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3 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 Our View: Highway 62 bypass — just get it done ... Cooking up some fun ... After six years, wilderness trail is open ... Our View: Highway 62 bypass — just get it done ... Cooking up some fun ... After six years, wilderness trail is open ... OUR VIEW Our View: Commons construction schedule raises questions MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jul. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A city parking lot project colliding with the busiest time of the year for the Inn at the Commons raises questions about the city's priorities and its commitment to building downtown Medford's image as a destination for visitors. At a time when the city is finally getting serious about exploring a large convention center, officials are poised to build a long-planned parking lot at the most inconvenient time for the most widely used conference site the city has now. The Inn at the Commons, formerly the Red Lion Hotel, is heading into the season of the year when it hosts large numbers of out-of-town guests for conferences and events, including the Medford Music Festival.  The parking lot was part of a complicated deal that saved the Inn from being sold off to a hotel chain that might or might not have invested in the renovations needed to restore the property to its former upscale level. Local hotel developer Doug Neuman bought the Red Lion and has done those renovations, including opening a Medford version of Lark's, the fine dining restaurant in his Ashland Springs Hotel.  The city purchased a portion of the Red Lion property to convert it to parking, with the agreement that the Inn could use 100 spaces during major events. Now, the city plans to start the parking lot construction next month, with work stretching until January, meaning those 100 spaces will not be available when the hotel needs them most. The city decided another parking lot project, the former Dollar GMC dealership near Rogue Community College, should be done first. What led to that decision is unclear, but it is clear it will have a negative effect on visitors the city should be interested in courting. Neuman is understandably frustrated by the timing, saying he had hoped the parking lot work next to his hotel would be done earlier in the year. It still could be, if the city puts off starting construction until next spring. If it's too late to make that change because contracts have been signed, it's worth asking why no one thought about the effects of the project on The Commons as a whole — what is supposed to be the centerpiece of downtown Medford's revitalization.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 14, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 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 2015 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