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DNS FOG Temp: 34 °F Wind: N at 4 mph Sunday, December 8, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 17, 2002 Rogue Community College students can find their way to parked cars thanks to MURA-funded stylized street lights illuminating Medford's Central Avenue. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell A report card on Medford’s URBAN RENEWAL The Medford Urban Renewal Agency counters complaints about its progress during the past 14 years By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Some Medford City Council members say that after 14 years and $25 million dollars, the Medford Urban Renewal Agency should have more to show for its efforts. "I’m not pleased with MURA," said Councilman Jim Key. Key said he’s "disappointed" with the small number of completed projects and with the agency’s regularly changing focus. "MURA to me is a moving target," he said. But MURA’s director and board members defend the agency and say council members need to look back at what downtown once was and also to have the long view of what it could become. Bill Dames, president of the MURA board, said that the agency’s work has been a catalyst for change. "I think we’ve been an active agent for renovating public areas such as parking areas, sidewalks, streets and alleys," he said. "And we have been a stimulus and encourager for private investment on private properties." Key said his concerns include the disappearance of some projects from the original urban renewal plan. "They were going to put street connectivity from Main Street bridge over to Sixth, and they were going to make Front one-way and Central two-way," he said. "That’s all gone aside." Key also expressed concern with the time frame for projects such as the pedestrian bridge over Bear Creek at 10th Street. "The footbridge is going to get built, but that was supposed to be done two years ago," said Key. And, he said, there’s still a long way to go on a fundamental issue. "The parking problem is no better," he said. Councilman Sal Esquivel said he agrees that there should be more projects completed by now, and would like to see deadlines set. "What needs to be done is maybe set down benchmarks," he said. "Looking as a citizen, I’m just thinking for 14 years here, what have we done?" said Esquivel. Councilman John Michaels, who is also on the MURA board of directors, said he has "mixed feelings" about the agency’s accomplishments. He said too much effort goes into trying to please downtown business owners. "We can’t let business concerns dictate everything downtown," he said. "We have to get residents’ input." MURA Director Don Burt said the projects planned have been changed only after careful studies and public meetings. He said projects such as making Front Street one-way and Central Avenue two-way "didn’t make any sense from a traffic standpoint." He added that Medford residents said changing traffic direction was too disruptive and too expensive. "The council’s political, so they have a different agenda," said Burt. "The board is economical." He said the 19 projects from the original plan are guidelines but it’s important to consider the future needs of a vibrant downtown. "If you just do those 19 projects, you won’t have anything. You’ll have cute sidewalks," said Burt. Burt said that everything the agency has worked on, such as the Craterian Theater and Vogel Plaza, have been in partnerships with businesses or organizations, and that takes time. But, he said, there also have been many projects that have changed the appearance of the downtown core. "Look at the fa�ade renovations we’ve accomplished," he said. "We helped promote that in conjunction with property owners." He said that the 25 buildings that have taken part in the fa�ade renovation project is an example of MURA being involved and working with property owners, even if MURA isn’t the funding source. He said grant programs and lending agencies are more likely to get on board when they know that the property owner is working in conjunction with urban renewal. Burt said parking availability has improved dramatically. "I think we’ve added about 500 (spaces)," he said. "And we’re managing the others much more efficiently than we have in the past." He said council members are responding to a few complaints they’ve heard. "The council doesn’t hear from people who say, ‘Thank you, the parking’s better,’ " said Burt. He said he’s been aware of the criticism and has heard a lot of grumbling about the agency from the city. "We feel like we’re the Cinderella of City Hall," he said. Burt said the pace of change downtown will pick up because the bulk of the urban renewal money is just starting to roll in. "From a financial standpoint, we’re only about a third of the way through," said Burt. In its first fiscal year, 1989-90, the urban renewal agency collected a tax increment revenue of $124,819. As building values within the urban renewal district increase with improvements, revenues to the district also increase. In 1994-95, the agency collected $1.5 million and in 2001-02, it collected $3.7 million. Dames said that the agency is on target after 14 years. "I think we’re right in line," he said. "Most of your money’s going to come toward the end of the plan." Coming projects include the "streetscape" for the library’s main branch on Central Avenue, a parking structure at Eighth and Fir streets and the creation of Evergreen Way, a new tree-lined roadway from Fourth Street to 10th Street, between Fir and Front streets. Burt said MURA’s goal continues to be getting more housing and businesses in the downtown core. "We could probably build 50 (apartment and condominium) units downtown," said Burt. "There is a demand, and there is nobody to provide the product." He said that the agency, which cannot build new buildings but can work with developers, needs private investment to step forward. "There is a demand, and there is nobody to provide the product," he said. "For the downtown to prosper, you have to see some new development." Urban Renewal’s plans to build a six-story, mixed-use building with a parking garage at Main and Fir streets were under way when Bill Ferguson, who owns several downtown office buildings, filed suit in February. The litigation led to missed deadlines, and the project was abandoned. Burt said the agency would like to engage in mixed-use projects, and needs to hear from interested developers. Dames said he’s optimistic that the agency and developers will make that connection. "I think that private developers are starting to get an understanding that if they work with the agency they can leverage their dollars and come out ahead," he said. Susan Enfield, owner of Exclusive Accents Gallery on Main Street, said MURA’s work is exciting. "I think they are doing a stellar job," she said. "We’re so far ahead of where we were nine years ago." She said she doesn’t agree with MURA’s critics. "It’s all helping, and no downtown changes overnight," she said. "We have to be patient." She said she’s noticed an increase in the number of visitors to downtown. "As a retailer who hopes to be here for the long haul, I see more people, and I get a lot of positive feedback," she said. Key said that he knows people applaud the improvements downtown, but thinks the agency is not doing all it could. "I’m not one of their flag-wavers," said Key. For more information about the Medford Urban Renewal Agency, visit www.downtownmedford.com on the Web. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Tax increment financing pays for improvements This is how MURA’s tax increment financing works: Other taxing districts within MURA’s boundaries get only as much tax revenue as was assessed at MURA’s inception 14 years ago. For 25 years as properties within MURA’s boundaries increase in assessed value, MURA takes the difference in taxes paid. The tax districts affected are Jackson County, Rogue Valley Transit District, Rogue Community College, Vector Control, Jackson County Educational Services District and Medford School District 549C. Here’s how much MURA has received each year: 1989-90 — $124,810 1990-91 — $149,279 1991-92 — $328,785 1992-93 — $554,111 1993-94 — $930,815 1994-95 — $1,472,853 1995-96 — $1,779,111 1996-97 — $2,286,824 1997-98 — $2,488,204 1998-99 — $2,803,196 1999-00 — $2,930,057 2000-01 — $3,348,006 2001-02 — $3,716,099 Total: $22,912,159 MURA also has received about $2 million from state and federal grants, bond sales, and interest on investments. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S