Stillwater Condominiums
Florence - A battle is brewing along the water front in Florence's historic downtown. Officials say a new development might be too tall for it's location next to the Siuslaw River bridge.
City officials say it really wasn't until developers added a third level to the Stillwater condos that people started noticing.
Drive over the Siuslaw River bridge, and the scenery changes from dunes to a new three story condo. "When they started framing the third story we started getting phone calls and emails," says community development director Sandra Belson.
"But it's always been two stories this motel 2 stories, I'm 2 stories every building that's here on the water is 2 stories," says business owner Ken Sierra.
A new story, with mixed reviews. "I think it's good for the economy myself but I also don't like the way they're destroying the old town," says resident John Akin.
"I can't believe it's just too huge of a building for, to be here on the water," says Sierra.
Some residents say another issue with the condos is that they block the view of those dunes. "Aesthetically it just doesn't fit," says Sierra. It's a fit city officials are trying to figure out.
"The original plan for the concept of 3 stories was that it would not be built higher than the railing height of the Siuslaw bridge," says Mayor Phil Brubaker.
But the Mayor says there were measurement problems. "It turns out the height of the bridge railing at that location is 3 feet lower than we thought it was. So most of the building is 3 feet higher than the bridge railing in some places 6 feet higher," says Brubaker.
A discrepancy city officials say lies in the elevation study presented by the developers. "It's the relationship of that bridge to the building and so they portrayed the bridge as being in a different place than it really is," says Belson.
And while the Mayor isn't pointing blame, he hopes to find a solution. "We've got to stay within the bounds of what the city has permitted, has granted, to avoid any liability on it so we're kind of walking a tight rope on that right now."
The developer, Andy Johnson says that city officials knew the building was going to be higher than the bridge when the planning commission approved it in 2005.
City officials say it really wasn't until developers added a third level to the Stillwater condos that people started noticing.
Drive over the Siuslaw River bridge, and the scenery changes from dunes to a new three story condo. "When they started framing the third story we started getting phone calls and emails," says community development director Sandra Belson.
"But it's always been two stories this motel 2 stories, I'm 2 stories every building that's here on the water is 2 stories," says business owner Ken Sierra.
A new story, with mixed reviews. "I think it's good for the economy myself but I also don't like the way they're destroying the old town," says resident John Akin.
"I can't believe it's just too huge of a building for, to be here on the water," says Sierra.
Some residents say another issue with the condos is that they block the view of those dunes. "Aesthetically it just doesn't fit," says Sierra. It's a fit city officials are trying to figure out.
"The original plan for the concept of 3 stories was that it would not be built higher than the railing height of the Siuslaw bridge," says Mayor Phil Brubaker.
But the Mayor says there were measurement problems. "It turns out the height of the bridge railing at that location is 3 feet lower than we thought it was. So most of the building is 3 feet higher than the bridge railing in some places 6 feet higher," says Brubaker.
A discrepancy city officials say lies in the elevation study presented by the developers. "It's the relationship of that bridge to the building and so they portrayed the bridge as being in a different place than it really is," says Belson.
And while the Mayor isn't pointing blame, he hopes to find a solution. "We've got to stay within the bounds of what the city has permitted, has granted, to avoid any liability on it so we're kind of walking a tight rope on that right now."
The developer, Andy Johnson says that city officials knew the building was going to be higher than the bridge when the planning commission approved it in 2005.
