Get ready: 13th Avenue block about to become one-way street

A concept design shows how the 13th Avenue block could be utilized for festivals and events to encourage more activity downtown. Images provided by the City of Sweet Home

As has been planned for several years, the City of Sweet Home is waiting for good weather to turn a block of 13th Avenue downtown into a one-way road, a block that is becoming more commonly referred to as “Festival Street.”

During this week’s City Council meeting, interim City Manager Jason Ogden announced the city is ready to turn a portion of 13th Avenue into a one-way street, weather permitting. Referred to as the “Festival Street” project, the one-way conversion on 13th Avenue between Main and Long streets is expected to begin by the end of this month.

Ogden explained the city spent two years planning the project and getting feedback from the community before it was officially adopted in March 2022.

Councilors began pursuing the project in early 2020 after prioritizing a downtown streetscape plan as part of council goals. They approved a contract with Eugene-based Dougherty Landscape Architects in January 2021, and public meetings to solicit feedback were held that year in March, June and December.

The intent was to establish a standard plan for landscaping, lighting, parking, trees, signage and street furniture on blocks sandwiched between Main and Long streets from the Sweet Home Inn  to 18th Avenue.

An early design for streetscaping along Sweet Home’s downtown core shows ideas for landscaping and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks.

“The point of a streetscape plan is to have a cohesive plan for the whole downtown,” then Community and Economic Development Director Blair Larsen said a couple years ago. “The goal is to make downtown Sweet Home a more appealing place for residents and visitors by beautifying the public right-of-way and making the area more pedestrian friendly. Private businesses and property owners will be able to capitalize on this increase in foot traffic by beautifying their own properties and increasing the offered products and services in the area.”

DLA’s plan also focused on narrowing Long Street to make wider sidewalks, enhancing eye appeal on Main Street, and turning the 13th Avenue block into a one-way street that could be blocked off at times for special events. DLA also took into consideration input about defining the city’s identity by incorporating timber elements into the design.

“We want to create a walkable downtown, a safer environment for crossing the street, an attractive downtown that is both inviting for visitors passing through, and a place residents can be proud of and want to show off to others,” DLA principal David Dougherty said in 2021. “We want a downtown that reflects identity, creates gathering spaces and can adequately host big events, plus smaller events, such as farmer or flea markets.”

Part of the final plan included converting the 10th and 13th avenue blocks to one-way roads, with 10th Avenue going southbound and 13th Avenue going northbound. However, in November 2023 the idea was reconsidered after questions were raised about how the changes would affect area businesses.

More specifically, Garry and Cathy Burks, owners of Santiam Feed and Garden at the time, said the change on 13th Avenue could make it difficult for trucks to access their large delivery door. The Burks had the building up for sale at the time, and a prospective buyer said he’d pull out if the street were to become a northbound-only lane.

At the following council meeting, the council agreed to make both 10th and 13th southbound one-way roads, which are expected to encourage more foot traffic and activity to the downtown and Long Street businesses.

After two electric vehicle direct-current fast-charging stations were installed on 10th Avenue behind Key Bank last year, the city converted the block into the planned one-way road. Now the city is ready to focus on 13th Avenue.

“The big idea or goal is to transform 13th Avenue into this kind of flexible, multi-purpose space that serves as not only a functional street, but also a hub for community events like, say, farmers markets or festivals or outdoor gatherings,” Ogden told the council this month.

He noted that one of the reasons the city recently purchased the former Santiam Feed and Garden building was due to its location on “Festival Street” (13th Avenue between Main and Long), with ideas to somehow use the building in relation to events and economic interest.

“Festival Street is going to reflect Sweet Home’s culture, history, connection to the outdoors, and really kind of become a cool, central area that people can gather,” Ogden said.

Ogden told The New Era that converting the block doesn’t require any special or additional funding.

“Converting 13th Avenue to one-way traffic is a small first step, handled by our Public Works team using normal operating supplies,” he said. “Like other city plans, such as the Transportation System Plan or Parks Master Plan, the Festival Street concept is a road map for the future. Just because it’s on paper doesn’t mean we have funding to implement every part of it. It’s simply a vision – a way to create an anchor for revitalizing downtown and bringing positive energy to our community.”

The full streetscape plan can be found online at https://www.sweethomeor.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_and_economic_development/page/19432/20220218_sweet_home_downtown_streetscape_parking_plan_presentation_red.pdf.

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