The Ashland Street corridor gives visitors a bad first impression; long term, the area represents the city’s economic future
By Gina DuQuenne
Not all of Ashland is what you see on postcards, but with some changes in direction and targeted economic development and beautification activities it could be.
The Southside of Ashland, in particular, needs attention from our city government and the business community working with the neighborhood improvement groups.
Tourism grows our economy, and Exit 14 is the open door to Ashland for many visitors coming from California. We want people to visit here, move here, start a business and raise their families.
Brighten Ashland Street
Ashland Street, however, lacks curb appeal. Median strips are not manicured, and trash and broken fencing are too often what people see first. It doesn’t look safe or desirable. A little work and attention from the city streets department and the Oregon Department of Transportation would help correct these problems.
Beyond appearances, the Southside represents the economic development future of our city. The former Croman Mill area has more than 60 acres of buildable land. And, finally, the owners are working with DEQ to have the toxic waste removed.
This is necessary so that Townmakers LLC can move forward with its plans to develop affordable and multifamily housing and attractive spaces for small businesses that could employ 20, 30 to 50 Ashlanders.
The goal is to bring together living-wage jobs, including health insurance for families, and housing in an attractive community for workers on site.
In addition, Independence Way has numerous buildings available that sit empty. That’s due in part to the city’s unfocused community development activities.
The former Ashland Cinema has over 16,000 square feet of indoor space that could become an all-weather, all ages family fun location — a bowling alley, a roller skating rink, arcades, teen center, burgers and beverages. This month a feasibility study is taking place to ask community members what they think is needed there and a search is ongoing for prospective developers.
University District
That shopping center will be part of the University District, providing a potential boost to our economy. The UD will start at Mountain Avenue and Siskiyou Boulevard and stretch southward to the Ashland Shopping Center.
The good news is there is so much opportunity to collaborate and build public-private relationships and get to yes! How do we do that, you ask. We make it affordable, working with our community development and public works departments department lowering system development charges (SDCs) and remove antiquated fees, codes and permits.
We need to be progressive and competitive, work with the Chamber of Commerce and support all our businesses, while the City Council prioritizes our needs and we begin to live within our means.
Good economic news — and bad
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has a balanced budget and a schedule of plays this season. Southern Oregon University is at 97% of capacity with a promising future.
On the other hand, in the last two years 19 businesses have closed in Ashland, many of them downtown. We are not a sprawling metropolis, nor do we want to be. However, we cannot afford to lose business.
In closing, I want all Ashlanders to know the council chamber is the people’s house, the budget is your money, the staff and the councilors work for you and all of the above need to be held accountable. The residents of Ashland are resilient and engaged in the community. Ashland belongs to the people.
More power to the people!
Email Ashland City Councilor Gina DuQuenne at [email protected]. Email letters to the editor and viewpoint submissions to [email protected].
