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Downtown landlord sues urban renewal agency board Ferguson says the Winetrout project doesn't fit with Medford's revitalization plan and is luring his tenants away By MELISSA MARTIN Mail Tribune Downtown landlord Bill Ferguson is suing the urban renewal agency board for its efforts in bringing a big-city-style building to downtown Medford. The Winetrout project doesn't fall within Medford Urban Renewal's revitalization plans outlined when the agency was created in 1988, the lawsuit alleges. While Winetrout is not mentioned by name in the 14-year-old "City Center Revitalization Plan," it falls under the agency's goals and guidelines, said urban renewal agency director Don Burt. "Our position is the project and other projects like this are consistent with the plan," Burt said. "The agency can be involved with the private sector." The Winetrout project will be Medford's first building to combine offices, shops, condominiums and a parking garage. The developer will spend $2 million and finance $10.3 million, while Medford Urban Renewal Agency will contribute $9.8 million for the parking structure, street work and landscape, Burt said. The six-story building will have 455 parking spaces - 100 of them for free parking, 340 leased/reserved spaces and 16 leased by the condominium owners. Not wanting to be bullied by legal threats, board members voted 5-0 Tuesday night to move forward with the $22 million project. They renewed the Participation Agreement with developer Greg Bessert of KCS Development in Battle Ground, Wash. Board members also agreed to sign the final contract, or disposition and development agreement, March 12. "The board continues to endorse the plan we have before us," said chairman Greg Yechout. "We have every intention of moving forward on this project." The lawsuit filed Feb. 21 in Jackson County Circuit Court names Burt and Yechout, along with the other board members - Rachel Chartier, Bill Dames, Sue Densmore, Dick Entinger, Skip Knight, John Michaels, Skip Patterson and Gary Wheeler. The proposed project is luring away tenants from six downtown buildings that Ferguson owns, including one across the street from Winetrout, the landlord told the board last month. Ferguson filed a lawsuit two years ago when Phoenix High School ousted his son as student body president for possessing marijuana on school property. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Phoenix School District. Despite learning about the lawsuit, the Winetrout developer said Tuesday he remains enthusiastic about the project. "We're still on schedule," Bessert said. "Things are going well." Also during Tuesday's meeting, the urban renewal board approved a low bid of $78,588 to Harold's Backhoe Service to relocate and upgrade a sewer line that runs across the Winetrout property. Part of the work will require a contract with Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad to allow boring beneath the tracks, said Eric Iversen, senior planner for the urban renewal agency. Harold's Backhoe Service of Medford also had the low bid to upgrade a Ninth Street water line from four to eight inches to better accommodate a new downtown library. The proposed Central Avenue library will have sprinkler systems that will require more water and a larger supply line. 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.