Council reviews downtown revitalization projects as RFP for parking is released

Philomath council on Feb. 9 reaffirmed downtown revitalization as a top objective and discussed several projects and funding approaches, including an RFP just released for 11th and 12th Street improvements.

Staff said an RFP has been issued for work on 11th and 12th streets to add parking and that construction is expected to begin in spring or summer. “That RFP just went out for 11th and 12th Street,” Chris said, noting the project is already moving through procurement.

Councilors discussed whether Main Street improvements that extend east and west should sit under a downtown objective or be shifted into a broader streetscape/business-improvement category. Zoning distinctions between a pedestrian-oriented downtown commercial core and general commercial areas informed the discussion.

To address uneven costs for street lighting, staff proposed forming a downtown streetlight district that would spread the cost of installing lamps across property owners in the district rather than obligating the first developer to pay the full cost. Chris said the city could initially buy and install lights and recover costs as adjacent properties develop. “The alternative would be to set up a district where everybody when you develop, you're gonna pay into a fund that's gonna pay for street lights in that whole area,” he said.

Council also discussed public-art installations as low-cost beautification projects, such as extending silhouettes painted by high-school students along Main Street. Some members said funding is a key constraint but supported the concept as an incremental improvement.

No formal votes were taken. Staff will continue to refine the draft strategic plan and place immediate projects—like the 11th/12th RFP—into the implementation schedule for later council review.