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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 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Flip-flopped dam-removal plans on Evans Creek could start next week ... Gebhard Road extension on the drawing board ... Oregon lawmakers adjourn with bills to help gay veterans, strippers ... Flip-flopped dam-removal plans on Evans Creek could start next week ... Gebhard Road extension on the drawing board ... Oregon lawmakers adjourn with bills to help gay veterans, strippers ... OUR VIEW Our View: Appearance matters, even for government buildings MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 3, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jul. 3, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> It's hard to believe that adding some decorative brick facing to a parking garage should cost the better part of a million dollars. Still, a reasonably attractive parking structure for the new Medford Police Department headquarters would be better than the alternative. Work has already begun on the new building, at Ivy and 10th streets. When complete, it will offer 46,500 square feet of space, three times the department's current quarters on the first floor of  City Hall. The project is long overdue. The City Hall building, constructed in 1967, was never intended to house the Police Department on a long-term basis. City officials say they hope to have room in the budget to opt for the more attractive of two designs for the parking garage that will adjoin the police building. The difference in price could be as much as $850,000, although officials hope the cost will be considerably less than that. We do, too, but if the extra brick work can be accommodated in the existing budget, we're all for it. Critics of government in general and government spending in particular like to complain about "Taj Mahal" structures built at taxpayer expense for coddled public servants. This is not a Taj Mahal, and there is nothing wrong with making public buildings as attractive as possible without breaking the budget. We all have to look at them for years to come, after all. The police building is going up next to the county's public health building, which has drawn criticism for its bland, featureless exterior. Its parking structure can only be described as minimalist. County officials said they wanted to save on external aesthetics to spend more on the interior spaces where clients are served. That's admirable, but so is some attention to appealing design. The police department parking structure is screened with metal mesh for security. The design choice is between brick facing on just the first of four stories and brick running top to bottom and along the top level, for a more finished look. If the city can achieve the more appealing design within the existing budget — and, we hope, for less than $850,000 — it should.      MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 3, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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. 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