personal interests community city of yachats mayor administration achievements yachats commons
One of the administration's achievements involved the saving of the Yachats Elementary School property and creating the Yachats Commons.
When rumors spread that the Lincoln County School District was going to sell the old Yachats School on the open market, the Mayor and the Council acted quickly to assure that the communities concerns would be addressed.
Extensive research was done including old deeds and historical documents that established that in 1927 the original land for the school had been donated to the community and was to be used for educational activities.
A committee made up of Mayor Chamberlin, Councilman Roberts, and Planning Commission member Dick Reynolds, then negotiated with the Lincoln County School District for a fair purchase price based, mainly, on the cost of building and site improvements alone.
The Council conducted public hearings and then submitted the purchase details to the public for an advisory vote on June 26, 1990.
Although certain elements of the community claimed the majority of the city opposed the purchase, the voters backed the Council with an unprecedented 67.6% vote of approval.
The old school house has seen a new life as the Yachats Commons which includes City Hall offices, community meeting rooms, classrooms, a small gymnasium and concert hall, children and adult playgrounds, and a wetlands park.
The Yachats Commons, besides housing city offices, is home to numerous learning and recreational groups, the Saturday Market, the annual Yachats Celtic Festival, and variety of concerts and community celebrations including a high school prom.
Yachats City Council
Mayor David H Chamberlin Jr
Councilor Russ Barney
Councilor Burd Bixler
Councilor Nancy Reynolds
Councilor Arthur Roberts
unless otherwise noted all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
Lions Club Picnic Shelter, Yachats Commons, Yachats, Oregon, USA, 2008.
The Yachats Lions Club wanted to donate a picnic shelter for the Yachats Commons.
Brian Hana drew up a rendering and architect David Chamberlin drew up construction and permit drawings pro bono.
LINK TO WEBPAGE ON THIS PROJECT
NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
News clipping from The Oregonian includes discussion of the Yachats Commons proposals, June 11, 1990.
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised november 2020