Mapleton is a small timber town on the banks of the Siuslaw River which has long relied on its schools, the town’s only public buildings built when the timber industry was stronger and the community was larger. The buildings reflect their age with tired exteriors, poor support for technology, and failing plumbing. Mapleton’s last bond was long retired so the effort for a bond measure represented a new tax on the residents of the financially-challenged community. PIVOT Architecture led the effort toward a successful bond measure which passed by a significant margin in May 2016.
The election was the culmination of a three-month study which started with an assessment of the district’s facilities, noting both shortcomings and opportunities for improvements. Priorities were set and, in a series of PIVOT-facilitated public meetings, options were presented and the importance of each explained.
