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Community workshop takes look at Elgin rail station
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ELGIN — The City of Elgin will hold a three-day community workshop Tuesday through Thursday to develop a new vision and plan for Elgin’s historic rail station and downtown. City planners have partnered with Otak Inc., a consultant team from Portland, and the Oregon Department of Transportation to take a closer look at the opportunities to build a depot and improve the attractiveness and functionality of the Elgin rail station. “The city is working on finishing up the ODOT transit planning grant we received,” Mayor Carmen Gentry said. “The grant helps the city identify what facilities we are going to need to support the depot and what developments we will need like roads and parking.” The collaborating groups welcome citizen and local student participation at the workshop in exploring how the station can serve as a catalyst for positive redevelopment changes in downtown.“Now is your chance to shape the vision for the rail station and rail service for Elgin’s downtown,” City Manager Joe Garlitz said. “Your ideas and input will be important.” The topics to be discussed will include identifying community priorities; improving the rail station environment; improving rail, bus, pedestrian and bicycle connections; aesthetic improvements for downtown streets; and new business opportunities. A citizens’ walking tour of the station, downtown and adjacent neighborhoods has been scheduled for Wednesday. City planners and citizens will gather at the City Hall at 9:30 a.m. to begin the tour of environments that may be positively impacted by the development. A student workshop will follow at City Hall from 2 to 4 p.m. to gather opinions and ideas on the planned development. From 6:30 to 9 p.m. there will be a public open house at City Hall. The walking tour and community workshops held Tuesday through Thursday will focus on gathering input on design ideas and concerns. “This is an exciting time for us,” said Gentry. “This three-day event will give stakeholders the opportunity to see our vision and help us make it a reality. The community will also have a large part in the final decisions of the plan. We hope that we have a great turnout. It is crucial to have as much input as we can have at this stage in the planning grant.”
Business owners and citizens with questions or concerns may contact Garlitz at City Hall at 437-2254 or e-mail
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for interview time with the consultants or for more information. |
