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M/CLOUDY Temp: 36 °F Wind: NNW at 4 mph Sunday, December 8, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 23, 2002 Salvation Army Capts. John and Lisa Van Cleef envision a $5 million community center in the heart of one of Medford�s poorest neighborhoods, the Beatty-Manzanita street area. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell LIBERTY PARK A $5 million Salvation Army community center is expected to play a big role in revitalizing the Beatty-Manzanita neighborhood By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune When escrow closes next week on a tiny, dilapidated house at 408 Alice St., it may mark the turning point for one of Medford’s most challenged neighborhoods. With the purchase of the $48,000 cottage, the Salvation Army of Jackson County will own an entire block in the center of the Beatty-Manzanita street neighborhood — renamed Liberty Park by neighbors — on the city’s north side. That paves the way, literally, for construction of a planned $5 million community center that organizers and neighbors say could be the crux of revitalization in an area plagued by poverty and blight. "What could it be but good?" says Lynda Miller, who has run The House of Beauty hair salon at 503 Edwards St. for 16 years. "The kids here are great, but they need a place to play." A place to play, a place for low-income day care, a place for community gatherings and social outreach — that’s the goal of the 22,500-square-foot center envisioned by the Army’s Capt. John Van Cleef. "Reaching people, building people, that’s our mission," says Van Cleef, 33, a fourth-generation Salvation Army worker who came to Medford two years ago. Creating a community center to serve that mission was one of Van Cleef’s first goals when he and his wife, Capt. Lisa Van Cleef, arrived here. But a warning from Portland survey conductor Walter Coles nearly sent him packing. "He actually recommended we move out of the neighborhood," says Van Cleef. "He said, ‘The city of Medford has no plans for this neighborhood’ and we should be looking elsewhere." That’s a view confirmed by Louise Dix, the city of Medford’s neighborhood resource coordinator. "It’s a neighborhood that had been ignored and forgotten, that they just hoped would go away," says Dix. Van Cleef, whose agency already owned property at 922 Edwards St., wanted to stay. He’d met the neighbors, he’d invested in the community and he knew the needs. But before he agreed to invest the energy and time needed for a $5 million capital campaign, he wanted some assurances of city support. With the help of Dix and Medford City Council members Claudette Moore and John Michaels, he got it. "The city has decided that the Salvation Army is key," he says. So far, city support has come mostly in the form of morale and attention — a city-sponsored neighborhood barbecue last summer, for example, and neighborhood revitalization efforts led by Dix. When she was hired more than a year ago, Dix chose the Beatty-Manzanita area as a pilot project for city efforts. She says the area, bordered by Medford’s busiest streets — Riverside and Central avenues, Court and Jackson streets and McAndrews Road — actually offered more potential for renovation than is apparent in a quick drive-through. "What I saw was clearly defined boundaries, a lot of families, a lot of social activities and a lot of investment," Dix says of the neighborhood, which includes some 500 families. Dix’s enthusiasm led to meetings with neighbors, business owners, city officials and other "stakeholders." "This is one of those times when we see all of the partners working together," says Moore. Money may come later, most likely in the form of Community Development Block Grant funds that will help residents with renovation costs. In the meantime, the Salvation Army is gearing up for what will be the group’s most ambitious fund-raising effort in its local history. "Any time you try to raise that much money, it’s a challenge," says Curt Bennett, a former Medford City councilman who now heads the Salvation Army’s 15-member board of directors. "But this is where this community needs to go." The new center, modeled on a similar facility in Turlock, Calif., will feature a gymnasium, game room, administrative offices and community space. Tentative plans call for a park — also dubbed Liberty — on the land now occupied by the Salvation Army church and offices. Making that a reality would require land-swap agreements with the city, although Van Cleef says it’s premature to discuss details of the ventures. The Salvation Army’s decision to remain is crucial to the area designated by U.S. Census data as one of the most impoverished in Medford. Ken Gerschler, 39, moved his wife and two children to the area a year ago. The Central Point city planner says the Salvation Army will supply a strong support for what he calls "the social fabric" of the neighborhood. "If you don’t have faith or belief, you won’t be happy," he says. Although the Salvation Army is a religiously affiliated organization, Dix, Moore and other city leaders say they have no problem maintaining a separation of church and state. "They don’t proselytize at all," says Dix. "They offer Bible studies, but they’re voluntary." The Salvation Army’s $1.6 million annual budget includes grant funds that can’t be used for religious purposes. Van Cleef says his agency is accustomed to separating secular from religious expenses. The need for the center is evident, at least to residents of the new Liberty Park area. Paula Rios, 48, works at The House of Beauty. She says her 8-year-old son, Michael, needs a place to play. "I live right on Beatty Street," she says. "It makes us feel safe when they go to the Salvation Army to play basketball." And that’s the point, says Van Cleef. At the same time the agency is proceeding with plans for the Medford center, it is investigating whether to buy a new office in Ashland and how to improve services expected to reach 5,000 area residents during the busy holiday season. "There’s a lot going on, but the goal is really simple: meet need," says Van Cleef. "The thing about the Salvation Army is not that it takes care of so many people, it’s that the Salvation Army always takes care of the one." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S