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CHARRETTE FOCUSES ON COPELAND SITE PLANS (October
29, 2003) ASHLAND - A meeting designed to gather public input into development at the Copeland Lumber site on Lithia Way will be held Thursday. Local developer Evan Archerd said the city and his fellow partners are initiating the meeting as a way to address concerns regarding downtown development and using the charrette process as a tool to incorporate public input into the development's design. A charrette is a collaborate planning process that harnesses the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a buildable plan. Archerd plans to develop the site along with partners Russ Dale, his daughter Kristen Dale, and Hal Dresner. They currently have the property under contract, but are still in the middle of escrow. "It's important to gain public input because the site is an integral part of downtown Ashland," Archerd said. Because the Copeland site is adjacent to a city parking lot, the city is playing a vital role in the charrette process. Archerd is pleased that the developers and the city are working together to initiate ideas. "It's an opportunity to work together and create something better than working individually," he said. While both the developers and the city agree there should be some type of affordable housing on the land, it has not been decided what to do with the rest of the site, Archerd said. Archerd, who has participated in a few charrettes locally, said the process has always been a positive one for him. "I think there's an synergy to it," he said. "Something comes out of the process that's always better than anticipated. ... The power of the charrette is you get as much input and ideas as possible from the community." The kick-off meeting will include representatives from GBD Architects in Portland, who will be assisting with the presentation of designs and graphic materials. Local professionals will also be on hand, including architect Jerome White, historic consultant George Kramer and landscape architect John Galbraith. After the kick-off meeting, the process will continue with a four-day charrette during the first week of December. Thursday's kick-off meeting will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Grizzly Room in the Ashland Springs Hotel, located at 212 N. Main St. |
