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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 Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, May 25 Central Point hopes to keep pot grows indoors Talent will clear weeds in rights of way Crews will open hiking trails rarely explored off lower Rogue River Volunteers mark Jacksonville's historic graves with 350-plus flags Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 25 Stray bullet from drive-by nearly hits sleeping White City resident Emergency services, May 24 Emergency services, May 23 Jury will consider death penalty in double-murder case Politics and Elections Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Education Departing Ashland High principal Zundel looks to next challenge Jacksonville Elementary students on stage at Britt Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district Environment Crews will open hiking trails rarely explored off lower Rogue River OR-7, mate may be adding to their pack Rogue jet boat tour company eyes TouVelle for permanent home Why is Bear Creek so muddy? Blame Emigrant silt and winter storm Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center State News Historic Grants Pass Forest Service compound headed to auction Oregon coast parkland sale to golf course developer is unprecedented In the Oregon Legislature: Impeachment, kicker rebate, gun control Bill would cancel 'kicker,' use money for budget reserves, education Oregon Senate passes bill keeping domestic abusers from having guns Nation - World Uh oh .... Apple Watch demand is weak Obituaries Warren Irving Paul Dorothy Isabelle Murphy Bayliss Bruce Michael McGregor Walter Schweiger Dawn Borns/Hagler/Huttl Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Venom Victory Ducks again down No. 2 UCLA, await fate LeBron's triple-double boosts Cavaliers Stamkos has goal, assist to lift Lightning Edwards captures Coca-Cola for first win of season Varsity 541 College Sports Ducks again down No. 2 UCLA, await fate Stamkos has goal, assist to lift Lightning Alexander, Maguin capture NAIA titles Ducks take super regional, advance to World Series Mercado helps spark Ducks in Supers Pro Sports LeBron's triple-double boosts Cavaliers Edwards captures Coca-Cola for first win of season A look back at the Clay-Liston fight Kirk garners fourth title at Colonial Montoya garners second Indy 500 victory Community Sports Adrenaline boys, 96G Red girls off to hot starts Business Latest Stories Liability for fraud will fall to merchants who don't adopt new credit-card chip technology The Beanery coffeehouse in Ashland closes abruptly Blog: The Gateway to Summer Allegiant Air resumes flights to Arizona Two Crown Markets planned for Talent Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option People In Business People in Business Transportation Allegiant Air resumes flights to Arizona Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, May 25 Kathleen Parker: Who's the studliest of them all? Our View: Don't siphon off prison savings just yet Letters to the Editor, May 24 Guest Opinion: BLM management plans fail people and forests Editorials Our View: Don't siphon off prison savings just yet Other Views: PERS ruling leaves little room to maneuver Our View: Free tuition could fly if 'fifth-year' plans reined in Our View: Josephine voters choose lawlessness again Our View: Renovating the Capitol is important but costly Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 25 Letters to the Editor, May 24 Letters to the Editor, May 22 Letters to the Editor, May 21 Letters to the Editor, May 20 Columns Kathleen Parker: Who's the studliest of them all? Guest Opinion: BLM management plans fail people and forests You want what-ifs? Here's one George Will: Kaine's quest for war legitimacy Dana Milbank: My return to organized labor Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: BLM management plans fail people and forests Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Lifestyle Latest stories Prudence Hilburn: Peanut butter, chocolate are a timeless pairing Mr. Campbell and fun with engineering Make herbs part of your plant world Tips for upping your age IQ Adopt a Pet Food Prudence Hilburn: Peanut butter, chocolate are a timeless pairing Community blog: Roasting rhubarb riffs on beet-goat cheese salad Page H. Onorato: Saturday brought treat for supper Taste of Alba Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can Home and Garden Make herbs part of your plant world Homeowner’s insurance: What it covers, what it excludes Monarchs are disappearing, but you can help with a wildflower garden Linda Cobb: Time to make a list of spring garden chores Dear Monty: Novice homebuyer’s first attempt disappointing Health Community blog: It�s a Shame: How to Understand and Manage It Health Watch: How to avoid the diet rut Donna Knight: How to lessen your risk Community blog: Little Free Libraries Community blog: Fasting out of Cancer Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 22 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Milestones and Achievements Prefontaine-style running trail proposed in south Medford Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 5 things to do in the Rogue Valley Live Music in Local Clubs Memorial Day celebrates veterans Rogue Rage Duo at The Point SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' Theater SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' OSF commissioned plays tour throughout country 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time Music Live Music in Local Clubs Rogue Rage Duo at The Point The Farr Side: Swift dominates Billboard Music Awards Interview: Country mainstay T. Graham Brown reflects on career Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum at The Mountain House Community Events Memorial Day celebrates veterans Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Movies Interview: ‘Good Kill’ offers blistering look at ‘battlefields and blackjack’ of drone warfare Review: ‘Tomorrowland’ feels like another Disneyland staple — Dopey Movie review: Disney takes us to ‘Tomorrowland’ Dwayne Johnson rocks in a new way in ‘San Andreas’ Movie review: Cast keeps laughs coming in ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Dining Upscale pub fare at The Point Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Arson investigators to look into fire that destroyed 4,600-square-foot riverfront home ... Two arrested after 100-mph car chase with toddler in backseat ... Obama pays tribute to fallen service members at Arlington ... Arson investigators to look into fire that destroyed 4,600-square-foot riverfront home ... Two arrested after 100-mph car chase with toddler in backseat ... Obama pays tribute to fallen service members at Arlington ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking Comment By Todd McDonald MailTribune.com By Todd McDonald Posted May. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Todd McDonald Posted May. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News I want to start by thanking the members of the Site Plan and Architecture Commission for giving their time and energy to our city. With all due respect to this group of individuals, however, we need the SkyPark project to continue. Medford is at a critical juncture. We're either going to make great strides in the next five to 10 years that will absolutely transform our city and how our region is perceived, or we're going to continue to operate with short-sightedness that may cause unfathomable damage to our future. Based on our history and resulting current issues, I don't believe this is a fallacious statement. We have suffered long enough and have a struggling economy, low levels of community connectedness, and a viaduct  that's falling apart and polluting our streams to show for past errors. The recent efforts by multiple local businesses and the city of Medford have started something that's growing and that many people are excited about. Speak up and show yourselves as the majority you are! Downtown Medford is coming off life support perhaps for the first time ever, and is showing signs that it just might, with effort, become a place where people really want to spend time. This is good for our morale. This is good for our future. This is just plain good for all of us, whether we like the parking or not. This is not the time to let fear stop us from trying new things, investing in new ideas and taking some calculated chances. There will be sacrifices along the way, but it sounds like one of them comes with a benefit: better health. We all know a core component of a thriving downtown is residential. No matter how big the city (Ashland, Bend, Portland, etc.), creatively conceived and well-designed downtown living is crucial to generating consistent and stable life in a city core that will be a symbol of prosperity and energy in the good times and a safe haven allowing for cost-efficient living in down times. People utilizing streets and buildings, going to work, enjoying community and utilizing the services will help us thrive no matter what the future holds. The SkyPark project may not be perfect, but it's a start. It's a chance to creatively use space that allows a developer to actually come in and create something from scratch that will help keep our momentum going and the small fire of city excitement burning. My understanding is that the infrastructure of many existing "older" buildings is terrible. Developers wishing to rework downtown spots are forced to pay quite a bit when updating areas. The chance to develop something while avoiding this problem is rare and the opportunity should not be squandered. As I alluded to, parking in Medford isn't an issue. This is a city. This is a region with approximately 200,000 residents and a shopping hub for over 400,000 people. Like it or not, this is a busy, attractive, growing area. Until we have to drive in circles for 15 minutes only to find a spot in a lot that charges $20 a day, 10 blocks from where we really wanted to get to, we shouldn't be complaining about parking. Even then, I'm not so sure. The city of Medford has invested heavily in this. It could easily add more parking and affect the community flow of downtown by creating diagonal parking on Main Street and adjusting it to two lanes as it should have been in the first place. It's a city; let's walk or bike like people who have downtowns that get used and are popular! As for the designs, while I haven't seen them, as long as they don't look like the recently constructed county health services building, I think we're probably OK. I'm not an architect and I don't have a background in art history, but in general, if the developer is stating the designs mirror nearby buildings, it sounds like we're headed the right direction. Personally, I don't think Medford should be trying to make its name on its architectural history anyway. We've got better and more distinctive things to offer. This appears to be a good project at a good time that will continue to breathe life into downtown. There's lots of space for all kinds of future projects that might be higher density, have more balanced parking, etc., but we all know those are cost-prohibitive (for now). Let's take the opportunity we have! Todd McDonald is a partner at New Brew Media LLC and a longtime resident of Southern Oregon. He is an active advocate for Medford and is currently involved in Bear Creek restoration as a board member of Oregon Stewardship.   By Todd McDonald MailTribune.com By Todd McDonald Posted May. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM » 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... 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