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Building neighbors urge other uses West Medford group says public should have its say By DANI DODGE The West Medford Community Coalition's council will urge the county to use the former Safeway building on West Main Street for something other than parole and probation offices. "There's nothing to stop the county from buying the building that we know of," Gigi Michaels, the program coordinator for the coalition, said after the 10-member council met Wednesday night. "So we are making lemonade out of lemons." County officials confirmed last week they are considering acquiring the former Safeway store building at 1101 W. Main St. for parole and probation offices. But on Monday about 75 neighbors protested the possibility. Officials say they understand the concerns of neighbors, but conclude the worry is unfounded. "The people we talked to are good people. Family people," said corrections director Bob Grindstaff. "They are concerned about the safety of their children as well as their property values. But it's emotionally charged and that makes it harder for people to look at the facts." He said the probation office at 10th and Grape streets isn't far from that area now, and it hasn't changed the character of its neighborhood. Also, more than a third of the offenders the office sees are already living in the building's 97501 zip code. And studies have shown crime rates aren't affected in areas four to six blocks around a parole and probation facility, Grindstaff said. The building is valued at $1.1 million. The parole and probation department has squirreled away about $1 million over the years, knowing it would need new space. So even though commissioners will wrestle with a $1.2 million to $1.8 million shortfall this year, money is available for the building. "Every time we've had a penny -- rather than spending it, we've looked at it to see if we could use it for the bigger issues," Grindstaff said. And the bigger issues are looming large. The state and county parole offices merged in 1997, creating overcrowding and dividing the agency between two locations. Part of the staff is housed at the Justice building, and the rest at the offices at 10th and Grape streets. Some of the most desirable offices for the parole staff are in an empty elevator shaft in the Justice Building, Grindstaff said. Additionally, parole and probation has to move its people from the Justice building soon to make room for new judges who will be added there, Grindstaff said. The department has looked at other sites -- the old Kmart on Biddle Road and the Moose Lodge on North Ross Lane -- but each fell through before a sale. "Safeway is the only current vacant building we are giving consideration to at this moment," County Administrator Sue Slack said. Slack said buying a building will save the county money because it won't have to continue shelling out more than $70,000 a year in rent. Consolidating the department will save more. But Slack declined Wednesday to say where the negotiations are with the building owner. Michaels said in addition to urging the county to use the building for something other than a parole and probation office, it should consider giving the public a say before before buying property. "We feel that the decision-making process should include public hearings," she said. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA