Panel tasked with coming up with recommendation whether to repair or rebuild historic structure

By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news 

A management advisory committee will begin meeting to investigate the best course of action for the historic Ashland Community Center on Winburn Way, according to a release from the city. 

“This initiative is part of the Council’s effort to gather input from community members with expertise in construction and renovation, as well as from facility users, to ensure that any decision reflects the needs of the community. The (management advisory committee) will work to balance the preservation of a historical building with the functionality of a new structure,” the release said. 

The building was being renovated by Outlier Construction, which is under contract to repair both the Community Center and Pioneer Hall next door. After renovation work began, contractors discovered the Community Center would require more extensive and potentially riskier renovations than anticipated. The project was put on hold pending further direction from Ashland City Council, as previously reported by Ashland.news. 

At the Oct. 14 Ashland City Council study session, council was presented with a comparative analysis of costs and benefits to either restore the historic building or demolish and build a new one in its place. 

Councilor Jeff Dahle suggested a management advisory committee (MAC) instead of an additional ad hoc committee to explore restoration. The MAC could potentially acquire additional information at a faster pace than an ad hoc committee with its requirements under public meeting law and larger body of members leading to potential lengthier deliberation. Council voted five to one in favor of the MAC with only Councilor Eric Hansen voting against. 

In an email, Ashland Communications Officer Dorinda Cottle confirmed MAC meetings are not open to the public. 

“MACs may be established to serve at the request of the City Manager or Department Heads to provide technical advice, and community support and input that can assist in preparing recommendations to enhance City operations or program implementation or for City Council consideration,” Cottle wrote. “Membership on MACs will be established based on the type of advice sought and availability of potential qualified participants, urgency of issue or program being addressed, timeframe for the committee’s role/participation, availability of City staff support resources, and/or other circumstances or considerations affecting the ability for effective MAC role participation.”

The first meeting of the MAC will include a tour of the structure with Public Works Director Scott Fleury and staff from Outlier Construction, the city’s contractor for the project. Plans call for the committee to meet three times before coming up with recommendations for the building’s future. 

For more information on the Community Center, the city has created a dedicated webpage. 

Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news.

Related articles:

Repair or raze: Committee tasked with researching Community Center options (Oct. 16, 2024)

Contract approved for Pioneer Hall and Community Center rehabilitation (June 5, 2024)