EDC: Coliseum to remain intact

The historic Oregon Coliseum will remain where it is as plans proceed for an economic revitalization plan for the downtown.

Oregon's Economic Development Committee (EDC) voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a resolution to keep the 89-year-old brick and stucco building intact.

The EDC passed a resolution that it "will not entertain nor recommend any design plan eliminating the Coliseum."

The voted followed a 25-minute closed session held for the purpose of discussing the purchase or lease of real property and personnel matters.

Tuesday's decision followed discussion at a Nov. 16-17 design charrette at which approximately 30 people, comprised of some EDC members, businessmen, residents, and officials from the city, park, and library districts, sat down with architects to hash out ideas for the redevelopment of two downtown city blocks.

The two downtown blocks targeted for the redevelopment include the west side of the 100 block of N. Fourth Street, both sides of the 100 block of N. Fifth Street, and the east side of the 100 block of N. Sixth Street.

The charrette was just one step in a planning process started by the EDC in June.

The Oregon Coliseum, owned by the city and now managed by the Oregon Park District, is located at the corner of Ill. 2 and Franklin Street.

The Ogle County Historical Society and Ruby Nash Home and Museum is located at the corner of Sixth and Franklin Streets.

The U.S. Post Office is located at the corner of Ill. 64 and N. Fifth Street.

All of the preliminary charrette drawings, showed all the existing retail buildings along Ill. 2 and Ill. 64 replaced with new retail stores with entry points along the state highways as well as from a central parking lot.

But in some drawings, the Coliseum and historical society buildings were removed and replaced with retail development or parking lots. The post office, federally owned, remained intact on all conceptual drawings.

In others, the Coliseum remained and a new library stood on the lots owned by the library district in the 100 block of N. Sixth Street and the 100 block of S. Fifth Street became part of a “superblock” and was no longer a through street.