(Photo: Jonathan Maus)
Remember back in February when an Oregonian article sparked speculation that the former McCall’s Restaurant site (adjacent to Salmon Street Fountain) could become some sort of bike hub facility?
Then, in May, entrepreneur and bike advocate Ken Nichols stepped into the picture and said he thinks the building would be perfect for his Bike Republic concept.
Now (as in tonight), the Parks Bureau is hosting an open house event to present ideas for the building and receive public comment on the project.
They enlisted the help of University of Oregon design students to figure out how best to restore the historic site. The open house is tonight from 7-9. Here’s the verbage from the official invite:
“The goal of this open house is to allow the public to review the students’ ideas for uses and designs for the building, and provide feedback to PP&R on future viable uses and designs for the site.
…Portland Parks & Rec will use the findings of the public meetings to craft a solicitation for proposals for the future optimal use of the site. The anticipated date for the release of that solicitation is October 2007.”
Also, according to an article in today’s Portland Tribune, Nichols has been in touch with some of the U of O students. From the article:
“Our idea is to create an activity center,” Nichols said.
He would like to turn the building into a club where downtown bicycle commuters could shower, have a locker, safely park their bicycles and even grab a bite to eat.”
In addition to the open house event, Parks & Rec has an online comment form to solicit your input for the future of the site (notice the bike-specific options listed).
If you think this building and location would be a good spot for some type of bicycle-oriented services, be sure to fill out the comment form and/or attend the meeting tonight.
Hey, and what a great place for secure bike parking during Waterfront Park and vicinity events !!!
Aw man, I can\’t make it. It would be great if they\’d put the students\’ proposals online somewhere, I\’d love to get a look at them.
Here\’s a few suggestions from afar:
1) For the love of god, please change the color to something other than swimming-pool blue.
2) Two words: green roof! (As in plants on the roof, not the color green.)
The Bike Republic concept sounds great, I\’m all for it.
puppet theater.
This is Portland. It\’ll become another cash advance place.
Needs to be year\’round useage. Community/BTA meeting and planning center, bike mechanic workshops, PBR, and of course secure bike lock-ups for all other events too.
While I think the bike side of things is an awesome priority, I also think that if a location like this was to offer resources for joggers/runners (showers, lockers, clinics) and visitors (bike/boat/rollerblade rentals), plus a kick-ass coffee shop, it could be on the road to being an excellent thing.
Make it appeal to the diverse group (beyond just bikers) using the waterfront, and you\’ll have better success.
I agree with aaa
\”bike mechanic workshops, PBR, and of course secure bike lock-ups for all other events too.\”
Professional Bull Riders? That seems like an odd suggestion, but whatever. Keep it weird, dude.