A few upgrades are coming to the downtown area near the City Hall campus. Improved accessibility is the focus for the sidewalk, driveway, and curb ramp reconstruction project scheduled to begin in February along the west side of D Street from Second Street to First Street and in front of the City Hall Annex on Santa Rosa Avenue. Construction for the sidewalk accessibility improvement project is anticipated to be completed in three months.
In addition, to the sidewalk reconstruction project, the city is installing a 24-hour prefabricated single-occupant unisex public restroom (adjacent to the City Hall Annex). This will be the first 24-hour public restroom in the downtown corridor.
At the direction of City Council, City staff investigated facility options, costs, and potential locations for a prefabricated public restroom with 24-hour accessibility in the downtown core. In June 2019, council approved the $125,000 purchase of the Portland Loo, a single occupancy, unisex, environmentally friendly, accessible restroom kiosk.
City staff presented the Downtown Sub-committee with seventeen possible locations for placement of the Portland Loo. At the request of the committee, staff also explored the potential impacts to converting existing downtown restrooms to 24-hour use. However, associated upgrade and maintenance costs proved this option unsustainable.
On December 17, City Council unanimously voted to install the Portland Loo adjacent to the City Hall Annex, 90 Santa Rosa Avenue. Locating the Portland Loo at the City Annex meets key criteria for placement such as safety and visibility, utility connectivity and proximity to the downtown core. Delivery and installation of the Portland Loo is expected Summer/Fall 2020.
During the downtown improvement project construction, single lane traffic controls may be periodically in effect. D Street Garage 9 and City Hall Annex will remain open during construction.
Improved Accessibility Project http://cippublic.srcity.org/ProjPages/2146.html
Portland Loo Installation Project http://cippublic.srcity.org/ProjPages/2223.html