Revitalizing Oregon's downtown

OREGON – The developer hired to come up with a plan to revitalize the downtown urged officials to preserve historic buildings if they can afford to.

Dave Diamond, president of Walter Wayne Development in Rochelle, told the Oregon Economic Development Committee that although he does not favor tearing down the aging buildings in the two-block area targeted for redevelopment, rehabilitating them could prove expensive.

“You somehow need to combine economic growth with preserving your heritage,” Diamond told the committee and the handful of citizens who attended its Monday meeting. “There’s a real need to preserve those buildings downtown and make it part of the project.”

Revenue coming in from a revitalized downtown could be used to cover the cost of restoration, he said.

“This project would allow you to create a fund to steer money back into these buildings,” Diamond said.

The two blocks are bordered on the east and west by Fourth and Sixth streets and on the north and south by Franklin and Washington streets. Part of the area is in the city’s Historic Commercial District. The project still is in the initial planning stage.

The plan to rehabilitate or replace buildings in the target area to make room for a grocery store, a health care facility, a fast-food restaurant, an eye care facility and other businesses, drew fire from several residents concerned with historic preservation.

On Jan. 24, Mayor Tom Stone announced plans to form a historic preservation committee, a move Diamond said he applauds.

“I’m concerned that you don’t have ordinances in place to preserve your historic culture,” he said.

His comments came as part of his presentation of Phases 1 and 2 of the project.

The 1,000-page report is available at City Hall and will be posted on www.cityoforegon.org and www.movingoregonforward.com sometime next week.

The committee also approved a motion to move forward with Phase 3.