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For 2 tenants, renewal has its downside Bob Pennell photo Danny Dalton was surprised and upset to learn this week that Medford Urban Renewal Agency wants to demolish the West Main building where he just opened his new antiques business. They'd just moved in: now they have to get out BY BILL VARBLE Danny Dalton was mad. Judy Lacey was understanding. Scott Henselman was conciliatory. Urban Renewal was in a hurry. It all started April 1 when Dalton moved his collectibles business into new digs in downtown Medford. He said Henselman, acting as the rental agent for the property, told him he could probably stay six months to a year. But his business, West Main Antiques and Collectibles, had been operating just two weeks when he got a phone call from Henselman telling him he'd have to be out by July 1. That was Thursday. The problem is a potential $14 million deal that looks like it's on a fast track. The deal includes demolishing the building where he just opened up. "I'm more than mad," Dalton said Friday morning. "I've been here two weeks. I worked for two weeks before that cleaning the place up. You can't tell me they didn't know." Henselman says in fact nobody knew just a short time ago how fast events would move. "I was less than thrilled," said Judy Lacey, who leased the unit next to Dalton at North Fir and West Main streets in downtown Medford. "I have two 45-foot trucks full of antiques from England coming." Lacey needed the storage space for her store, Memory Antiques, a block to the west. By Friday afternoon, ruffled feathers appeared to be unruffling. Henselman had found another space for Lacey to rent. He said he had a line on one for Dalton and could have an answer on it as soon as Monday. And he told Dalton he would refund his rent and a deposit, a total of $1,000. Dalton and Lacey each leased space last month in the east end of the old C.A. Weintrout building on the southwest corner of Main and Fir, a space most recently occupied by a now-defunct furniture store. The Medford Urban Renewal Agency, which bought the property for $550,000 last year, said Thursday it plans to tear down the circa-1946 building and clear the way for a new multi-story building featuring retail shops, offices, apartments and a large parking garage. Prospective tenants have said they need to move fast or they'll pull out. And that's how Dalton and Lacey found themselves smack in the path of a very big deal. Dalton acknowledged signing a month-to-month lease but says he understood he'd probably be able to stay longer. "There's no way I'd have rented this otherwise," he said. Lacey's new storage space will be at 130 and 132 S. Central Avenue in Medford. That property, also owned by Urban Renewal, is now occupied by Friends of the Library. Henselman said Lacey would be guaranteed at least six months of tenancy in her new space and 60 days notice of any change. "I believe that every problem is an opportunity," Henselman said. Lacey, who earlier said she knew Henselman was trying, said she felt OK about the deal. "It's not as close to the store, but I think it'll work out fine," she said. Dalton was less sanguine. "I'm still ticked off," he said. "Another location probably won't be this good. And what about all my work? He (Henselman) is making an effort. And getting the refund is a help. But I'm still bummed." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA