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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 Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... Another wolf makes its way into Southern Oregon ... Our View: Let Medford voters decide on marijuana sales ... Reopening of the Siskiyou Line means trucking companies will take a hit ... MEDFORD New downtown parking lot is coming soon The project, next to Inn at the Commons, will cost close to $3 million Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 11, 2015 at 4:24 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 11, 2015 at 4:24 PM » Social News A new 163-space parking lot in downtown Medford is expected to get underway within a month after City Council recently awarded an $868,868 contract to Knife River Materials of Central Point. The public parking lot, which will cost almost $3 million counting the land purchase, will be located on Riverside Avenue adjacent to Inn at the Commons and will be designed with a walkway along Bear Creek. Plans are being developed to build a pedestrian bridge to connect the lot to Hawthorne Park and also to create a walkway on the west bank of the creek that will lead to Main Street. Inn at the Commons is heading into its busy event season and had hoped the parking lot would be finished by now. “There is no way to do a project of this scope without some disruption,” said Chris Reising, deputy city manager. Reising said the contractor has indicated it will complete the project sometime before the end of January. When Inn at the Commons started in 2013, it signed a deal in which the city agreed to set aside 100 spaces in the public parking lot when hotel events are scheduled. The parking lot is located just south of the hotel near the corner of Sixth Street and Riverside Avenue. Reising said the contractor will make sure access is made available during construction so that deliveries can be made behind the hotel. In addition to the new parking lot next to Inn at the Commons, the city plans to upgrade the entrance so it aligns better with Sixth Street. Handicapped access to the parking lot will be included. A portion of the parking lot has been set aside to make way for the proposed pedestrian bridge from the parking lot to Hawthorne Park. “We’ve designed this in anticipation of a future bridge,” Reising said. The city purchased the parking lot for $1.7 million in 2013 and then spent another $100,000 to demolish some buildings that were part of the hotel. The total cost to buy the land and make the improvements will amount to almost $2.7 million, with funding coming from the Medford Urban Renewal Agency and the city of Medford. Councilor Dick Gordon said he wondered whether the parking lot was being designed for a potential future elevated parking deck above the lot. “Nothing precludes us from building an elevated parking lot,” Reising said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 11, 2015 at 4:24 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 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