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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency Services, Oct. 1 ... Our View: School district facility fees should be reasonable ... Jordan Cove LNG opponents vow to take fight to governor's office ... Emergency Services, Oct. 1 ... Our View: School district facility fees should be reasonable ... Jordan Cove LNG opponents vow to take fight to governor's office ... Talent's urban renewal director will retire later this year Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 29, 2015 at 2:32 PM Updated Apr 30, 2015 at 5:47 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 29, 2015 at 2:32 PM Updated Apr 30, 2015 at 5:47 PM » Social News TALENT — Marla Cates pushed her baby carriage on dirt paths and dodged broken concrete sidewalk chunks when she headed downtown on Main Street in the early 1990s. Now the same route features wide sidewalks and mature landscaping. Cates, who has announced she will retire in the fall as the town’s Urban Renewal Agency executive director after 13 years, oversaw the $1 million Main Street upgrade, her first undertaking. She’s handled another $11 million in projects that have upgraded downtown. “Under her leadership, TURA made legacy improvements to Talent by building City Hall and beautifying downtown,” said Mayor Darby Stricker. “She has done an amazing job for us.” Cate's departure will coincide with conclusion of the agency’s last large scheduled project, completion of the $3.9 million Main Street-West Valley View Road connection that includes a roundabout. Other major undertakings since 2002 include the $3.6 million civic center that houses City Hall, the commons area and library parking; Front Street reconstruction at $671,000; aid to Highway 99 upgrades at $640,000; and North Talent Avenue reconstruction at $589,000. An additional $927,000 was spent to acquire property. “I think that Talent is a shining example of what a small community can do with urban renewal,” said Sherman Lamb, chairman of the agency's board of directors. “This is really thanks to Marla’s insight, imagination and industriousness.” Cates also was instrumental in the relocation of Camelot Theatre to allow the West Valley View-Main Street link. On a smaller scale, there were rehabilitation grants for businesses, park landscaping and parking lots. Cates is proud that most projects involved upgrading or building sidewalks. “We have a lot of people who are walkers in Talent,” said Cates. “We went to great pains to come up with a landscape plan (for Main Street) that I think people really love. It’s nice to see it now all grown to maturity.” Cates plans to spend six months traveling, relaxing and spending time with loved ones before she considers her next career step. In 2008, the Talent City Council directed the agency to prepare to shut down at the end of 2016. Cates has planned for that scenario, but the council and the agency’s board will look at a second phase of the Main-Valley View project, linking Wagner Street to the roundabout, which could change the timeline. Tony Boom is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach him at [email protected] . By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 29, 2015 at 2:32 PM Updated Apr 30, 2015 at 5:47 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501