New vision for downtown: Residents review streetscape concepts

By Brenna Wiegand

How do you envision downtown Silverton streets and sidewalks?

There is still time for you to have your say in the future look and function of downtown Silverton.

Much discussion about downtown streets and sidewalks followed a presentation by Silverton Community Development Director Steve Kay at a community meeting Jan. 27.

The event afforded citizens, merchants and property owners the opportunity to review detailed drawings and photo renderings of five different ways the city could go in carrying out the first phase of Silverton’s Downtown Street Enhancement project.

Kay also posed four strategies targeting Silverton’s 235 parking meters. Sixty-six attendees chose to vote on the concepts that for now concentrate on the East Main Street block between First and Water streets.

As people formed small groups to view the different plans, opinions varied on whether to prune, replace or remove downtown trees and switch from parallel to diagonal parking. Only one plan tended to rouse somewhat passionate responses.

Concept 5 proposes East Main Street between First and Water streets be transformed into a plaza; a meeting place for community events. While the most expensive to construct – concept price tags ranged from $379,000 to $593,000 in estimated cost – the design hearkens back to the Silverton’s origins.

The “plaza” includes the planting of another oak tree in virtually the same spot where the “old oak tree” stood. The town was built around it in 1854.

Under its ample, strangely configured boughs, first Native Americans gathered, followed by Silverton pioneers who hitched their horses and met to swap news, debate current issues and play marbles.

In his book, The Country Boy, Homer Davenport claims that the day the old oak was “slain” was the day “the dignity of Silverton began to wane.”

“That evening as its branches were divided among the town’s people, a small party of big men gathered at the stump of the tree. They were mad men and sad men as they realized that Silverton had to change, that a newer element with higher collars and smaller hats was in command.”

At the recent public meeting citizens weighed in on a return to the plaza concept.

“Too radical and too expensive,” said some. “A return to our roots,” others enthused. “Breaks up the traffic pattern and takes up parking spaces.” “…Creates a central spot for gathering and special events.”

Tom Worthen liked the diagonal parking of Concept 4 but inquired of city staffer Jason Gottgetreu the number of parking spaces the transition would eliminate. He was pleasantly surprised to hear it was only about four.

Worthen was having a good time weighing the pros and cons of all the options and discussing them.

“If they widen the sidewalks, it could have the feel of Europe; Paris,” he said. “But if nothing else comes out of this, I hope they fix our roads and sidewalks.”

“I have to say I’m most in favor of Concept 5,” said Ken Hector, Silverton’s mayor from 1993 to 2008.

“It opens it up and is friendlier to customers and pedestrians; and cosmetically there’s no contest. It’s a big jump (in cost), but when you look at the long-term investment; the permanent improvement in your community, it’s worth considering.”

Jim Squires was also in favor of Concept 5, the most radical downtown concept but one he says hearkens to a bygone era.

“I think it would improve the town’s character,” Squires said.

“The plaza is a place where people could congregate while waiting for the Homer Davenport Parade; we could have bands there or box lunch socials… it’s just a really nice welcome sign.”