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Groups inch toward library plan By JILL BRISKEY City and county officials spent Monday evening talking about two types of customers they don't want to see at the new Medford library - pigeons and vandals. Jackson County representatives and architects from the Portland-based architectural firm Fletcher Farr and Ayotte delivered a presentation at the Medford Urban Renewal Agency's regular board of directors meeting on plans for the library. The meeting was the second in a series between the county and city to hash out how the building's exterior will look. Several city officials have criticized the design for the building, saying it looks too big and uses the wrong materials in some places. Although the county is responsible for the building, MURA has approval authority over its exterior design. The estimated $18 million project will be constructed on the block between Ninth and 10th streets and Central and Riverside avenues. Project designer and architect Jeff Schnabel said the proposed 78,000-square-foot, two-story building will be made of brick, pre-cut masonry squares, glass and metal. During the meeting, MURA board member John Michaels, also a Medford City Council member, expressed concerns that pigeons will take over the proposed metal awnings above the building's many windows. "There's quite a few buildings around that have problems with pigeons," he said. Schnabel said the awnings would be slanted downward and that the metal material and placement of the awnings would discourage birds. If that doesn't work, Schnabel said, a non-toxic gel could be applied to the awnings or recorded birds of prey calls could be played. Board member Sue Densmore asked why the firm chose metal awnings instead of canvas and wondered how difficult cleaning would be. "What I see in the end is a fairly modern building," she said. "I think it looks like a long-term job (to clean the structure)." Schnabel agreed to provide information about alternatives to metal awnings at MURA's next meeting, slated Aug. 13. Michaels also expressed concerns about the ability to properly clean masonry or brick without damaging it. "It's beautiful and nice until someone comes along and tags it," Michaels said. Several board members were unhappy about what they consider the use of too much metal in the building. The group also requested additional information such as alternative schematic drawings regarding the library's elevation on Ninth and 10th streets and Riverside Avenue. The alternative drawings will be presented at the August meeting. The library's initial design was created based on the opinions of representatives of various agencies and community members who have met over the past 10 months to discuss the project. "It's a reflection of what the citizens want to see," said Deputy County Administrator Dave Kanner. A public hearing will take place when the issue goes before the Medford Site Plan and Architectural Review Commission. No date has been set. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.