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Talent by way of Ashland By TONY BOOM As space runs short and real estate values skyrocket, Ashland appears to be losing residents in search of cheaper housing, bigger yards and a small-town feel. Many of the movers head five miles north to Talent, Ashland's nearest neighbor. The transplants admire Talent's small-town atmosphere but maintain a strong connection to the larger city - itself still a relatively small, though bustling town. "A lot of people have moved here from Ashland, especially in the last couple years," said Talent real estate agent Jack Latvala. Talent's population grew 58 percent - from 3,274 to 5,160 - between 1990 and 2000 while Ashland increased 18 percent from 16,252 to 20,085, according to Portland State University's Population Research Center. Ashland's $262,000 average home sale price for the first six months of 2001 is $121,000 higher than the average for homes in Talent and Phoenix. "People seem to get a little bit fried on the level of congestion that exists in Ashland as it moves more and more upscale," said John Morrison, a City Councilman in Ashland and former publisher of the Phoenix-Talent Record newspaper. Talent is a little slower and has a less complex lifestyle, Morrison added. He hears some folks refer to Talent as Ashland's low-rent district. Although hard numbers on any exodus from Ashland to Talent aren't available, it's clear that there is a growing trend of people who long for Ashland but are searching for more space in the nearest available town. Like the children of many other Talent transplants, Scott Parrish, 12, and Erin Parrish, 7, children of Lisa Parrish and Bruce Harlow, have remained in Ashland schools after a move to Talent. Ashland School District has 89 students from the Phoenix-Talent School District enrolled in classes, although it isn't clear how many are former Ashland residents. "They were already enrolled in programs with teachers that we knew were good for their personalities," said Lisa Parrish. A switch to Talent schools might come later says Parrish, who admits that driving the kids to schools is tedious. Parrish liked the rural atmosphere that allows her to have a large garden at their rented home. They lived in an Ashland apartment with two children for three years before relocating last year. "I really love Ashland a lot. I go there almost every day because I work there," said Lisa. "When our family came back from Hawaii the prices had gone up so much. We wanted a yard for our children." Scott and Erin found 31 other kids on their street. In the Ashland apartment complex where they used to live, people with kids tended to move out as soon as they could, said Parrish. Talent Mayor Marian Telerski moved from Ashland to Talent in 1988 because she needed more studio space for her pottery. She sold her Ashland home, rented in Talent and later bought a home there. When Telerski wanted to do something new, a friend mentioned job openings in Talent's planning commission and parks commission. She ended up on the latter, then moved to the Urban Renewal Agency and was elected to the City Council in 1992. She was elected mayor in 1998. "It seems like a place where your voice can be heard," said Telerski. "Ashland isn't less so, but I never did that except once." Telerski goes to Ashland at least three times a week to work out in a gym. She shops for some groceries in Ashland and sees her doctor and dentist there also. Her pottery is on sale at the Blue Heron Gallery & Gifts in downtown Ashland. "It's evident that Talent doesn't have all the service one needs," said Telerski. She shops for clothes and has her car serviced in Medford. Another Ashland refugee operates Talent's only real estate office. Jack Latvala opened Star Properties in both towns before he consolidated about eight years ago. He lived in Ashland the preceding six years. Latvala made a conscious decision to get involved because he likes the collective nature of the town. He serves on the Architectural Review Committee. He also heads the Talent Business Owners Association. "Everyone here is on a first-name basis. Most people here are pretty approachable. I like the small-town atmosphere, the slower pace, " said Latvala. "Ashland is a great town, but it's changed so much. A big portion (of the downtown) is tourist related, which is wonderful for the town, but it didn't work for me." "Our plan was to take advantage of the market here in Ashland and put ourselves in a place where we could save some money and build a home in the next five to 10 years," said Jennifer Sallee. She and her husband, Mike, have their Ashland home for sale and will move to another house in Talent before building their own. "We are looking forward to being in an area with sidewalks," said Sallee, who has a 1-year-old daughter. Their former Ashland neighborhood has no sidewalks. "When you have a child you start to think of that." Being closer to Mike's workplace in Medford will be another benefit of the move, said Sallee. She anticipates her husband will continue his involvement with business contacts in Ashland. "When I'm in the Talent library ... half of the patrons used to be patrons in Ashland," said Bob Wilson, who is in charge of the Ashland, Phoenix and Talent libraries. He moved 13 years ago from Ashland to Talent. High costs in Ashland coupled with wife Claire Barr-Wilson's need for a bigger sculpture studio space prompted them to move. "We can walk in Talent," says Wilson. He walks to the dentist, the video store and the pizza parlor. Wilson and others are forming a Talent civic development committee. "After tourist season we come into Ashland more," says Wilson. "I'm content when I get home Friday to stay in Talent and avoid the hustle and bustle." Shelly Hensarling owned a home, a condominium and then a townhouse in Ashland before moving to Talent in 1996. Having more yard space was one attraction of a Talent purchase. "Our family grew and we were looking to get a larger home," said Hensarling. "It had been about five years between buying and I was surprised at how much prices went up. I realized that what I could buy in Ashland didn't fit our need." Hensarling's doctor and dentist are in Ashland. Her daughter, Madeline, 7, goes to Sacred Heart School but formerly attended Briscoe School in Ashland. She has cut back on volunteer work that she performed in Ashland, but attributes that to greater involvement with her daughter's extracurricular activities. Hensarling says many of her shopping patterns have remained the same, but she shops for groceries more in Phoenix or Medford because Ashland is less convenient. "We found ... what we were thinking of in terms of the size of the house and the size of the yard," says Keith Henty, who purchased a Talent home in September 2000 with his wife and 3-year-old daughter. "That really wasn't possible from the looking we did in Ashland." The Hentys still go to Lithia Park and the Hunter Park pool in Ashland, but also go to the new playground in Talent near the police station. "I find it easier to do (bike) rides around the Talent hills," says Henty. He also puts his bike on the RVTD bus rack to go to work in Ashland, but then rides home. "We have a quiet street and great neighbors," says Henty. "We are making new friends in Talent." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] One city's renters turn into buyers A shland's soaring home prices send renters in search of their first homes to Talent. Others may relocate because they will get more house for their dollar or to take advantage of real estate appreciation to build capital. "People who are first-time buyers in Talent were often Ashland renters," said Jack Latvala of Star Properties. For the first seven months of 2001, the average home sale price was $141,897 in the Phoenix-Talent area. In contrast, the average Ashland sale was $262,443. Appreciation has also occurred in the Talent-Phoenix market. Mail Tribune archives reveal that the average price was $41,000 in 1985 and rose to $65,577 by 1990. For the same years, Ashland's average price went from about $73,255 to $129,803. Talent's average sale price jumped to $97,509 in 1996, while Ashland's went to $165,318. Moratorium end would open doors M ore Ashland residents could move north in the next few years when a building moratorium in Talent is rescinded. "Some of my (Ashland) friends say they'd like to be in Talent, especially once the moratorium is lifted," says Shelly Hensarling, who made the move in 1996. Most would look for homes to buy instead of renting, she added. Water supply limitations brought about the new construction moratorium in 1997. Completion of the Talent-Ashland-Phoenix water intertie project early next year will connect Talent to the Medford Water Commission supply. A new, million-gallon reservoir is part of the project. Talent's current water is drawn from Bear Creek and Wagner Creek. "The availability of housing is still tight. I suspect there will be more when TAP is hooked up," said Jack Latvala of Star Properties. "I don't know what price target builders have in mind, but it will be more affordable than Ashland." Talent's Urban Renewal Agency works to develop the downtown area. Talent Avenue has been rehabilitated. A similar project on Main Street, the site of City Hall, the Community Center, the library, a skate park and an in-progress transportation center, will be finished in mid-September. Mayor Marian Telerski looks forward to development of downtown Talent. "I like to walk a lot. I'm usually satisfied with walking on the (Bear Creek) Greenway, but occasionally you like to go downtown and look in windows," she said. "Talent is where Ashland was in 1981," said Hensarling. "It's up and coming." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.