Document text
CLEAR Temp: 51 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 5, 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 February 1, 2003 Winetrout-related suit against MURA dismissed By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune After nearly a year of legal wrangling, a judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit that stopped the ambitious Winetrout development downtown. "I’m pleased the judge ruled in our favor," said Medford Urban Renewal Agency Board Chairman Bill Dames. Circuit Court Judge Philip Arnold dismissed the case Friday, making MURA more attractive for potential developers wanting to get involved in projects. "If a developer tried to borrow money with a pending lawsuit, there are very few banks who would want to loan money," said Dames. 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 2002. He claimed the mixed-use building, which would have included office space, didn’t fall within the scope of MURA’s official revitalization plan. The project was abandoned in July after the lawsuit led to missed deadlines. MURA officials estimate the agency spent more than $25,000 fighting the lawsuit. The vacant dirt lot has since become an unofficial public parking lot, but MURA is moving ahead with new plans for the site. The judge’s decision came three days after the board reviewed a parking study for the parcel. The study determined that 475 parking spaces would be needed for that area within 10 years, and the board directed staff to design a three- or four-story parking structure. For downtown business owners like Joe Pedrojetti, owner of Joseph Winans, that’s good news. "I think parking is a major, major issue," he said. "I have employees, I have customers, it’s an issue." MURA Director Don Burt said in urban areas across the country, patrons like to park within 300 feet (about one block) of their destination, and the study took that into account. If approved and built, it would be the agency’s second parking structure. "It takes six months to design," said Burt. He said the site, currently a mud lot where about 150 cars can park, wouldn’t be taken up entirely by parking. "There will probably be some residual property left over," he said. Burt said MURA hasn’t decided what to do with the leftovers, and the "general intention" is still for a commercial/residential building. Dames said the judge’s decision does not change MURA’s plans. Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Transportation has asked MURA for a traffic safety study of the proposed Evergreen Way, a new tree-lined roadway from Fourth Street to 10th Street, between Fir and Front streets. Burt acknowledged that Urban Renewal ends up doing a lot of studies. "I hate studies," he said, but he added that they’re required by agencies as part of the permit process. Ferguson, who can appeal the judge’s decision, did not immediately return a phone call Friday. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] 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