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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, June 24, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 22, 2004 This rendering shows the parking structure MURA is building on the former Winetrout site bounded by West Main Street on the right and Fir and Eighth streets (not visible). Downtown lot’s on verge of renewal Ground-water tests will be the necessary first step before construction of a parking structure By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune After nearly four years of looking at a large vacant lot in the heart of Medford, downtowners will finally get to see some action. "I’m excited," said Joe Pedrojetti, owner of Joseph Winans Furniture and Pedrojetti’s Pelle Fina on Main Street. "Bring on the trucks." Groundbreaking for the $7.7 million Medford Urban Renewal Agency parking structure on the Winetrout site at Main and Fir streets is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday. Pedrojetti said the additional parking is needed, and in comparison to the benefit, the short-term inconvenience is small. The Evergreen Parking Facility will be a 412-space, five-story parking structure on the northeast edge of the lot along Evergreen Way, a planned pedestrian-friendly street to be built southwest of the train tracks. Advertisement The contractor is Skanska USA Building Inc. of Beaverton. The architect is Thompson Vaivoda & Associates Architects Inc. of Portland. Since the first floor of the parking structure will be underground, the first step is assessing what lies beneath the surface. "They’re going to dig two large test pits and test the amount of ground water running through there," said MURA Director Kurt Olsen. "If water’s boiling in from all sides, we’ll have to be more aggressive at pumping," he said. Don Burt, project manager and MURA’s former executive director, said dealing with running ground water is built into the cost estimate, so if it turns out there’s little or no water, MURA saves money. Once the ground water is squared away, crews will begin digging a 14-foot-deep pit that is about 300 feet by 200 feet. "It’s a lot of dirt," said Burt. Over the next six years, three other buildings will be built on the lot by Cook Development Corp. of Portland. Cook, which would own the buildings, has hired MCA Architects in Portland for the design work. Burt said after the parking structure is complete, the other three buildings can move forward in three phases. Phase I is for a building along Eighth Street, made up of 27 residential units with commercial space on the ground floor. Phase II is for a building along Fir Street, made up of 43 residential units and commercial space on the ground floor. Phase III will be a building along Main Street made up of offices and commercial space. "We’re not going to be a part of any of the other three phases," said Burt. This arrangement will preclude a lawsuit such as one that halted the original Winetrout project, which was Burt’s main project when he was executive director. The original Winetrout plan lumped the whole project in one phase with MURA taking part in developing the commercial buildings. Burt said the parking structure is scheduled to be completed in August 2005. He wouldn’t say whether he was excited about seeing construction finally begin on the property. "I’m just the project manager," he said. "No emotions. Just the facts." But Olsen said he thought there was a buzz about construction finally getting under way. "Everybody’s kinda itchy," he said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Groundbreaking ceremony set for Wednesday WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for Medford’s Evergreen Parking Facility, a 400-space, five-story parking structure, hosted by Medford Urban Renewal Agency. WHEN: 11 a.m. Wednesday WHERE: Along the train tracks between Eighth and Main streets, near Fir Street. CONTACT: For more information, contact Kurt Olsen at MURA, 774-2700. History of the Winetrout site 1945 — A car dealership is built by Clarence A. Winetrout between Main and Eighth streets along Fir Street. Over the years, the site became home to many businesses, including Crater Lake Motors and People’s Furniture. September 2000 — Winetrout building is demolished. January 2002 — developer Greg Bessert unveils a design for a $20 million, six-story building complex planned for the Winetrout site. February 2002 — Bill Ferguson, who owns several downtown office buildings, sues MURA, claiming the mixed-use building (office space, retail, residential) doesn’t fall within the scope of MURA’s revitalization plan. July 2002 — The Winetrout project was abandoned after the lawsuit led to missed deadlines. The developer terminates his development agreement with MURA. February 2003 — A judge dismisses the lawsuit. MURA spends more than $25,000 on legal expenses. March 2004 — City Council requires the site, a favorite free parking spot for Rogue Community College students, to be fenced off because mud is being tracked onto city streets. April 2004 — Medford’s historic commission approves plans for the parking structure. June 2004 — Groundbreaking. 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