Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 14, 2006 Delaying the sunset MURA hopes to extend its jurisdiction to fund downtown project By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Downtown’s revitalization agency is looking for a new lease on life. The Medford Urban Renewal Agency will consider a 12-year extension of its jurisdiction today in order to fund a substantial downtown project. MURA and Lithia Motors have been outlining plans to build a $147 million, seven-block development called Middleford Commons, with Lithia’s new headquarters as its anchor. The plan calls for two 10-story buildings, a six-story residential building with first-floor retail and underground parking and park space where Lithia automobile dealerships are now located. But the agency’s not asking for an increase in its amount of indebtedness. "If we do vote to extend the life of MURA it will not be to obtain more tax dollars," said Jason Anderson, Medford City Councilman and liaison to the agency board. Advertisement "We would be asking for more years in order to obtain time," he said, explaining the agency would need more than its remaining seven years to pay back bonds for the project. John Huttl, city attorney, said the urban renewal board’s proposal will be sent to the affected districts and the Medford Planning Commission. Those agencies will give feedback to the Medford City Council, which would have final say on the plan following a future public hearing. Lithia Motors, based in Medford and one of the nation’s largest dealership chains, is planning to relocate all of its local dealerships and potentially its corporate headquarters to 113 acres it owns on Highway 62 near the airport. Building its headquarters at the airport site would be $25.6 million cheaper than the $62.6 million downtown option, so Medford and MURA are seeking grants and funding options to help bridge the difference. The taxing district is scheduled to dissolve in 2013, but the extension would take it to 2025 to enable the agency to pay back bonding for the project. The agency’s tax-increment financing — which amounted to $3.9 million in the 2004-05 budget — would go back into city, county, Rogue Valley Transportation District and other taxing entities once the agency is gone. "There has been some public concern about taking money away from schools," said Anderson. "Whether MURA is extended or not will not affect schools." Lithia is giving MURA and the city until August to piece together funding options. The MURA board will also put out a request for proposals for an urban design consultant for the project today. MURA recently received a $70,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to help with the planning of Middleford Commons. The grant would help fund a consultant team to plan park blocks, parking, utilities, transportation and work-force housing, among other components. Proposals are due April 5, and the MURA board will probably consider the proposals on April 11, said Eric Iversen, the agency’s senior planner. Consultants have to be ready to design because the clock is ticking. "We’re proposing about a two-month process," he said. IFYOUGO: WHAT: Public hearing on extending the life of the Medford Urban Renewal Agency (MURA). WHEN: 7 p.m. today. WHERE: Council Chambers, City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St., Medford. CONTACT: MURA, 774-2700. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail Delaying the sunset ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Absinthe Supply Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Debt Consolidation California Casinos Generic Viagra Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada King of Spirits Advertisement s Advertisement