-foot brick building with three commercial spaces and 15 residential units. Among other things, the Planning Commission allowed the two buildings to be connected while retaining the appearance of separate structures. A third phase will be added later, bringing the total complex to more than 60,000 square feet of floor space encompassing 29 residential units in addition to retail space. Objections to this project and to its previous incarnation known as Northlight primarily centered on its size and fears that it would destroy the "small-town feel" of Ashland. But unless this city is prepared to lift its longtime refusal to expand its boundaries,  the growth that will come will happen in the center of the community, and building will go up, not out. Ashland will never be a teeming metropolis with soaring high-rise buildings. But three-story projects with housing units above ground level are the wave of the future. Seeing a town you love change and grow is never easy. But freezing a city in time is impractical and unrealistic.  DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Dec. 24, 2014 @ 12:01 am » 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 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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