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CLOUDY Temp: 56 °F Wind: NW at 8 mph Saturday, June 21, 2003 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 April 22, 2003 Wal-Mart makes offer for Miles Field By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune It’s strike three for Miles Field and a home-run for Wal-Mart. On Wednesday, Jackson County commissioners are expected to adopt an agreement with Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust that will bring a third store to the area. If approved, the county would sell the Miles Field site, its surrounding east perimeter and the old juvenile facility property — nearly 30 acres — to Wal-Mart for $10.75 per square foot, or roughly $14 million. "I see this as a win-win situation," said County Administrator Sue Slack, who added that the sale is contingent on agreements with other parties involved, such as the city of Medford and Oregon Department of Transportation. Advertisement "It’s good for Miles Field, it’s good for the community and it’s good for the city." After demolition fees, closing costs and relocation of Center Drive, the county expects to gain $7.7 million from the deal, Slack said. About $2.3 million from the sale will be used to build a new Miles Field in Medford. Although the details haven’t been finalized, Miles Field most likely would be rebuilt at Medford’s future 132-acre sports park complex on Highway 99 across from Bear Creek Corp., near the old Starlight Theater, Slack said. It is unclear what type of Wal-Mart store will be built at the site or how many people it would employ. Slack said construction is tentatively set for October 2004 and added the new store is expected to be "really big." "They’re not just going to build a box structure," said Slack. "They’re building stores that are customized to the community." Attempts to contact Wal-Mart officials in Arkansas and Nevada were unsuccessful on Monday. Jackson County has owned Miles Field for more than 75 years. Several years ago, the county contracted with the Miles Field Community Renovation Society for management of the site. Since the early 1990s, the society has charged local baseball teams, youth groups and community organizations fees that are used to maintain the facility. The county doesn’t profit from the agreement or pay any fees. Gary Miller, president of the society, referred questions regarding Miles Field to the county on Monday. Although the county owns the property, Miles Field is in city limits and within the Medford Urban Renewal District. MURA Director Don Burt said he is pleased with the arrangements. He said the property’s location within the South Gateway Center is a "power center" that attracts box businesses such as Costco or Home Depot. "I think it’s a good fit," said Burt. "There’s a number of hoops that still have to be jumped through." Jackson County’s first Wal-Mart opened in 1993 near Costco off Highway 62. A second store opened a year later in Talent off Highway 99 and West Valley View Road. Over the years, a number of parties have expressed interest in the Miles Field site, Slack said, but added that Wal-Mart was the first to make a serious offer. The negotiations began a few months before, she added. "There’s been a lot of rumors and that’s all they have been," Slack said. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Wal-Mart is world’s largest retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which has two stores in Jackson County, is the world’s largest retailer. In 2002, the company netted $218 billion in sales. Wal-Mart employs more than 1.3 million people worldwide. It has more than 3,200 stores in the United States and 1,100 stores internationally. An estimated 100 million customers visit Wal-Mart stores each week. The first Wal-Mart was opened in 1962 by founder Sam Walton in Rogers, Ark. Today the company has four retail divisions — Wal-Mart super centers, discount stores, neighborhood markets and Sam’s Club warehouses. 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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