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CLOUDY Temp: 50 °F Wind: NNW at 6 mph Monday, April 14, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 16, 2003 Rogue River gas station may become a park The downtown improvements are dependent upon the city’s ability to purchase the gas station and restaurant By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — City leaders hope to bolster a declining downtown by turning a vacated gas station into a city park and improving parking and traffic flow. Plans call for tearing down the gas station and adjacent Chuckwagon restaurant on Depot Street for a new park, public restrooms and parking spaces. "I’m picturing a small park with picnic tables, a kiosk, lots of plants and a parking area in the rear, screened from Depot Street by plantings," says City Administrator Mark Reagles. Downtown beautification is always a popular notion, but finding project funding in the current economic climate is challenging, says Reagles. Reagles says the proposed new park site has been designated an "urban blight" area by the Oregon Economic Community Development Department and therefore is eligible for state grants. About 10 buildings sit vacant in the vicinity of the blighted property in the downtown core, all offered for sale or rent. Reagles says two grants totaling about $567,000 could help fund the commercial zone’s park project and may lead to street enlargement and traffic redirection. The city is contributing some $45,000 to the projects. "We’re trying to clean up traffic circulation," says Reagles. "If we could make Gardiner Street two lanes, we can detour some of the Depot Street traffic onto Gardiner." Reagles says the city has received a letter from OECDD stating its grant application has been approved pending funding availability. The downtown improvements are dependent upon the city’s ability to purchase the gas station and restaurant, which are listed as a single tax lot for $199,900. Once the grants are funded, the property will be appraised and the city will make an offer based on the appraisal. The city has sent a letter of interest to the property owners. Frances Griess and son Rick run the popular Chuckwagon restaurant, but they do not own the building. The restaurant, which is entirely in the city’s right of way, will be torn down in order to make Gardiner Street two lanes. Griess says she plans on looking for a new site and is hoping relocation funds will be available. "What we do depends on what is available, timing and relocation money," says Griess. "We’ve worked really hard to create our customer base. We want to keep it." State money may be available for relocation for any businesses affected by the new project, Reagles says. Griess agrees lack of downtown parking is a problem. She says if customers see three cars parked in front of her tiny restaurant, they assume she’s full. Also, Griess says tourists stopping off Interstate 5 for a quick bite want parking directly adjacent to the restaurant of their choice. Reagles says building on the defunct gas station site does not pose any environmental concerns. "We have a letter from the DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) that the tanks have been removed and the site clean-up was approved," says Reagles. Reagles says the City Council and Chamber of Commerce have considered notions of a downtown park, public bathroom and increased parking for businesses for years. He sees this project as an extension of the estimated $15 million Depot Street bridge replacement, which includes building a new long-span, tied-arch bridge, refurbishing two shoreline parks under the bridge and working on pedestrian walkways around the entrance to town. "I hope this bridge will attract tourists to town and the new park will be aesthetically pleasing — in contrast to the current empty buildings," Reagles says. City Planner Jeannell Wyntergreen says preserving a small-town feel while planning for tomorrow takes careful thought. "Bottom line: We need to create an effective downtown plan and work toward achieving its goals," says Wyntergreen. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . 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