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In Ashland, the economy's doing fine Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming Tom Kaylor of Kaylor Electric in Phoenix works in the newly framed mall at the corner of Oak and A streets in Ashland. Retail space is filling up quickly in Ashland, where business leaders expect the service economy to continue thriving. By TONY BOOM ASHLAND - Retailers are occupying new spaces in this tourist town in the face of a slowing national economy. Most spaces in a new market place already are rented, other developers are confident about filling sites, and existing space will see new uses. The Ashland Chamber of Commerce regularly receives inquiries about space for small business. "There's a perception that ... small towns are safe destinations," said Sandra Slattery, executive director of the chamber. "We certainly hope that our country will be safe. But if that's what people are thinking about small areas, we could see increases (in visitors) because they are not as interested in going to a large city." Downtown shops will appeal to tourists, who want to park their cars at lodging sites and walk, says Slattery. Builder Don Greene shares Slattery's thoughts. He recently completed two mixed-use commercial and residential buildings in the 1600 block of Siskiyou Boulevard. One commercial space is leased to a child care center. He's not worried about filling the other. "Tourist travel will increase here ... because we are a small town," said Greene. "You don't have to fly to get here and it's less expensive than New York." Transformation of a 22,000-square-foot industrial building into the A Street Marketplace is near completion. Half of the 14 spaces should be occupied in time for the holidays, say developers Allan Sandler and Ed Bemis. The other spaces, including restaurants, won't open until January. In all, 12 spaces have been leased. The market is three blocks from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Among firms committed to the marketplace are Enchanted Florist, Cosmic Pizza, a gift shop, a Japanese restaurant, a Tibetan restaurant, a fine arts gallery, a musical instrument store, a hairdresser, a massage and body treatment center and a Tibetan antique store. Nearly all of the businesses will relocate from outside Ashland, Sandler noted. A large covered area on the building's east end features a stage and area for concerts, shows, day markets or other events. The market was formerly Oak Street Tank and Steel. Inside the building, businesses will create a street scene underneath the original roof. Each will be different based on the tenants' wishes. "Its kind of fun to make all the architecture fit the tenants," said Bemis. Construction costs will come to $3 million, said Sandler. A five-space, 11,000-square-foot commercial development at Siskiyou Boulevard and Walker Avenue south of Southern Oregon University will be finished in a month. One space is already leased. Papa John's Pizza will occupy one of the units in the development, tentatively called "Siskiyou Crossing." All locations front Siskiyou Boulevard. They could be used either as retail or office space. "We are confident that it's going to lease up," said Alex Jansen, manager of project development. "It is extremely difficult to develop in Ashland, so there's not an oversupply." Older motel units of the Hillside Inn formerly occupied the site. Studio units built in 1986 have become rentals. The former Provost's Home Furnishings location in downtown Ashland has been leased to Teresa and Monte Fraser of the Jewelry Studio. Their business and gallery offerings will take up part of the 12,000-square-foot building. They will sublease the remaining space. The chamber gets inquiries regularly from people who want to start a small business that requires a storefront and the capability for electronic commerce. The presence of the Ashland Fiber Network's high-speed Internet hookups attracts potential business operators, said Slattery. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.