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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 19, 2005 Lithia workers set sights on SOHS downtown digs By GREG STILES Mail Tribune Lithia Motors’ ever-growing presence downtown has extended into one of Medford’s best-known landmarks. The auto retailer has signed a three-year lease, with four one-year options, to occupy about three-quarters of the 29,500-square-foot Southern Oregon Historical Society’s History Center at Sixth Street and Central Avenue. Terms of the lease were not released. The former JC Penney Co. building, owned and operated by SOHS since 1989, has been on the market for $2.1 million since last year. But Executive Director John Enders said no firm offers have been submitted. Bryan DeBoer, Lithia’s executive vice president of operations, mergers and acquisitions, said Thursday the building will initially house 50 accounting and operations workers with the ranks projected to swell to 150 within three years. Advertisement DeBoer said the building will become particularly useful to the company if it decides to build its new corporate headquarters downtown. "We may need a release valve if we end up going forward with the downtown alternative," DeBoer said. "We may have to take down buildings and it would end up giving us breathing room." Lithia operates 88 auto stores in 12 western states and posted 2004 revenue of $2.746 billion. It currently has about 240 employees working in its corporate offices and expects that number to grow to 400 before 2008. By DeBoer’s count, the JC Penney building marks the 11th downtown location housing Lithia’s corporate staff. Lithia hopes to occupy the building by early November, following a roughly $200,000 makeover. Lithia will build a separate front entrance, add lighting and rewire the building for its high-tech uses. The deal is certain to help cash-strapped SOHS, which has seen its staff plunge from nearly 50 five years ago to about 20, according to Enders. "This enables us to provide services without laying off staff," Enders said. "We’ve been drastically affected by county budget cuts. We hope this gives us some stability. We want to use the money to create a rainy-day fund. "We don’t know what’s going to happen in 2007," Enders added, referring to possible cuts in federal timber receipts to counties. "But we’re planning for a more lean future." While the SOHS administrative offices have moved to Jacksonville, the society’s research library as well as graphics and collections departments will remain downtown. The organization intends to maintain a Medford presence, preferably within the old Carnegie building. The city of Medford has yet to determine a use for the former library. "I think this is a great thing for the historical society and a good deal for Lithia," Enders said. "It works for everybody." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail Lithia workers set sights on SOHS downtown digs ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztechmedia Website Hosting Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Advertisement s