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Calle Guanajuato redesign Consensus eludes participants in first planning session By DANI DODGE ASHLAND -- At a meeting on the redesign of Calle Guanajuato Monday night, participants with widely different perspectives agreed on two things: the need for public bathrooms and the need to finally get it done. "We've all grown tired of it because it's been long and dragged out," said Susan Powell, the owner of Pilaf, a restaurant that fronts the lane. "But I think with all this time into it -- it will be world-class." The New Year's Day flood of 1997 badly damaged Calle Guanajuato -- a broad, paved alley parallel to Ashland Creek located behind Plaza restaurants and stores. The council and park commission have earmarked $1 million for the renovation. Monday's informal citizens meeting kicked off a series of get-togethers intended to help designers put Calle Guanajuato back together in a way to best serve the public, the merchants along the waterfront, and the crafts vendors who set up booths there on weekends. More formal meetings will begin with two open houses: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and another from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. A meeting to brainstorm designs with the landscape designers will occur from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday. All three will take place at the Hillah Temple. Designers will draw a new design from the consensus of ideas and present it at a joint council and commission work session at 7 p.m. Monday in the Civic Center Council Chambers. But if Monday's meeting was any indication, it will be difficult to reach agreement. Some people suggested closing off the Calle from delivery trucks, an idea that incensed business owners. Some wanted bike parking behind businesses, while others wanted it off the walkway area. Building a nearby storage place where artisans could store their booths was suggested to cut down on traffic. But others thought that wouldn't be an appropriate use of public money. One person thought it would be great to have the growers market in the Calle all the time. "I didn't feel like any ideas came out that everyone glommed onto," said Cate Hartzell, who helped organize the meeting. "Except the desire for public bathrooms. That was pretty clear." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA