Extension Granted for Hotel Build
Matt Braun of Braun Hospitality says the Quince street hotel project by Wyndham is down to its last bureaucratic stamp. He told members of the Florence urban renewal agency last night that the process has been muddled with a lot of paperwork including what he called a massive 115 count punch list that took weeks to sift through. Most of the list involving financial aspects of the potential build. He did confirm to the agency that they have raised the full capital to move forward with the build. Those monies are approximately 25% of the total funding package that the banks required to be able to provide the loans on the remaining costs. Braun said that is where the bad news comes in he says the bank needs to wait another 4 weeks to insure the money is “seasoned” money and not money that will disappear once the loan is in place. After presenting his information to the agency, FURA heard from President and CEO of Hoagland properties Ron Moore who posed the question that perhaps it was time to move on to other options.
“Have we worked too long in an exclusive arrangement without reexamining our possibility in a better marketplace. Are other parties now available for consideration that were not five years ago during the pandemic?”
The FURA board then went into executive session to further discuss the matter and ask question of Matt Braun. Upon reconvening the board entertained a motion to extend the closing or termination date and moving it by unanimous decision to the 31st of October. City manager Erin Reynolds promised to keep the board in the loop in the coming days and weeks.
Museum Targeted
The Oregon Coast Military Museum was the target of some vandalism over the weekend. Someone hung a sheet painted with the words They Rape Kids Here. Chief Pitcher with the Florence Police department said the vandalism was not reported to the police and according to a former member of the museum board the sign was removed. The sign reflects the anger of some in the community that enough was not done in a timely matter to properly address the situation including the decision to keep the accused director on during a paid leave. The matter is even more convoluted with both the father of the accused and the mother of the victim on the board of directors. Geoffrey Cannon was arrested at the museum on July 10. He is currently out on bail awaiting the completion of the investigation by law enforcement.
OPRD Seeking Volunteers
Oregon Parks and Recreation is seeking two volunteers to serve on the ATV Advisory Committee and ATV Grant Subcommittee beginning January 1st, 2026. The four-year terms include one seat for a Class II representative, covering four-wheel drives and sand rails, and another for Class III, representing dirt bikes. The seventeen-member ATV Committee meets once or twice a year to review safety standards, accidents, and vehicle classifications. The Grant Subcommittee meets up to four times annually to review and recommend funding for projects that support ATV recreation statewide, including operations, law enforcement, and trail development.