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Shopping center focus of new interchange questions By MELISSA MARTIN Mail Tribune The agency that helped develop South Gateway Center is asking the state how the new Interstate 5 interchange will financially impact the shopping center. Will the state's new road alignment cut in half property earmarked for another destination store such as Fred Meyer, Medford Urban Renewal Agency officials want to know. Highland, Ellendale decision could come Dec. 17 The South Medford Interchange Solution Team may choose between Highland and Ellendale alignments when members meet Dec. 17. The solution team, along with the Citizens Advisory Committee, will meet at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 17 in the Red Lion, 200 N. Riverside, Medford. The meeting is open to the public, but testimony will not be accepted. People have until 5 p.m. Monday to get their comments to Oregon Department of Transportation in Salem. For information, call 774-8184. Local members of the 15-person solution team are: Frank Stevens, ODOT, White City; Joe Strahl, Jackson County planning and roads; Alex Georgevitch, city of Medford public works; Mark Gallagher, city of Medford senior planner; Robin Marshall, Automobile Association of America; Jim Oldland of Oldland Trucking, representing the Oregon Trucking Association; Jacksonville businessman Reeve Hennion; Medford consultant Mark McQueen; Mike Burrill of Burrill Real Estate; Skip Knight, Medford city councilman; Dan Moore, Rogue Valley Council of Governments; and Scott Chancey, Rogue Valley Transportation District. The team also includes Salem members Nick Fortey of the Federal Highway Administration, Greg Holthoff, ODOT environmental and Brian Dunn, ODOT planning. The Citizens Advisory Committee includes local residents Tim Alford, James Buckley, Patty Claeys, Jon Deason, John Forris, Jani Hale, Teresa Hogan, Mike Mahar, Jean Milgram, Mike Montero, Jane Podolski and Wade Six. "If the large parcels are eliminated as a result of a road realignment, it will eliminate the potential for tenants," said Don Burt, urban renewal director. South Gateway was designed to have three "destination-oriented tenants," large stores that pull in customers for the benefit of surrounding, smaller stores, Burt said. "We will no longer be able to have the shopping center we planned for if we lose that property," he said. Oregon Department of Transportation leaders met with urban renewal officials several times over the past year and will continue to listen to and research the concerns, said Frank Stevens, south interchange project manager. The Highland Road alignment alternative would go through the southern portion of South Gateway Center, while the Ellendale Drive option would have less impact, Stevens said. "With either alternative, we would work with property owners to minimize impacts as best we can without harming the project," Stevens said. "We placed the interchange in a position where we can get it to fit the highway design standards and meet safety and efficiency standards." Medford Urban Renewal plans to contribute $5 million of the $15 million the city of Medford promised the state for the $50 million new interchange. Developers will also contribute - about $10,000 for a 12,000-square-foot building - with a system development charge for projects citywide to fund the interchange. The rest of the $50 million project will be paid for with $2 million in federal funds, $14 million from Oregon Transportation and Investment Act funds and $22 million from ODOT. MURA's financial contribution to the project is dependent on how much commercial growth takes place in the shopping center, Burt said. An urban renewal district is funded through tax increment financing, in which 20 years' worth of increases in assessed value are collected for projects that benefit the district. "The question will be, how quickly will retail tenants purchase and build on the property?" Burt said. Traffic problems have been one of the hindrances to South Gateway Center's development, along with competition from Crater Lake Plaza, the Costco/Wal-Mart stretch on Highway 62, he said. Whether South Gateway can generate $5 million to put into the interchange pot is still unknown, he said. Urban renewal's comments will be included in ODOT's revised environmental impact statement. "This is a draft document," Stevens said. "The reason it goes out is to get these kinds of comments, so we don't miss anything." Reach reporter Melissa Martin at 776-4497, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.