By Linda Whitmore
An idea for a future housing development for “active seniors” on the Potter Automotive property in downtown Silverton was opened for public review and discussion Nov. 19.
“Now we’re in a conceptual mode,” said Linda Sarnoff, recently retired community development and planning director for Silverton. She has been in charge of planning, code enforcement and development since 2006.
Sarnoff gave the background of the proposed concept for the Potter block, which is bounded by Jersey, Lewis, First and Second streets; then Tom Litster of Otak, a planning and design firm in Portland, spoke on three potential uses that had been considered before one came to the forefront.
He said the first-choice scenario is for the block to be developed into housing for “fully independent seniors,” with tuck-under garages and two to four street-level commercial spaces.
Studies identified a need for senior housing in the community, Sarnoff said.
“We’re working with Mr. Potter to look at possibilities and with the city to see how it fits with the master plan,” said Litster.
“This is not a real development application,” Sarnoff told the audience, some of whom were neighboring residents and had voiced concern that they had not been notified of a potential change. Any development would have to go through standard processes and permits, Sarnoff said.
The concept is for a four-story building, with lowered elevation at the corners, Litster said. It would have housing units on the upper stories, a community room and retail or office spaces on the ground floor, and on-site parking in the rear.
In relating the history of the project, Sarnoff said the city has developed a downtown master plan with the “focus on pedestrian-oriented uses”, lessened vehicle traffic and fewer auto-oriented businesses.
She said property owner David Potter had expressed interest in looking at options for his property, one of two existing auto-related businesses downtown. Explaining that city zoning would “grandfather” Potter’s auto repair business to continue in its preent location, Sarnoff said, “It is not our intent to force him out. We’re just looking long-term.”
“We’re just trying to get best use of the property,” said Potter. He said he became aware of the need for senior housing when he was looking for a place for his mother. “I would like to see a nice building.”
Through funding by the Department of Land Conservation, the city initiated a study of “how we look at downtown,” Sarnoff said, and commissioned Otak to “look at opportunities for downtown and for the Potter block.”
Litster said two other plans mixing housing and commercial space were less suited for Silverton than the proposal for market-rate housing for people over 55. He explained that the concept is not assisted care or Section 8 housing, but aimed at active people who are downsizing and want to be able to walk to shops and services.
The façade would be similar to the Wellman Building on the corner of Main and First streets, in that it would be brick and in an architectural style suited to downtown, Litster said. Traditional, craftsman and articulated styles were pictured as possibilities. Parking, one space for each dwelling unit, would be accessed from the rear, with one entrance and one exit.
Residents of adjoining properties expressed concern about parking, shadows and privacy.
“You have to talk to the people who live in town and you’ll get a different view of what we want in town,” said Vince Till. “Progress is not always progress.”
“We have to make sure what we do meets the desires of the community, Sarnoff said. “This is a study to find out what the community wants.”
