Talks Continue On City’s Plan For Facility In Garry Park Area

Chief Garry Park neighborhood organizers are taking a positive approach to the city’s proposal that its fleet maintenance facility be built in their community.

Walt Shields, chairman of a neighborhood subcommittee studying the proposal, said the facility could be an asset to the community with cooperation by all sides.

“By working with the city and presenting our concerns to them, we can make this adaptable and friendly to the neighborhood,” said Shields.

A public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to continue discussions with city officials.

Traffic, noise, and air and water pollution are some of the main neighborhood concerns.

Shields said the committee plans to ask the city to keep traffic off Napa Street, away from Stevens Elementary School. It will also ask the city to position the facility so most of the noise is on the south side of the lot rather than the more residential north side.

Landscaping and lighting will also be discussed.

The neighborhood steering committee has invited City Council members to tour the proposed site and the neighborhood in January.

The complex, which will wash, refuel, repair and generally maintain city-owned vehicles ranging from snowplows and street sweepers to police cars and motorcycles, was originally planned for the Logan neighborhood. Vigorous protests by residents led the city to consider alternatives.

The Assembly of Neighborhood Councils, as one of its first tasks, researched other locations for the facility. The old Long Lake Lumber Co. site at 2306 E. Mallon was one of eight proposed sites.

The city has deposited $50,000 earnest money to hold the property.

In a rare move, the city met with the Chief Garry Park neighborhood last month to talk about the possibility of building the complex in the neighborhood.

The proposal met with a range of reactions.

Supporters said the facility will help clean up the former lumber site and bring more police presence to the neighborhood.

Others are concerned the facility will bring more noise, traffic and pollution to the area.

“Our committee is trying to put out correct information on the site,’ said Shields, noting that informal community meetings without city officials are also being planned.

“We are trying to straighten out rumors that are going around so people really understand what is going on,” he said.

Shields said the fact that it’s a city project is a benefit in itself.

“If the site is turned into a private industrial park, we will have no control over it at all,” said Shields.

However, not everyone is sold on the idea.

Opponents say now that the neighborhood is free of the sawmill, more industry shouldn’t be invited in.

“We were choked with that sawmill for 100 years,” said Jack Ramm. “When it closed, suddenly there was all sorts of new housing and life in the neighborhood.”

He is circulating a petition opposing the project.

“The city comes in here and throws candy at the neighborhood. That’s bribery” said Ramm, referring to city officials asking the neighborhood what they would like to see at the facility. Answers included a COPS station, park and community kitchen.

Darryl Reber, executive director of Inland Empire Residential Resources, said the whole project is wrong for the property and the neighborhood.

“I’m scratching my head about the wisdom of the whole thing,” said Reber. “We need something low impact. I don’t see that happening with this city project.

Reber’s non-profit agency provides housing for people with developmental disabilities. The agency’s duplexes and triplexes house about 60 people in the Chief Garry Park neighborhood.

Reber said smaller, satellite maintenance facilities throughout the city would have less impact on neighborhoods and service vehicles more efficiently.

“The city would be better served if this property was rezoned residential and created a tax base for the city,” he said.

Supporters, however, say the facility will help the area continue improving.

Jim Santorsola grew up in the neighborhood. He lives three blocks from the proposed complex.

He said the project could be an asset to the neighborhood.

“There have been a lot of changes in the neighborhood. People are fixing up their yards and houses,” he said.

“I see good things coming. I’d like to see them continue,” he said. “Nothing is a perfect situation. If they build homes or apartments in there, even that brings up other issues.

“I feel it’s the best thing that could happen to this neighborhood,” he said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of proposed fleet maintenance facility area

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GARRY PARK MEETING The Chief Garry Park neighborhood meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Stevens Elementary School, 1717 E. Sinto.