EDC members ask for patience for plan
Comments (...)Three members of city's Economic Development Council (EDC) are urging residents to remain patient while details of the first two phases of a proposed revitalization of Oregon's downtown are finalized and a cost analysis is completed.
EDC member Ken Williams, who is also city finance commissioner, said Tuesday that Phase 1 has been completed and Phase 2 is 90 percent complete. He said EDC members are now reviewing both phases before presenting them to the full EDC.
"We have to go through the list of deliverables and check off everything that's been done," said Williams. "Then we report back to the EDC. Let's wait and see what comes out of this study and see if it meets our needs."
EDC Chairman Don Griffin emphasized that both phases, being compiled by Walter Wayne Development, Rochelle, have yet to be approved by the EDC before being passed on to the city council.
Griffin said the final proposal will include data gathered under the direction of developer Dave Diamond, president of Walter Wayne, as well as input from community members.
"We've started something here and a lot of people have invested their time. This is just not the voice of a few," said Griffin. "We have made this clear that this is not Dave Diamond's project—this is Oregon's project. It has to involve all the elements that make Oregon unique. You can't make a good decision unless you've done all your homework."
Diamond has said that Sullivan Foods, currently located on Pines Road, is considering constructing a 36,000 to 39,000 square foot center that would include grocery, an immediate health care facility, and other retail or service businesses.
The target area for the development is the two blocks bordered on the east and west by the 100 blocks of N. Fourth Street (Ill. 2) and N. Sixth Street and on the north and south by Franklin Street and Washington Street (Ill. 64).
EDC member Pat Wiesner, who is also a city commissioner, said the project's focus has to be in the downtown area.
"We need to drive traffic to the downtown and we need the motivation for retail to be there," Wiesner said.
The council hired Walter Wayne on June 27 to complete the first two phases of a new Economic Development Plan (EDP) for the redevelopment of Oregon’s downtown.
Under the agreement, the developer will be paid $59,000 through funds received through a $75,000 Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) grant.
On Nov. 14, the Oregon City Council approved spending $43,000 to proceed with Phase 3 of the economic development plan. Phase 3 includes additional planning for development including funding choices, but not actual building.
Williams asked city residents to allow the planning process to be completed and then have faith in their elected officials to evaluate the plan.
"It would be a disservice if we don't get to the end game. People have put a lot of time and effort into this," Williams said. "Ultimately, our clients are the citizens of Oregon—not Dave Diamond. But people need to ask themselves what the downtown will look like 20 years from now if nothing is done."
He said he is especially interested in the financial planning phase of the project.
"I don't know those numbers yet and everyone agrees that is very important. We all just need to wait and see what that number is," said Williams.
Proponents of the redevelopment plan have said they want to increase the city’s tax base and produce more sales tax revenue through the redevelopment plan.
Funding for the project and a final design have yet to be determined.
"Some people are really trying to make this personal and really should be about the economics," said Griffin. "As soon as we get these first two phases wrapped up we can answer questions."
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