Looking for all the projects and renewals M.U.R.A. accomplished over the years? Visit the Timeline of Accomplishments.
Current major urban renewal projects, due for completion by late fall 2008, include: Bartlett Street Improvements; RCC/SOU Join Higher Education Building Streetscapes; Evergreen Mixed-Use Streetscapes; and Greyhound Depot Relocation, as part of the greater The Commons project. Deadlines and benchmarks have been met or are underway for all these and other high-profile urban renewal projects, including Liberty Park Neighborhood Enhancement Program Participation and Historic Facade Improvement.
The RCC/SOU Joint Higher Education Building Project began in 2005 with Medford Urban renewal's donation of properties that allowed the college and university to plan their joint building in the Downtown Campus. This will be one of Downtown Medford's newest grandest additions. The project is scheduled by September 2008.
The Bartlett Street Improvements and RCC/SOU Campus Streetscapes Projects commenced in 2006 and are scheduled for completion by September 2008, coinciding with the fall term school opening. Streetscape improvements will be on Bartlett Street from 9th to Main and will include the frontage areas of the new building. The projects construction contract has been let and contractor mobilization commended April 23rd.
The first components of the Evergreen Mixed-Use Project were completed with the opening of the Evergreen Parking Facility on December 2005 and Evergreen Way in 2006. Property surrounding the parking facility is development-ready. The Agency is open to developer interest in a private mixed-use development in Downtown. The Agency is currently posting information to 'commercial available sites' of local and state economic development websites and media.
In the meantime, the Agency is preparing to accelerate construction of sidewalks along 8th and Fir. The surface of the site was initially designed with provisions for a plaza along Main Street. The AGency, through its Downtown Design Committee and Board of Directors, is currently re-evaluating how the site is to be temporarily improved. This Evergreen Mixed-Use Streetscape Project is scheduled for completion in late fall 2008.
In FY04-05 the Agency agreed to provide funding for the Liberty Park Neighborhood Enhancement Project in the Beatty-Manzanita area of the urban renewal district. The Project includes $200,000 for sidewalks and streetscape improvements (scheduled to coincide with construction of a new neighborhood park), once $55,000 revolving low-interest loan account deposit with the City made in FY06-07, and three annual installments of $60,000, in FY's 06-07, 07-08 and 08-09 respectively, for a rehabilitation loan program.
The Agency's Facade Grant Program objective is to renew the viability of the downtown through renovation of historic buildings, leading to recruitment of new businesses to Downtown. The Facade Grant Program assists property and business owners through grants for rehabilitation of buildings within the Downtown Historic District. Public funds up to $37,500 were matched dollar for dollar by private investment. Projects completed this year include: Hubbard's Ace Hardware, Norris Shoes, Rack'Em, and Habanero's. Continuation of the Program is currently dependent upon future grant funding.
The Commons is the largest urban renewal project in which the Agency has participated. The Agency has committed $14.1 million towards development of park blocks, streetscapes and infrastructure improvements in a multi-block area from the Middleford Parking Structure north to 4th Street between Riverside and Central Avenues. Since the September 2006 signing of the Middleford Commons Disposition and Development Agreement, the Agency has completed its requirements by acquiring the Superior Stamp building and Greyhound's Depot and Garage. A requirement of the Greyhound Depot acquisition is the Agency's participation in its relocation.
RVTD and Greyhound have an intergovernmental agreement to allow the Greyhound Depot's relocation onto RVTD's Front Street Transit Center site. The Agency is responsible for construction of the depot for its RVTD/Greyhound Depot Relocation Project, which will be completed by late fall 2008.
A $200,000 EPA grant has allowed funding for the Agency's Environmental Assessments Project in The Commons area. The Agency has completed Phases I and II assessments. Environmental mitigation is required for one property. for more information on environmental grant activities, you may go to medfordcommons.com, a website created by the Agency through the EPA Grant.
The Agency, City and Lithia generally meet every two weeks to share updates on all aspects of The Commons Project.