The Cottage Grove Armory is getting updated, destined to be a community meeting place

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. - Residents in Cottage Grove are no doubt noticing plenty of changes to the outside and inside of a community icon.

It's a new look for the old Oregon National Guard Armory Building.

It was in 2009 that the Oregon National Guard offices moved to Springfield, and the city of Cottage Grove grabbed the keys to the 1931 "art-deco" design building.

The vision for a community center is taking shape, and for city manager Richard Meyers, it can't happen soon enough.

Patience is the word for supporters of the restoration of the army national guard building. The vision is to clean, repair and drill this landmark into a grand meeting place for the community.

But don't call it a community center.

“It should always be called the armory, is the intent,” said Meyers. “But it will be a community space for meetings, events, activities, the model railroad show, the quilt show.”

Volunteers with the quilt show are busy setting up for the weekend, while around the corner, new women's restrooms are being constructed.

Meyers says the work is being done through community fund raising and grants the city can attract.

“I mean it looks great,” said Meyers. “It's just wonderful to have an old building like this that has character and has history.”

The latest grant is$125,000 from the Ford Family Foundation, to help pay for the new exterior work.

“Been 80 years, or 90 years now in getting to this point, but we're finally seeing some big improvements that I think will make it a lot more usable.”

A community vision, that Meyers says has been well worth all the hard work.

Meyers says there's no way to estimate the final cost of the armory restoration, but we can tell you all the exterior work is valued at $857,000. City councilors recently approved a one million dollar bond to help finance more work.