Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 2017)
July 14, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 7A Falling into place: Logging makes way for Seaside’s new schools By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette The new Seaside School District campus sits 200 to 300 feet above sea level with a panoramic view of the Pacif- ic Ocean. The breathtaking beauty is not only a reminder of life on the coast, but the earth- quake and tsunami danger that prompted the move to higher ground. “Yes, this view is nice, but the nicest thing about this is our schools not being wiped out by a big wave,” Seaside School Dis- trict Superintendent Sheila Roley said. “We needed new schools, but safety for all kids was the catalyst.” Forty-two acres of the city’s largely wooded back- drop have been logged and cleared so far to make way for the schools. On a tour through a maze of logging roads Thursday, June 29, to check progress, school board mem- bers saw an undefined field of group, presented a sustained campaign to promote the bond, which they said was necessary, not only for the safety of the students, but also because of the condition of the schools. Gearhart Ele- mentary School, Broadway Middle School and Seaside High School were built with expected lifespans of 45 to 50 years. Each has been used be- yond that span. With Weyerhaeuser’s land gift of 80 acres in the East Hills, along with favorable interest rates and a likelihood of limited matching funds from the state, proponents said “this was the best time” to pass the bond. stumps, interrupted only by loggers and equipment load- ing the last of the timber. The property is part of an 80-acre site given to the school district by Weyerhae- user, which will sell the tim- ber to local distributors. “It’s simply breathtaking,” school board member Lori Lum said. In the zone In 1999, the state published earthquake hazard maps showing Cannon Beach and Gearhart elementary schools, Broadway Middle School and Seaside High School would all be severely damaged in a major earthquake and tsuna- mi. These schools were also identified as having a high po- tential for collapse. In November, Seaside vot- ers passed a $99.7 million bond to solve the problem. The bond came three years after a failed $128.8 million plan. The scaled-back propos- al eliminated an auditorium, Making it stable COLIN MURPHEY/EO MEDIA GROUP The project to move Seaside schools to higher ground has been in the works for nearly three decades. covered bleachers, long-term emergency shelters and a var- sity playing field. Advocates of the new proposal, including the Vote Yes For Our Local Schools Only about 8 more acres of school district-owned proper- ty are left to be logged, which will eliminate the wooded bar- rier between Seaside Heights Elementary and the rest of the campus property. The rest of the unlogged property will serve as buffers for surround- ing streams, Seaside School District Superintendent-emer- itus Doug Dougherty said. Now that the trees have been cleared, the district has a clearer picture of what the land actually looks like and can proceed with more de- tailed architectural designs. Over the summer, soil surveys will be conducted to illumi- nate smaller slopes and con- tours of the hillside, which will help guide building sta- bilization techniques, Dough- erty said. While building into a hillside will be a challenge, Dougherty said the inclinome- ter — an 80-foot underground sensor that monitors slide ac- tivity — showed no evidence of landslides in this section of the hillside in four years. “I’m excited for each stage of this process. I’ve been working on this for 25 years, and it is exciting to see this fi- nally happening,” Dougherty said. Academy hopes to gain occupancy permit by August deadline Academy from Page 1A Kucera or interim City Man- ager Jason Schermerhorn said there were any discussions to consider removing the build- ing. This still leaves the acad- emy about a month to ad- dress a series of mold, com- pliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and fire code problems to meet Sea- side School District’s Aug.15 deadline to gain an occupancy permit. SUBMITTED PHOTO Significant issues The city-commissioned report done by Douglas Dick from On the Level Inspection Concepts Inc. found signifi- cant issues to address, includ- ing mold permeating the south wall, certain ramps and bath- rooms that aren’t ADA com- pliant and the lack of a fire alarm system. A cost estimate done by O’Brien & Com- pany Inc. totaled more than $250,000, based on Dick’s list of suggested renovations to make the school safe. In his report, Dick attribut- ed many of the code issues to the fact the building was built by volunteers in 1987. O’Brien & Company Inc.’s estimate differs drastically The former Cannon Beach Preschool and Children’s Center needs significant repairs to become the new home to the Cannon Beach Academy. from a $75,000 bid given by Coaster Construction to the academy. Barnes said the difference lies in the fact the city asked Dick to evaluate the property in a short amount of time and to consider all the “worst case scenarios” that renovating this building could bring. Another factor that drives down cost is the fact much of the labor will be volunteered by community members, Kucera said. Because of the tight dead- line needs of the academy, the city wanted an assessment of the property earlier than the city’s new building official Alton Butler could start work in mid-June, Barnes said. “Since the city is acting as the landlord with this prop- erty, we asked for a worst- case scenario type estimate,” Barnes said. “There will like- ly be a diversion from this re- port in Alton’s correction let- ter (for the building permit).” Some parts of Dick’s re- port are smaller items that don’t need to be addressed immediately to open, or proj- ects that could have negotia- ble cost and solutions, Dick said. Now that the academy Cannon Beach’s Best Selection of Oregon and Washington Wine! UPCOMING TASTINGS Shack Hours Sunday - Th ursday 11am to 5:30pm Friday & Saturday 11am to 6pm Tasting Room Hours Saturdays • 1 to 5pm July 15 • Crowley Wines July 22 • Angel Vine July 29 • Elk Cove Vineyards Aug 5 • Roco Wines Aug 12 • Stoller! “Best Wine Shop” - 2016 Reader’s Choice Award 124 N. Hemlock, Cannon Beach - 503.436.1100 - www.thewineshack.wine has submitted official layout plans with the building permit application, Butler can assess whether or not the academy’s plans to address these issues are safe and code compliant. But some are non-ne- gotiable. In one part of the building, Dick reported the smell of mold so strong that he asked city officials touring with him to leave the room for safety concerns. “The smell of mold was so dramatic,” Dick said. “When you get that kind of smelling mold, your ducts could be full of mold. You could have envi- ronmental issues you are not even aware of yet.” Cannon Beach Acade- my Executive Director Amy Moore said she did a walk through with Butler and Coast- er Construction to evaluate the reality of these non-negotia- ble renovations, but said she found his report to be written in “very dramatic language.” “Because of the history behind the building, we want to try to do all we can to pre- serve it and put it back into use for a good cause,” Moore said. Nominal rent One way the academy will save money for these reno- vations is in their rent check to the city. City councilors granted the academy’s re- quest to rent the space for $1 the first year, to be renegotiat- ed after one year. Rent started as $2,000, and then eventually was negotiat- ed down to $1,000 a year be- fore tonight, Schermerhorn said. Academy board mem- bers argued $1 rent was fair because the building was a gift to the city upon which it pays no property taxes, and NEW LISTING NEW LISTING necessary because it would allow the school afford signif- icant renovations that would in turn improve the value of the property. While the agreement was passed unanimously, council- or Mike Benefield questioned the academy’s request, and asked board members wheth- er or not they felt they had the financial resources to operate the school successfully. “We need to get on our feet,” Cannon Beach Acad- emy board president Kellye Dewey said. “We’ve been hir- ing teachers and buying cur- riculum. We will continue to fundraise, but we don’t want our director to be fundraising all day. We want her in the classrooms.” “Give us a chance, and we can show you what we can do for the community,” Moore added. NEW LISTING OCEAN FRONT MASTERPIECE ARCADIA OCEAN FRONT 3632 S Pacific St, Cannon Beach 80622 Highway 101, Cannon Beach PERFECT BEACH FRONT HOUSE 795 Beach St, Manzanita Designed and built by the finest craftsmen with the finest materials, sheer perfection is waiting to embrace you. Exquisite custom woodwork, magnificent garden, stunning views. This expansive gem delivers the utmost in quality, luxury, craftsmanship and beauty with stunning panoramic ocean views from every window to pamper and spoil you. Vivacious views, spacious floor plan, exqui- site low maintenance landscaping, 3-car ga- rage, elevated oversized lot. FOR DETAILS CALL 1-800-784-9541 EXT 381. CMLS#17-903 $2,375,000 Tina Chapman 503-440-9957 CMLS#17-972 $2,145,000 Kate Merrell 503-739-2324 CMLS#16-1497 $999,000 Jackie Weber 503-440-2331 NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW PRICE TIMELESS OCEAN FRONT CLASSIC UNIQUE TRI-LEVEL OCEAN FRONT 80054 Pacific Rd, Arch Cape 505 Breakers Point, Cannon Beach CAPE COD WITH ELBOW ROOM 596 Antler Rd, Cannon Beach Enjoy easy living in a single level oasis with large windows that frame the ocean in all its glory. Well-maintained, wood-burning fireplace, 2-car garage with shop. Coveted iconic Haystack Rock and pan- oramic ocean views with nicely appointed finishes, 2 decks and fireplace for your quiet reprieve in the north area of Cannon Beach. Close to the ocean and downtown Cannon Beach, this 3 bd, 3 bath home has 2/3 acre on a quiet cul-de-sac with southern sun, vaulted ceilings, 2 fireplaces. CMLS#17-1058 $955,000 Kate Merrell 503-739-2324 CMLS#16-1011 $775,000 Katy Walstra 503-309-3306 CMLS#17-524 $679,000 Karen Meili 503-440-5806 NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW PRICE CASTLE ROCK AND SUNSETS 31921 Cottage Lane, Arch Cape OCEAN PEAKS AND PRIVACY 830 Hemlock St, Manzanita HISTORIC SWEET BEACH GETAWAY 3863 Pacific Ave, Cannon Beach Just across the street from the ocean at a fraction of the cost! Single level with up- dated kitchen on large 8,700 sq ft lot. FOR DETAILS CALL 1-800-784-9541 EXT 534. This getaway is nestled in the woods with clean, simple lines, light filled, with massive detached garage and 1 bedroom apartment above. The perfect beach home! Quiet location with ocean wave views, this 2 bedroom, 1 bath home has neighborhood beach paths, a big back yard and four small decks, wood stove, bed/bath on main floor. CMLS#17-1022 $550,000 Jackie Weber 503-440-2331 CMLS#17-886 $489,000 Kate Merrell 504-739-2324 CMLS#17-272 $485,000 Karen Meili 503-440-5806 NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW PRICE A TRUE BEACH ESCAPE! GET AWAY FROM THE BUSTLE 197 E Van Buren St, Cannon Beach 401 Elk Creek Rd, Cannon Beach ENJOY BEACH LIFE 420 Elk Creek #201, Cannon Beach A cozy cottage with modern remodel on superb corner lot in Presidential area with easy walk to village amenities & beach. FOR DETAILS CALL 1-800-784-9541 EXT 261. Lovely, well maintained home just 1/2 mile from the sand. With 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, there is plenty of room for everyone, new carpet, 2 master suites, covered porch, walking trails. Away from the crowd east of Highway 101, you will enjoy a forest view and hiking trails with the roar of the ocean all within a short walk to downtown and the beach. 2 bedroom, 1 bath. CMLS#17-1000 $450,000 Jackie Weber 503-440-2331 CMLS#17-6 $339,500 Tina Chapman 503-440-9957 CMLS#17-1149 $215,000 Tina Chapman 503-440-9957 CANNON BEACH OFFICE GEARHART OFFICE 255 N. Hemlock, Ste. B1 • Cannon Beach, OR 97110 800/676-1176 • 503/436-1027 cannonbeach.withwre.com 588 Pacific Way • Gearhart, OR 97138 800/275-7773 • 503/738-8522 gearhart.withwre.com Serving the Entire North Oregon Coast
