The Evergreen parking structure will open Thursday, giving drivers access to 390 spaces — including top-level views looking out over downtown rooftops.

Medford shoppers and Rogue Community College students have bemoaned the lack of downtown parking spots for years.

"I can only imagine any kind of parking down here will help," said Hannelore Rippel, owner of the Cotton Club clothing store on East Main Street. Customers frequently remark on the difficulty of finding a parking space. "Parking is definitely needed — there is no question in my mind," she said.

The $10.2 million, five-story Evergreen parking structure, a Medford Urban Renewal Agency project, is scheduled to open after a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting and tour.

The start of construction of condominiums surrounding the structure is still weeks away.

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The Bella Vita development will consist of 57 residential units, 55,000 square feet of office space and 19,000 square feet of commercial space. Construction is scheduled to begin in January of the first phase, fronting Eighth Street, which will include 22 condominiums with retail space on the street level. The entire three-building Bella Vita complex, owned by Cook Development of Portland, could be completed as soon as Christmas 2007.

Vic Nicolescu, project agent, said bids are in from builders, and once a selection is made Bella Vita will get under way.

"We hope to be able to break ground next month," he said.

Access to the new parking structure from Main or Eighth streets can be gained from Evergreen Way, a narrow, two-way street.

"It’s supposed to be tight to keep the traffic slow," said Don Burt, project manager and former MURA director.

There will be two points of entering and exiting, said Burt, and the structure has some special features.

Each floor, except the roof, has carbon monoxide monitors.

"There’s a system in here that when the CO gets to a certain level it kicks on the fans," said Burt.

The structure also has an extensive sump-pump and drainage system to keep water from pooling on the ground level.

Originally there were plans of making the top floor an eco-roof, with landscaping that would help absorb storm water and would provide a pleasant view for condominium dwellers on the upper floors of Bella Vita. But the eco-roof didn’t pan out.

"It got too expensive," said Burt.

The structure features two sets of stairs and two elevators for public use. The basement parking level, which will eventually be reserved for Bella Vita residents, will have three private elevators.

There will be free three-hour parking, $2 pay-and-display for all-day parking and some leased spaces.

Jackie Rodgers, acting MURA director, said there will not be spaces specifically reserved for students, but MURA is negotiating a student pass with RCC.

Though the parking structure rises above many downtown buildings now, it won’t be the dominant skyline structure for long. Bella Vita will surpass it.

"It’ll be three stories taller," said Burt.

This is the second parking garage MURA has built. The first one, located on Sixth Street and Riverside Avenue, opened in July 1998.

It was built at a cost of $4.2 million, includes 382 spaces and consists of 350 tons of steel and 12,000 tons of concrete.

Evergreen parking structure