First, we would like to acknowledge that Talent Maker City and the City of Talent are located on the ancestral homelands of the Shasta and Takelma peoples who lived here for millennia. Between 1851 and 1856 they were forcefully displaced. Today, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians identify their members as living descendants of the Takelma and Shasta peoples of this area.
We acknowledge this not only in thanks to the Indigenous communities who have held an intimate relationship with this land for generations but also in recognition of our “purchase” of this land on which to build. We recognize this land as borrowed and are honored to have the opportunity to create a space with the community where everyone is welcome and belongs. We honor and thank this land in perpetuity and hope to host a land honoring ceremony this fall.
“We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”
~ Oprah Winfrey
Last week, TMC signed the papers finalizing the purchase of property in downtown Talent! The lot at 100-109 Talent Ave (next to the Malmgren Garage) will be the new and permanent home for a new Talent Maker City building. We are beyond excited and so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to better support the community with hands-on creativity and STEAM-based learning for all.
TMC’s new property in downtown Talent.
Our iconic neighbor, the Malmgren Garage.
Background
In 2021, American Rescue Plan Act Funding was passed through the state legislature for specialized projects in communities throughout Oregon. TMC is the grateful recipient of a $1.8 million grant as directed by Representative Pam Marsh due to our community response services and programs. The funding is to go directly toward purchasing property and building a permanent community maker space to better serve the community with our educational programming, adult workshops, small business support, community events, and response services.
Over the past year, we’ve been looking at properties throughout downtown Talent to find the right home for TMC. We heard that the owner of the historic Talent Auto Court property (next to the Malmgren Garage) was interested in selling. We started conversations, put in an offer, and closed on the property on July 8th.
For the past 7 months, we’ve been working with the Ausland Group to draft conceptual designs and submit a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Application to the City of Talent. TMC staff and Ausland architects came up with initial designs and the application was submitted on June 10th. On June 28th, the Planning Commission approved the CUP and the architectural review. Thank you to all the wonderful community members who spoke up in support of our project!
Conceptual designs for new community maker space.
Conceptual floor plan designs for new community maker space.
What’s Next?
A community maker space is nothing without direct input from the community. We want to know what it is you’re interested in seeing in this new space. What do you want to make there? What do you think the City of Talent needs for an inclusive community space? What creative ideas do you have to make this space unique to Talent and its people? TMC has created a Community Input Survey to collect your thoughts, ideas, feedback, and input. We want to hear from YOU! It is our goal to incorporate the community’s input into the design and physical creation of this space.
Over the next month, we will be working with our Board to approve the next phase of this exciting project. We will be working with architects and contractors to design the new space. We’ll be applying for building permits with the City while continuing to gather community input to build the best community maker space that we can. We aim to break ground in early 2023 and will eagerly watch as a permanent community maker space is built as a cornerstone for downtown Talent. We can’t wait to see what comes of the new space, what creative ideas you will help implement, and how we will be able to better serve the community.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates on our building project and ways that you can get involved.
You + Make + Talent!
