Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Blaze severely damages northwest Medford warehouse ... Concealed-gun ruling may fuel Oregon legislation in 2017 ... Medford builder Louis Mahar II arrested for assault ... Blaze severely damages northwest Medford warehouse ... Concealed-gun ruling may fuel Oregon legislation in 2017 ... Medford builder Louis Mahar II arrested for assault ... PHOENIX URBAN RENEWAL Phoenix plaza, community center to provide a focal point for downtown New community center will provide 'a focal point as people drive down Main Street' Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 9, 2016 at 4:33 PM Updated Jun 9, 2016 at 4:38 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 9, 2016 at 4:33 PM Updated Jun 9, 2016 at 4:38 PM » Social News A community center and plaza will be built on Main Street as part of a 31-acre downtown redevelopment project the Phoenix Urban Renewal Agency board of directors hammered out Wednesday during a joint meeting with City Council. “This community building is really going to set the standard on how Phoenix will look,” said PHURA board member Diana Nelson. Many historic structures in the town have been lost, she noted. A 3,000-square-foot open space will be included in the building so that events can be held. A preliminary drawing shows a two-story tower attached to the single-level building. A multiple-door front entry is envisioned. “We want it to be a focal point as people drive down Main Street,” said Councilor Carolyn Bartell. The 5,800-square-foot community center will be on the east side of the street, and the building‘s front will face north overlooking the plaza. An architect will be sought for the project through a request for qualifications process that is scheduled to be finalized when the agency board meets Tuesday. Construction of the plaza and building could begin as soon as this fall, said PHURA Executive Director Matt Brinkley, who illustrated potential options with a computer presentation that allowed him to move conceptual buildings to different locations within the project area. Two locations were considered. One was the selected site between Second and Third streets. The other, which was shown in initial project plans, was on the south side of Second Street east of Main Street. Councilor Stan Bartell first proposed the arrangement that was adopted. That included moving a potential commercial or public building just south of Fourth Street to the north side of Second Street and having that lot become plaza space. Bartell also called for orienting the building east-west to face the plaza. “A good goal is to try to maintain as much open space as possible for views and for events,” said Councilor Terry Helfrich, who is also on the agency board. Mayor Jeff Bellah said the Second Street location would have allowed the community center to overlook a wetlands park that is part of the development. A marketing effort to sell five other lots in the project area is aimed at attracting commercial and residential buildings to bring people downtown. A geotechnical report on soils in the area by Marquess & Associates shows considerable fill material on the eastern portions of the two sites under consideration. Bear Creek ran through what is now a wetlands prior to construction of Bear Creek Drive by the Oregon Department of Transportation in the 1950s. Pin pilings will have to be put underneath the community building because of the poor soils, said Brinkley, who is interim city manager. The pilings will add about $60,000 to construction costs, he said. Urban renewal will utilize $1.2 million in bond funds that remain from an initial $3.5 million the city obtained and loaned to the agency for the center. Tax increment increases in the urban renewal district will be used to repay the city. In other business, following an executive session, the urban renewal board directed Brinkley to negotiate on the sale of property the agency owns at 170 S. Main St., one and a half blocks south of the project area. Offers have been made to purchase the site, officials said. Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 9, 2016 at 4:33 PM Updated Jun 9, 2016 at 4:38 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501