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51 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, April 11, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend March 23, 2004 Fenceposts went up Monday around a vacant lot at Fir, Main and Eighth streets that was being used as a free parking lot. A parking structure is scheduled to be built there this summer. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven City fences off dirt lot By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune On the first day of spring break the city began fencing off a vacant downtown lot that has become a favorite free parking spot for Rogue Community College students. Some downtown merchants near the Winetrout lot on Main and Fir streets are glad to see a change. "It’s probably the ugliest block in town," said George Silva, a salesman at Addington’s Used Cars on Eighth and Fir streets. But he doesn’t think blocking off the lot is enough. He said a recent windy day kicked up dust from the lot and coated the business’s cars, which then needed an unscheduled cleaning. The empty lot, formerly the site of a car dealership built by Clarence A. Winetrout in 1945, is slated to see construction of a five-story parking structure this summer. Medford Urban Renewal Agency is building the lot and has plans for other development projects on the property. Advertisement The Medford City Council in February requested that the MURA close off the parking lot because it was unsightly, mud was getting tracked onto streets and city code requires downtown lots to be paved. MURA was about to rope it off when RCC President Rick Levine asked that the lot, which is frequently used by RCC students, remain available until March 22, the end of the winter quarter. Mary Louise Doran, RCC Riverside campus dean, said the college has found a temporary solution for students. The community college has leased 70 spaces in the MURA parking structure at Sixth Street and Riverside Avenue for use by college staff. That is designed to free-up spaces for students in three RCC lots near campus. "We’re just growing and there’s limited space here," said Doran. "What we are trying to do from our side of the fence is make it a lot easier for the students who come and go." MURA also has extended time limits in several parking spaces downtown from two-hour to three-hour parking, such as those in a lot near Ground Zero nightclub. The paved portion of the Winetrout lot will remain available for students, or anyone, to park. As far as dirt blowing from the lot, MURA Director Kurt Olsen said the agency is pricing a paraffin product to cover the lot and keep dust down. There’s some irony about closing the lot to parking, Olson said. "The cars kept the wind from blowing the dust," he said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times