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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1961)
8 A WEDNESDAY. MAY 3. 19B1 MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON d Get tost by City (Mfra Owic Esnter Gou A - ' i . Original Idea of 1931 Has Existed In Planners By OREO NOlCES Mail Tribune SUM Writer The idea of a Medford civic center, although it was first broached in 1931, hai never really gotten off the ground. It hai existed largely in the minda only of city planners from 30 years ago to the pres ent i'he reason for this is that no real study has ever been given to the proposal. Mow ever, if the city council is willine. the planning commls alon will soon give the civic center idea what it feels is a long overdue look-see. 1 This would be done under a joint city-federal public build ings study which is planned for the next fiscal year. It has been suggested that the civic center approach be made an integral part of this tudy. What is presently known about the civic center propo ' aal ean be summed up in a few paragraphs. Original Idea - The idea was originally that of the 1831 planning commis alon working with Jacob L. Crane Jr., a Chicago planning consultant, It was prompted by the knowledge that a new courthouse would be built in the city as 1931 was the year in which the county seat was transferred from Jacksonville to Medford. Crane and the planning commission selected an area around Central park (now Westside park) as the site for the civic center. It was then anticipated that the city li brary, which was constructed in 1911, would be moved to a new location leaving a park that was two square blocks in . size. The commission suggested that such buildings as hotels, churches, a municipal audito rium, a city hall, the court house and the new library be constructed around and facing the park. There Plan Rested The courthouse was built In the center following a vote by the citizens of Medford, but ' there the plan rested-untll the present. It is ironic that it is again a m'Jor public building, this time the proposed tZVa mil lion Medford federal building that is largely responsible for reviving the plan. The plan ning commission had earlier decided to try and go ahead with the plan, but it admits that its deliberations on the matter were speeded up by the federal building. The commission took the 1931 plan, and taking into ac count the demand for larger buildings and more parking area, expanded it to tentative ly include an 11-block area bounded by Main, Mistletoe, 10th and Holly st. The plan would make use of the courthouse, library and existing park area. And it is hoped that in the future the federal building, a state office building, a new, city hall, school district offices, and possibly even a public audito rium could be built in the area,1'" . ' Not Developed Overnight A civic center is not devel oped overnight, and the plan ning commission has no false hopes that such can be done here. But there is an opportu nity to have several new pub lic buildings erected in Med' ford within a relatively short period of time and those would give the civic center the boost it needs. These public buildings, both present and future, would be integrated both in appearance and in their relationship to one another. Off-street park ing would be provided, and the civic center area itself would be landscaped to some degree. This is where the idea rests today. A major study would be re quired to determine such nec essary things as: the appear ance and design of the civic center itself, the kind, size nd location of the public buildings to be included in the center; the manner or de gree to which these buildings should be architecturally in tegrated; the amount of off strjet parking area that would be needed; and, of roune, the cost of the city's shire in such a project. The civic center in theory Is not new. Civic centers of one kind or another could be found in some of mankind's earliest cities. In the United States many large cities, such as Los Ange les, have civic centers, and o do many smaller eltles, such as Eugene. However, as City Planning Consultant Ned Langford points out, there is genuine disagreement on the desirability of having civic centers, particularly in small er oiliei. Many persons favor the 1 Pi rafcroXvx )V&! O is iv ,fi I .raw ttmMi I j i i I. CIVIC CENTER Plct i) red above is an 11-block area that is being tentatively proposed as the site of a Medford civic center. The current proposal Is based on a similar proposal that wa drawn up in 1931. The area is bounded by Main, Mistletoe, 10th and Holly sts. A civic center scattered development of pub lie buildings, such as Medford j has now, rather than having them all grouped together at one central location. The chief arguments for a civic center can be found in the civic center plan for Eu gene, That city's civic center is already partially complet ed, at an initial cost to the city of slightly more than $1 million, which Includes a city hall. The Eugene plan lists four main advantages: Convenience to the pub lic. Transaction of business often requires contacts with two or more agencies of the same or different levels of government. Grouping of pub lic offices simplifies the prob lems for these citizens. The civic center also provides for off-street narking and inv Droved mass transit service. Increased administrative efficiency. When public build ings are . grouped in a civic center, closer liaison between governmental agencies re sults, eliminating unnecessary duplication of work by the various agencies. Consolidate Departments ' Close liaison between gov ernment agencies tends to consolidate departments for city-county services such as public health, jail ana city county planning. (Much time is currently be ing wasted in the Medford po lice department as the result of the frequent transfer of prisoners to the county jail, and because of the necessary appearances of city officers in district and circuit courts.) Economy in land acquisi tion. It is simpler and less costly to expand a civic center to meet increased needs tnan It is to expand public build- in a sites that are scattered throughout the central area of the city. Civic pride. Certainly the grouping of public buildings is more effective, it instills a greater sense of pride to the citizenry, and it Is a landmark visited and remembered by many tourists. 'Embodment of Civic Pride A publication of the Ameri can Society of Planning Offl clals goes even further on this last point and calls the civic centor "the embodiment of civic pride." It adds that the civic center, because of its size, becomes the architectural focus of the city; it is also "a chance to give part of a city back to the pedestrians." - In selecting a location for a civic center, the Planning Ad visory Service declares: "Nearly all experts on civic center planning agree that a civic center should be down town." A Dayton, Ohio, civic cen ter study states: "A civic cen ter should not be In the heart of the business district be cause it would break the con tinuity of business structures . . , and a large amount of potential commercial land would be put to less profitable use; and unrelated vehicular traffic would be routed through the commercial area. A site on the fringe of the central retail district is gen erally a preferred location." City Planning Consultant Langford has told the Med ford city council in the past that the planning commission Morse Opposes More Direct Military Action Against Cuba By A. ROBERT SMITH Mall Tribune Washington Correspondent Washington - What should the United States do about Cuba? Nobody seems to know, al though there seems to be a general cli mate here which would support more direct Amerl- can military action against Castro. Last week Morse came close to an smith open break with the Kennedy administra tion on this question. The Sen ator was more than a little annoyed because he and the Senate Latin American Sub committee, which he heads, had not been let in on Ameri can . plans respecting Cuba, either before or after the in vasion by Cuban rebels. As the new president stood amid the wreckage of that abortive operation, Washing ton wondered what he would do to try to recoup his first major political setback. As Kennedy met with a host of Republican leaders, from El senhower and Hoover to Mac Arthur and Goldwater, the Oregon Senator suspected he had been deliberately left out In the cold because the Ken nedy administration was plan ning another invasion and was seeking OOP sanction in ad vance. ' Spoke His Mind Morse had previously spok en his mind against any mili tary intervention. In a lengthy Senate speech April 24, Morse warned that direct American action against Cuba would easily topple Castro but also alienate much of the rest of Latin America, which is much more Important than that melancholy little Carib bean island voider Communist domination. "Cuba is not a dagger point ed at the heart of the United feels the courthouse site is a good site for the civic center for three main reasons: It is close, but not too close to the central business district. It already has a nucleus In the courthouse, park and library. And Jt would help stimu late growth on the west side of the city. In a proposed generalized land-use plan for the city of Me'dford, which is now In the hands of the planning com mission and city council, the courthouse civic center site is recommended as an important part of the overall plan for the city. Bureau of municipal re search personnel who pre pared the land-use plan state: "It Is In the design and devel opment of public buildings and facilities that the people of the city can beat express their Ideas concerning the kind of community that Med ford should become." would make use of the courthouse, library and park, and would include such future public buildings as a state office building, the federal building, a new City hall, and possibly even a municipal auditorium. , States, but is Instead a thorn in our flesh," declared Morse. "If the United States seeks to settle it differences I with Cuba through the use of mili tary might, either direct or indirect, we shall be at least a half century recovering, if we ever recover the prestige, the understanding, the sympa thy and the confidence of one Latin American .lelghbor aft er another." At the moment, there are many Latin American officials who are friendly to the United States, but they are uneasy, Morse said, due to unrest among their own people. These people want reforms, and they still see Castro as the symbol of reform, despite his affiliations with the Reds. Mil itary action against Cestro by the United States would be in terpreted by leftwing forces as American opposition to social reform, Morse con tended. ' Threat To Latins ' 1 The proper course of action would be to act in concert with all the other Latin na tions. Communism in Cuba represents a greater threat to the other Latin nations than to the United States, Morse observed, and the United States should call for a meet ing of the Organization of American States to get this point across and plan joint ac tion to avert the spread of Communism. The American states at Caracas In March, 1954. adopt ed a declaration respecting the threat of Communism in the hemisphere. It declared that "The domination or control of the political Institutions of any American state by the inter national Communist move ment, extending to this hem isphere the political systems of an extracontinental power, would constitute threat to the sovereignty and political Independence of the American states, endangering the peace of America, and would call for a meeting of consultation to consider the adoption of ap propriate action in accordance with existing treaties." The big question is to de fine "appropriate action," But Morse's point is that it must ATTENTION NAME ADDRESS With no obligation, pleat tend mo full details of the prepaid hospital-doctor plan of . , . SOUTHERN OREGON HEALTH SERVICE 16 South fertlttt. Mtdford St 2-6582 Established and Activt In Southern Oregon As a Health Co-operative Since 1943 be defined by the nations of this hemisphere In concert and not by the United States alone. This week Secretary of State Dean Ruak briefed Morse's subcommittee for three hours on the Cuban flay co. Afterward, Morse said he was quite relieved to hear that no new invasion was contem plated by the United States. , ) Meaiurw ap proved Monday: By the Senate 8R1 1 Contract!, purchaiM and Mies made by atate agendea. ClaU. Bua saucauonu television SBS40 Beach eaeementf. SBMfr -Tout trw executive u- Utanti for the governor. SBS92 Bond. HB 1 563 Heal estate broken. HB1S73 Port of Portland con tract.. HBlSTB Donating one'a body for iclentlfle and medical purposes. HB1584 Licensing of real estate broken and aaleimen. HB16S4 Liquefied petroleum gas. HJR36 Allows Oregon to be represented at national legislative conference. HBH52 sentencing. HB 1203 Ad Valorem taxes. HB1223 Fees paid by litigants for court ' reporter service. HB1306--Mr.naKement of Brooer- ty owned or administered by board of control. HB1397 Reimbursement of tu- dent driver training. HB 1 435 Tax exemptions lor fallout shelters. HB1531 Defining submerged lands. HB1B32 Permits tidelanda leas ing for private oil exploration. HB154& Statutory liens. HB 1538 Fire protection bv do mestic water supply corporations. HmaoB uu ana gas weiis. HB 1399 Local health boards. HB1720 Federal surplus food. By the House HBU31 Education foundation grants. HB1SB9 Special road districts, HB1887 Rural fire districts. HB1703 Collection agencies. HB 1732 Milk price controls. HB17S7 Consent to drunken driving testa. HB 175 8 Small woodlet timber tax leveling. SB63 Legal instruments. SRI 02 Corporation excise taxes. SB173 Removal of material from riverbeds. SB177 Public roads. SB2SO Liana of mechanics, SB290 Fishing licenses. 8 B300 Bankruptcy. 8B307 Motor vehicle registra tion. SBJOa Domestic relations, Measures approved Tuesday! By the tenati SB435 Death investigations. SB240 Teachen' retirement. SB 2 3 Maximum vehicle speeds. SB448 Relating to highways. SB591 Rogue River coordina tion board. HCR8 Condolences on death of Karl R. Fisher. HCR8 Appreciation to Salem ministerial association. hubs Relating to criminal actions. Bills Approved By Legislature Salem (UPI) Meaiurw an-1 Decision Expected on Recommendation of Site for Proposed $2.5 Million Building Br GREG NOKES Mail Tribune Staff Writer The Medford city council Is .hculiileH fn rnHF Itjt lonB- awaited decision tomorrow night on a recommended site for a proposed S2Vi million fcHnral hulldinff. and on its decision could well hinge the success or failure of a 30-year- old plan for a Meaiora civic center. The plan has never been closer to realization than it tnrinv hut at the same time. never has it been more In jeopardy. And all because of the federal building. A civic center is, essential ly, an-area that has been set aside within a city for the lo cation of all related city, county, state and federal buildings. The buildings are nam v rnnsirucieu uvci a period of years, but all accord ing to a plan wnicn uuegraics them both geographically and architecturally. Courthouse in Plan irk Mfv nf Medford has a civic center plan which dates back to 1931 when u was pro posed as part of a generalized Measures Signed By Gov. Hatfield Salem -UPD- Signed by the governor Tuesday: HmiM - Increases salaries of-governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney gen eral, superintendent of public instruction and labor com missioner. SB3T - State investments. SR140 - Barberry and other plants declared a public nui sance. - SB259-County officers. SB28S-Hospital districts. SB314-Local budget law. SB396-Savings and loan as sociation!. SB399-Ostenpathy. SB403-Mediclne and surg ery. SB484-Plumblng and cess nool work. SB486 - Appropriation of surface waters. SB533-Motor carriers. H 1189 Poisonous foods. HB 1427 Rela tins- to school dist ricts. HB1437 Relating to appraisers. HB1479 Use of guru by persons 16 or younger. HB1805 Wage claims. HB1642 Relating to atata fi nances. HB 1645 Local budget proce dures. HB 18(18 Mining claims. HB 1687 Assessment and taxa tion. HB1723 Relating to school dist ricts. HB1731 Salaries for circuit court' judges and supreme court justices. By the House HB2009, 2066. 3087, 2093 Budg et tor neaitn, eaucauon, nigner education and welfare. HB1119 Public contracts, HB 1208 Pesticides. HB1217 Relating to education department. HB1404 Fire protection districts HB1415 Compensation for court appoiniea attorneys. HB1477 P a c 1 f 1 e International Livestock Exposition. HB1562 Medio are for the elderly. MB13HU Relating to police train in. H1682 B4 million bonds for Highway 107. HB1688 Interjdvemmental CO operation. HBi727Forest protection tax. HB 1 729 Municipal airport de velopment. HB1733 Safety be)ts for ve hicles. HB1746 Plant daman research. HB1749 Financial administra tion. SJR38 -Lighting fixtures for leg islature. SB31 5 Education of mentally retarded children. SB320 Certain fuel tax refunds. SB344 Relating to financial re sponsibility, SB3 60 Motor carriers. SB368 Land surveying. SB464 Claims. SB466 Law library fees in counties. c:rx2 the DENTAL D00TU00ERI' Unscrupulous technicians can five you bargain-basement prices and a lifetime of trouble. Charles H. Patton. D.D.S., President of the American Den tal Asiociation, warns of these dental bootleKKen who perform inferior dental work Read his special Family Weekly report. May 7th Issue "Weelcly with your Medford Mail Tribune land-use plan for the city. The existing Jackson county court house was built in accordance with this plan when the coun ty seat vas moved from Jack sonville to Medford in 193. The plan lay largely inac tive through the years, due in part to the fact that no large civic or public buildings have been erected in the city since then. . Last spring, when it was first known that a $2Vi mil lion federal building was pro posed for Medford, the city planning commission in order to recommend a site for the building heartily endorsed the 1931 plan, made some minor modifications, and proposed to the city council that it be officially adopted. Action Delayed That was in May, 1960. When the recommendation came before the council, that body elected to delay action on the matter for one month, ostensibly to determine the effect of the plan on property values in the proposed civic center area. The council is apparently still determining these effects, since no action has been taken since then. The one thing that can make or break the civic cen ter right now is the federal building. The federal govern ment is reportedly consider ing two sites for the building one in the civic center area, and the other south of 10th st. between Central and River side aves. Deciding Factor . The council's choice be tween the two could well be the deciding factor in the fed eral government's decision. The council could conceivably recommend a third site, or no SPECIAL PURCHASE Saran Plastic Auto Seat Covers with fun leatherette trim Save over 20 PRICES REDUCED ON ALL CLEAR PLASTIC COVERS site at all, but this would not appear likely. The federal building is Im portant to the civic center plan because it Is the first of several public buildings that are proposed for Medford within a few years. The others would be a state office build ing and a new city hall. Even without the federal building, the civic center could at first glance still be a partial success as the location for city, county and state buildings. Good Indication i However, if the council falls to recommend the civic center as the site for the federal building, it would be a good indication that it has no con fidence in a civic center as such, and future planning for other buildings there would appear futile. The civic center proposal received a blow several months ago when the general services administration an nounced that it was leaning toward the 10th st. site for the federal building. How ever, recent developments have prompted the GSA to look twice at the site, and sev eral persons, including Plan ning Commission President Jack Bdson, have said that quick action on the part of the city could possibly Induce the government to change its mind. Accordingly, the planning commission shot off a resolu tion to the GSA and to Ore gon's Congressional delega tion, recommending that the building be located in the civ ic center. The comntission was joined a week later by the Medford Chamber of Com merce, . which also recom mended the civic center site, and thereby indirectly en AUTO INTERIOR SPECIALISTS SINCE 1917 One-stop Servkel Everything far auto Interior! In luges' by eiperta! 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The council haa been at odds with the planning com. mission over certain aspects of the civic center proposal, and, on several occasions, one or two councilmen have publicly criticized the planning com. mission for its seemingly uni. lateral action' in recommend ing a site In the civic center for the federal building. On the other hand, the com. mission has said publicly that it believes it hat a right to recommend that the federal building be located in the cen ter because it is charged by the council itself, "with tie primary responsibility for planning and orderly develop, ment of land use within the boundaries of the city . . ." Privately, several members of the planning commission have said that if they don't bring the civic center propoj. al to a head, then no one will. THE DANMOORE ' HOTEL 1217 SW. Morriien St. PORTLAND, OREGON All rriniltnt f utiti. All thm whe come, return. Rarei not high, net lew. free (Sraaa, TV's sitf (idles. Reparation toi cleanliness.. 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