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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 7, 2006 MURA, Lithia weigh downtown options Medford may consider a tax district extension By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Officials overseeing Medford’s downtown taxing district say they may propose a 12-year extension to help fund an ambitious revitalization project with Lithia Motors headquarters as the anchor. Lithia has offered the Medford Urban Renewal Agency and the city of Medford another six months to piece together funding options for the Middleford Commons, a $147 million, seven-block development. MURA will consider Lithia’s offer at 7 p.m. today in Conference Room 340 at City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St., Medford. Dan Thorndike, MURA’s attorney, said the taxing district is scheduled to sunset in 2013, which makes it difficult to pay back any possible bonding for the project. "As a practical matter, there’s not enough time remaining," said Thorndike. He said MURA is not proposing an increase in the amount of indebtedness. Advertisement The tax increment financing — which amounted to $3.9 million in the 2004-05 budget — would go back into city, county and other taxing entities once the agency sunsets. Thorndike said MURA will decide whether to approve a letter of intent between Lithia, MURA and the city at its meeting today but likely will not yet discuss whether to extend the district until 2025. Thorndike said he appreciated Lithia giving MURA and the city more time to come up with funding options. The original deadline was January. Eric Stark, chairman of the MURA board, agreed. "We’re certainly wanting it to move forward and happy to have Lithia as a partner in coming downtown," said Stark. But there’s still a long way to go. "This isn’t a development agreement," said Stark. "We’re not to that point." Stark said MURA recently received a $70,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to help with planning the Middleford Commons. The project would cover seven blocks between Central and Riverside avenues and Main and Jackson streets. Since fall 2004, MURA and Lithia have been formulating plans for two 10-story buildings, four mixed-use residential/retail buildings and park space where Lithia automobile dealerships are now located. Lithia also is considering moving its six dealerships on those blocks to 113 acres it owns on Highway 62 near the airport, which would be $25.6 million cheaper. Lithia plans to move its headquarters within the next six years, when current leases on the Medford lots expire. In November, the city of Medford took the lead in what had been a MURA project to bring Lithia’s $62.6 million headquarters downtown. The city will assist with the planning and building process of the project; MURA will acquire property and build a parking structure, as well as widen Fourth Street and build park blocks along Bartlett Street. Both will work on lining up funding for the project. The DLCD grant will go toward planning the park blocks, underground parking and utility needs as well as transit and work-force housing needs. The concept for the Middleford Commons was developed through a $47,020 DLCD grant MURA received in 2005. But MURA staff members say it’s too soon to count on the project going through. "We’re just in the process of figuring out whether it’s a doable thing," said Jackie Rodgers, temporary acting director of MURA. Mike Dyal, Medford city manager, said if the MURA board approves the agreement with Lithia, it will come before the Medford City Council within the next month. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail MURA, Lithia weigh downtown options ">[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 Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement