The Philomath City Council reached consensus during a Dec. 8 work session to pursue development of city-owned property at the corner of Main Street and South 14th Street rather than convert it into a public plaza.

City Manager Chris Workman presented three options for the property during the work session — a mixed-use project, a public plaza with visitor services, and a comprehensive redevelopment project.

Councilor Spencer Irwin, who sits on the Housing and Economic Development Committee with councilors Jessica Andrade and Teresa Nielson, said the group determined the property would be better suited for mixed-use, residential or hotel development.

“It feels like in order to make the space useful, we kind of have to make it somebody else’s problem — to say it frankly,” Irwin said. “Or, I mean, certainly we could give some direction but I think trying to develop that into something that it isn’t naturally would be difficult.”

Mayor Christopher McMorran said he views the property as a gateway to the downtown area.

“That is a corner lot as you’re entering our newly refreshed downtown and it feels like a really exciting opportunity to do something kind of big,” McMorran said. “Not necessarily physically big but a landmark kind of thing there.”

McMorran said he doesn’t think of that location as a spot for a town square.

“My instinct would be to just look at where people already gather and then invest in that place instead of trying to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “If people are already gathering on 13th Street, why should we now ask them to gather on 14th Street? … How can we just invest in that area and its unique strengths while leaving the 14th Street site as a development opportunity?”

Councilor Diane Crocker said she prefers a multi-use approach to the property, possibly a three-story structure with commercial at street level and housing up above.

“I think for me, increasing our commercial services, whether it’s a restaurant or other type of commercial buildings, makes sense because of the location of the property,” Councilor Teresa Nielson said. “We already have a beautiful downtown — I would love to see that continue and expand and bring more businesses, bring more people out of their homes and strengthen our sense of community.” Main Street and South 14th Street. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)

Nielson said she believes strongly that a public restroom should be considered.

“It is within a block of Timber Towne, within a block of Dirt Road … within a block of a lot of other things that attract people walking,” Councilor Jessica Andrade said about the site.

Workman shared a request for qualifications that the city of Dallas put out to develop a half-acre, city-owned property. Workman seems to favor the idea of a boutique hotel and public restrooms.

Using the property as the site of a parkade has also been suggested. Workman said that option appears to not be economically feasible and said that there are other spots, including side streets, where parking spaces could be built out.

McMorran said there is momentum right now with the recent completion of the streetscapes project.

“I’m under no impressions that Philomath has the world’s most beautiful bustling downtown but I do feel like our downtown five years ago versus now or 10 years ago versus now, there is a very clear momentum building and we really want this to be the next phase of that momentum,” McMorran said.

Irwin said he likes the idea of developers having “a little bit of creativity” although at the same time, there are timber town themed design guidelines in place.

Workman said staff will take a first attempt at developing recommendations based on the council’s direction and return to the council for further discussion. Down the road, a public hearing would be scheduled or a survey set up to get feedback on any proposals.

Workman said the timing of deciding on a future project for the site is flexible, although he prefers a sooner-than-later approach.

“When we get to January and you start talking strategic plan for 2026, I’m hoping this will probably be a priority project,” Workman said. “We don’t necessarily want to sit on it any longer than we have to either. I’m excited about moving this project forward and doing something with the site now.”

Workman mentioned that a neighboring property “expressed a little bit of interest” in making their land available for purchase — either by the city using Urban Renewal District funds or by developers planning to build.

Earlier this year, the city entered into an agreement with an affordable housing developer to build a complex on city property at the corner of Main Street and North 20th Street. The developer proposed a 33-unit apartment building.

The property at 1340 Main St., which covers two tax lots, was the site of a service garage and car wash for many years. The City Council recently approved a contract with BB&A Environmental to remove the underground storage tanks and hydraulic lift station.

Workman led off the discussion by providing background information on urban renewal districts along with a history of urban renewal plans in the city from when first established in 1990 through the acquisition of the former gas station/car wash property in 2020.