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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 22, 2005 Phoenix gives green light to urban renewal By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune PHOENIX — Downtown will see some $14 million in improvements over the next several decades, thanks to the City Council’s recent approval of an urban renewal district. "Absolutely no one was opposed" at last week’s public hearing on the district, said Mayor Vicki Bear. "This is such a positive first step in developing our downtown core. It’s really going to transform our city." Initial projects will include upgraded water and sewer lines, storm drains and street lights. A portion of funding will be set aside for rehabilitation loans for business owners and to help the city build new offices. In an urban renewal district, assessed property values are frozen for a set period of time, during which taxes on property values above the frozen level are directed to the urban renewal agency and withheld from other taxing districts. Phoenix’s urban renewal district boundaries will take effect Oct. 1 and include the city center, adjoining acreage along Highway 99, commercial areas along Fern Valley Road and industrial parcels in west Phoenix. Advertisement The city projects the district will generate $36,000 in the first budget cycle, 2006-2007. Funds will be allowed to accrue until they reach an amount high enough for improvements to begin. Portland urban renewal consultant Charles Kupper, who’s been working with the city, said more cities are opting for urban renewal districts with availability of grants diminishing and state budgets shrinking. "I think the reason why so many cities around the state are interested in urban renewal right now is that it may well be the last economic development tool left that communities can control locally," Kupper said. "The kinds of revenues they could turn to in years past are all long gone." City Planner Jeannell Wyntergreen said that with a viable funding source, the city will be well on its way to revamping its downtown image. "I’m ecstatic," she says. "This is going to launch Phoenix so far forward to what it wants to become." Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztechmedia Website Hosting Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Advertisement s