Phase A-C Completed

Third Street Improvement Project: THE NEXT STEP

Phase D:  Engineering and 30% Construction Documents

On August 8, 2023, the McMinnville City Council approved Resolution No. 2023-50, awarding the Professional Services Contract for the 30% design of the Third Street Improvement Project, Project #2023-4 to BKF Engineers.  This phase of the project will be led by Jeff Gooden, Project Manager in the Engineering Division (Jeff.Gooden@mcminnvilleoregon.gov) , and Jody Christensen, Special Projects Manager in the Community Development Department (Jody.Christensen@mcminnvilleoregon.gov).  Citizens will start to see engineers and surveyors on Third Street collecting data to start working on the construction documents throughout the Fall of 2023. 

Downtown Third Street 

Third Street is McMinnville’s signature People Place and year-round “living room” - a comfortable space for daily living and social cohesion - as well as its “central stage” for extraordinary events that bring everyone together. It is the welcoming feature and “heartbeat” of the community - the place where locals mingle with visitors to enjoy the authentic ambiance and lively atmosphere of this rural Downtown. Leafy green and shaded in summer, magically illuminated in the evenings and during the winter, Third Street is intimate, artistically creative, and beautifully enchanting. 

Third Street expresses the cultural richness of the city and the surrounding region forging an identity all it own, both quirky and classic. Featuring historic architectural gems, curated art and furnishings, and adaptive infrastructure, Third Street is both timeless and responsive to future innovation. It maintains a diverse, thriving, and independent business community. Local ownership and a commitment to authenticity ensure an interesting and rewarding experience unique to McMinnville.

Background

McMinnville's Third Street is a nationally award-winning Main Street. However, the infrastructure supporting Third Street is in dire need of repair and reconstruction. There are accessibility issues with the sidewalk, stormwater retention issues on the street and sidewalks, needed water infrastructure improvements, and a street reconstruction needed. McMinnville has been in discussion for the past ten years about the need for a streetscape refinement project, that would identify the best way for the right-of-way to be utilized to accommodate storefront needs, sidewalk restaurant activity, and pedestrian/bicycle/vehicular connectivity.

With the advent of COVID-19, this project is even more emergent and timely than ever. Most of Third Street's businesses have been impacted by the pandemic and the reopening standards requiring more landscape to be financially successful (extended outside restaurant seating and retail space) which has led to a local dialogue about how critical the design of the public infrastructure on Third Street is to support businesses immediately during a COVID-19 recovery but also long-term in terms of business resiliency. McMinnville feels the need to ensure that this project is moving forward to support business needs in the future, and that the City is ready to initiate the project when the timing is appropriate.

Project Proposal

This is the development of schematic, design, and 30% construction documents for a Third Street Streetscape Improvement project in downtown McMinnville, as well as the development of a business resiliency and recovery program for businesses impacted by the construction project. The project area is approximately nine linear blocks. This has become a priority for the City of McMinnville after the pandemic and the impact on local Main Street businesses. 

Concept Design Supporting Documents:

• Final Concept Design
• Vision, Goals and Objectives

Background Documents:

• Downtown Improvement Plan (2000) 
• Third Street Streetscape Plan (2005)
• Downtown Urban Renewal Plan (2013) 
• Third Street Tree Assessment (2019)
• Third Street Tree Reassessment (2021)

Past Public Meetings

Public Open House:
Tuesday, July 12, 5:30-7:00 PM, In-person at Civic Hall & via Zoom
Tuesday, May 3 at 6:00 PM, In-person at Civic Hall

Public Open House Meeting Materials

Virtual Public Information Sessions:
Thursday, May 5 at 12:00 PM via Zoom
Friday, May 6 at 8:00 AM via Zoom
Wednesday, June 22, 12:00 PM via Zoom
Friday, June 24, 7:30 AM via Zoom

Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Meetings

This committee is comprised of community leaders from the city, local organizations, and community stakeholders with the goal of narrowing down decisions to improve Third Street that will then be presented to the City Council in a public hearing. 

Phase C (Completed):

Final Concept Design

Joint Urban Renewal and Advisory Committee Meeting, 7.12.22

Refined Design Community Survey Results

Public Information Session, 6.21.22

Third Street Parking Assessment

Phase B (Completed):

Phase B – Initial Design Concepts Survey Results

6/8/2022 - Meeting Material 

4/25/2022 - Meeting Material 

2/28/2022 - Meeting Material 

1/24/2022 - Meeting Material & Meeting Notes

12/13/2021 - Meeting Material & Meeting Notes

Phase A (Completed): 

Final Third Street Vision, Goals, and Objectives

4/5/2019 - Meeting Notes

2/15/2019 - Meeting Notes

For any further questions regarding the Third Street Improvement Project, feel free to reach out to the Planning Division directly at planning@mcminnvilleoregon.gov or (503) 434-7311.