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White City might get Bi-Mart store Land swap smoothes the way for the retailer to open on Highway 62 By JILL BRISKEY Bi-Mart could be on its way to White City, and north Jackson County residents who must drive into Medford for discount shampoo, garden equipment or office supplies couldn't be happier. "I think it would be great," said Eagle Point resident and former Mayor David McFall, who shops at the Medford Wal-Mart. "I would rather see a Wal-Mart, but Bi-Mart's just fine." Thursday, the White City area's Urban Renewal Agency voted to swap property with the county, a transfer that paves the way for Bi-Mart Corp. to build a store at Highway 62 and Antelope Road. The proposed store would join two others in Jackson County. Bi-Mart already has stores at 990 Biddle Road and 2687 Jacksonville Highway in Medford, and 2280 Ashland St. in Ashland. "I think it makes very much sense for that area out there," Commissioner Jack Walker said. Commissioner Sue Kupillas agreed. "Certainly Bi-Mart would be a very desirable shopping location for White City," she said. It is unclear when property negotiations between Bi-Mart Corp. and the county will begin or when construction may start. Attempts to contact Bi-Mart officials at the company's headquarters in Eugene were unsuccessful on Friday. According to county economic and special development director Kelly Madding, Bi-Mart last year expressed interest in building a 31,000-square-foot store on the site occupied by the old White City branch library. The county owns the site at 2399 Antelope Road, which is three-quarters of an acre and has an appraised value of $135,000. The White City area's Urban Renewal Agency owns the new White City Library branch property at 4143 C St. That site has a market value of $1,360,000. The Urban Renewal Agency doesn't mind losing the difference between the two properties' values because their goal is to improve the area by encouraging development and the creation of jobs, Madding said.. The properties changed hands on Thursday when commissioners agreed to swap the sites. "The new library site will be given to Jackson County and the old site will go to urban renewal," Madding added. The decision will allow the Urban Renewal Agency to sell the old site to Bi-Mart Corp. at fair reuse value, which may be less than market, appraised or assessed value. The county does not have that ability. County administrator Sue Slack said that a convenient commerce location may decrease the number of trips on Highway 62. However, she said Bi-Mart must work out some sort of access to Highway 62. "There is still quite a bit of work to be done out there," she added. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.