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HOMELESSNESS Medford City Council hears objections to tiny house village for homeless Council hears from proponents and opponents of the plan Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Apr. 7, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Apr 8, 2016 at 3:02 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Apr. 7, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Apr 8, 2016 at 3:02 PM » Social News Medford City Council members raised questions of their own Thursday about plans for a tiny house community for the homeless, several hours after hearing a variety of objections to the idea from businesses in the vicinity of the proposed site. In its Thursday evening session, the council also heard from proponents of establishing the community on a one-third acre lot at Front and Third streets, a few blocks north of downtown. Rich Hansen of St. Vincent de Paul described the site as ideal for the transitional living opportunity because of its close proximity to Medford Center, the Medford Gospel Mission and St. Vincent de Paul community meals, along with access to buses and a ready supply of power, water and sewage. Hansen said tenants abide by rules set by the community, such as no fighting, stealing or obnoxious behavior. All visitors must be accompanied by a resident, and no drugs or alcohol are allowed on the premises. Hansen said they plan to install privacy slats in the chain link fence already on the property. "We think we might improve the neighborhood — not drag it down," Hansen said. But in the council’s noon meeting Thursday, representatives of several downtown businesses and the nonprofit Randall Theatre spoke out against the proposal to place at least a dozen miniature homes on the city-owned lot across from the theater. The council made no decision on the idea at either of its Thursday meetings. Jack Schmidt, owner of Precision Electric near the site, said he has tried to acquire the lot from the city for years. He said businesses are trying to improve the downtown area, which has been the recipient of urban renewal funding for beautification. He said the area is already inundated with homeless people, some of whom he respects but some of whom he fears. "We have syringes on the sidewalks, break-ins in the trucks and people sleeping in the bushes," Schmidt said. Adding the tiny houses, a mobile kitchen, mobile laundry, mobile restroom and garbage Dumpster would be too much for the lot and area to handle, he said. Randall Theatre board member John Wing said the theater already has received phone calls, emails and in-person messages from some patrons saying they would no longer attend plays if a homeless village is nearby. Even a small loss of ticket sales could force the theater, which is housed in a former warehouse, to shut down. "We pay for the next show with the current show," he said. "We would be in a hole really quickly if we had shows that didn't sell." Wing urged supporters of Hope Village to look for an alternate location. Heritage Motors owner Steve Curry said customers will not feel safe if transients are loitering nearby. "It's a dangerous solution," he said. Curry said sales at the car dealership picked up enough after the recession that he was able to hire an employee who had survived cancer and whose wife had lost her job. He said lost sales could force layoffs at his business. But Kim Clark, a case manager with Home At Last, said she had cancer herself, had 10 surgeries, lost everything and became homeless. Eventually she was able to go back to school and earn a degree in human services and now wants to help others. Clark said homelessness can happen to anybody. She urged support for Hope Village. "Everybody wants to help the homeless but nobody wants it by them," she said. Pallet Wine Co. owner Linda Donovan said she bought a downtown warehouse and invested heavily to renovate and beautify the building. The business makes wine and she has plans to open a wine tasting room and sell to the public. Donovan said having a homeless village nearby would undermine all the work she has put into her business. In the council’s evening session, council members had their own questions for Hansen and Heather Everett of the Jackson County Homeless Task Force. Councilor Michael Zarosinski said the proposal seems well-suited for a certain type of homeless person, but expressed concern that it could draw in residents who don't meet the guidelines. "If you get the wrong one, it could be a disaster," Zarosinski said. Councilor Chris Corcoran asked what would happen if a resident showed up obviously inebriated. "Different things can happen," Hansen answered, saying if a resident goes into his house to sleep it off or doesn't disrupt residents, that could be allowed. Everett said drug testing is a barrier to housing for the residents they're trying to target. "The rule is no illegal drugs on site," Everett said. Zarosinski criticized what he saw as "fluid" guidelines for residents. "You might be able to throw individuals out, but the city can't," Zarosinski said. Because much of the proposal used Eugene's Opportunity Village as a template, Mayor Gary Wheeler asked to see Opportunity Village's lease agreement for a better understanding of how permitting and leasing was handled. "We need to know what direction we're headed," Wheeler said. "I think there's a little discomfort because we're forging ahead without some important things. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Reach Nick Morgan at [email protected]. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Apr. 7, 2016 at 2:00 AM Updated Apr 8, 2016 at 3:02 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. 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