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City to ask for Pioneer Hall proposals Homeless people line up to enter the Pioneer Hall shelter. Daily Tidings file photo Wednesday Apr 18, 2018 at 6:53 PM Apr 18, 2018 at 6:53 PM By Tran NguyenAshland Daily Tidings Pioneer Hall will likely not open as homeless shelter next winter as the Ashland City Council weighs whether to spend about $400,000 to bring the building up to code. The council on Monday agreed that it wants to keep supporting the winter shelter program, but councilors struggled to agree on whether renovating the 97-year-old building is the right answer. The hosted four nights of shelter a week during the recently concluded shelter season from November through mid-April. Churches hosted another two nights. “We are all very interested in making sure we have some accommodation for the shelter next year,” Councilor Dennis Slattery said. “This is a different discussion. … It’s hard to believe that this building is costing that much to make it habitable.” Pioneer Hall, a log building built in 1921, has served as a location for the winter shelter for several years. Last year, the city found its structure to be vulnerable, especially under the condition of ice storms or heavy snow. It was also the busiest year, shelter volunteer coordinator Heidi Parker said. “The price tag started at $335,000. It’s not much for the city — but that’s the price of a house,” said Paula Brown, the city’s Public Works Director. “To install fire sprinklers would cost $404,000. … The social need of this building is very real, but we have to ask whether it is the right location for that need.” The city would need to spend $404,000 if it wants to keep Pioneer Hall as a winter shelter location per state code for planned residential occupancy. The lower price tag, without sprinklers, would allow use on an emergency basis, when the need is unforeseen. Even if the city decided to go ahead with renovations, the construction timeline — at least six months — would limit shelter operation at Pioneer Hall to several months next season. “It’s what we have expected to happen,” said Jason Houk, one of the founding members of the volunteers who staff the shelter. He still organizes weekly dinner on Fridays at Pioneer Hall. “I’m happy to hear the general support for the shelter.” Houk added the city is working with the shelter organization, Options for Homeless Residents of Ashland, to actively search for a one-location shelter before the next winter season. A community meeting is set for noon Thursday, April 26, at the Ashland Public Library to talk about the issue. “We are working with fire marshals, coordinating with churches — we are trying to think outside of the box,” Houk said. “It will take some work.” As for Pioneer Hall, the city could also divest the building, which would cost the city nothing, Brown said. Councilors at Monday’s study session also asked Parks Director Michael Black whether parks would purchase the building. “We would be interested in it as an accessory to Lithia Park,” Black said. “Without the shelter use, we could use it differently — and we could market it to a different use better.” The decision would have to be approved by parks commission, he added. “What is the long-term intent for this building? I’m not sure,” Councilor Rich Rosenthal said, as he proposed at the meeting to solicit ideas from residents on what to do with the building through a request for proposals (RFP). By having more options to choose from, the council “would be in a better position” to make the decision, Rosenthal said. Slattery applauded the proposal and said it “worth a shot” for the council to “tap into some creative thinking from the community.” Councilor Stefani Seffinger said she wants to see Pioneer Hall — and the adjacent Community Center — to be included in a master plan. “Putting a lot of money into the building right now could be wasteful,” she said. “I will support the RFPs plan — as long as it’s a part of a long-term plan.” Staff will come back with a RFP draft. No further decision was made at the meeting. —Reach reporter Tran Nguyen at 541-776-4485 or [email protected]. Follow her on twitter @nguyenntrann.