BROOKINGS (11-11-26) — At last night’s meeting, the Brookings City Council voted unanimously to enter into an agreement with HDR, Inc. for design work on the proposed community Third Space where the downtown armory currently sits.
City Council Member-Elect Al Austreim spoke as a private citizen and urged the council not to proceed… “It seems like we’re moving at an awful fast pace with this project. Talking to the community, a lot of people don’t even have the faintest idea what this project even is and all the ramifications of it as far as closing Front Street. You know, we thought we were getting a hotel for six years, and then all of a sudden that ends; and within six weeks, we’re already looking at spending several million dollars on something that I think takes a little bit more time to get more public input.”
Council Member Lisa Hager said the project didn’t come out of nowhere… “This idea for a public square does come from the downtown master plan, which received quite a bit of public input where people wanted this Third Space. And so that’s where we really drew the inspiration about pursuing this project after the armory hotel reimagining didn’t quite go as we expected.”
Council Member Holly Tilton-Byrne said the project has a lengthy history… “The redevelopment of this particular piece of land has been something that’s been talked about by this council and previous councils for close to two decades — maybe even more than two decades — and so to reach a point where we are sort of able to start moving forward with a planning process that will involve the public, that also reflects public-private partnership with private dollars that would be going towards this particular project, is something that I think we all should be really proud of.”
Tilton Byrne said there will be time for additional public comment… “This is just the first step, and so if there are other comments, other feedback that members of the community would want to provide to us, I would encourage them to do so. Up to this point, I’ve heard a lot of folks that are really excited about having this new public space to be able to go and spend some time shopping downtown, visiting our awesome downtown district, but then also having that outdoor space to be able to sit, relax, bring kids, spend time with their families — that sort of thing.”
Built in 1937, the downtown armory has been closed since 2018. The new plans call for demolishing the structure, replacing it with mostly green space, and converting the area to what’s called a Third Space — an informal public gathering spot to promote social and community connection.
The city’s “Scope of Work” agreement with HDR, Inc. can be viewed at: https://cityofbrookings.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=16120429&GUID=8902E253-CAC0-4980-B2EB-DB69A73620FC
— Brookings Radio News
