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DOWNTOWN MEDFORD Medford's largest parking lot under construction Some 65 spaces available for people on waiting list By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 1, 2015 @ 11:01 pm Updated Nov 2, 2015 at 12:04 AM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 1, 2015 @ 11:01 pm Updated Nov 2, 2015 at 12:04 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" --> A waiting list for permit parking in downtown Medford will shrink once the city’s largest lot, next to the Inn at the Commons, opens sometime in January. “We don’t anticipate giving everybody a space on the waiting list, but this will help tremendously,” said Lynette O’Neal, assistant to the deputy city manager. The city has issued 1,100 permits for all of its parking lots but has a waiting list of 197 motorists who want a permit. The new Riverside Avenue lot with 163 spaces will make a dent in the waiting list. O'Neal said the exact number of permits that will be issued for the lot are still being worked out, but she anticipates it should be 65 or more, with the remaining spaces dedicated to hourly parking. Delays in construction for the parking lot actually have been beneficial for Inn at the Commons, which also has an arrangement with the city to use the parking area for conferences. “The timing worked out really well,” said Courtney Coughlin, catering manager for Inn at the Commons. The hotel on Riverside Avenue had worried that construction of the parking lot would conflict with its conference season starting in September. When Inn at the Commons launched 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 lot originally was scheduled to open at the end of September. One of the delays came from redesigning the entrance so it aligns better with Sixth Street. Coughlin said the construction hasn’t disturbed guests. “The noise hasn’t been that disruptive,” she said. “We’ll be really excited when it’s done.” Once completed, the lot will be the largest surface lot in Medford, equivalent in size to two parking lots on Central Avenue across from Rogue Community College and the Medford library. The city also has two parking garages that have more than 300 spaces each. The city awarded an $868,868 contract to Knife River Materials of Central Point to build the lot, which was formerly several buildings that made up part of the former Red Lion Hotel. The public parking lot, which will cost a total of $3 million, counting the land purchase and engineering, will be located on Riverside Avenue adjacent to Inn at the Commons and will be designed with a walkway along Bear Creek. Handicapped access to the parking lot will be included. 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. 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 Nov. 1, 2015 @ 11:01 pm Updated Nov 2, 2015 at 12:04 AM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( 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. 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