There was some debate over whether it is an appropriate use of urban renewal dollars

By Damian Mann for Ashland.news

A $1.5 million grant approved Wednesday by the Medford Urban Renewal Agency provides the final dollars to roughly double the size of the popular downtown Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon.

On a 4-2 vote, with one abstention by board member Garrett West, MURA board members, made up of city councilors, debated whether the grant was appropriate for an organization that provides preschool and other activities for children in the Medford area. West abstained because he has done work for Children’s Museum.

Rebutting skepticism from MURA board members Nick Card and Kevin Keating, board member Jessica Ayers said the organization is investing the money into a building owned by the city that needed considerable remodeling and renovations.

“Quite frankly, I would have advised them to buy their own building and put $18 million elsewhere,” she said. “They are significantly improving our property and they have no ownership in this.”

The Children’s Museum invested $10 million in renovating the existing historical Carnegie Library building, which is leased by the organization for $1 a year from the city of Medford.

For the construction of a 12,800 two-story addition facing Eighth Street, the Children’s Museum has raised almost $6.5 million of the $8 million needed to build the project. The proposal includes a rooftop terrace area that adds extra space for outdoor activities, creating a total of 19,050 square feet.

The existing Carnegie building and 1950s addition is 15,700 square feet.

Prior to the MURA meeting, Medford City Council members approved the addition as long as it receives appropriate historical review. Only Councilor Keating voted “no,” saying he objected to losing green space in the downtown.

With MURA’s contribution, the Children’s Museum hopes to start construction next year.

The addition would expand the organization’s Ivy School, which currently serves 260 children and has a long waiting list. Three new classrooms will be available on the first floor of the addition. There are four in the main campus, and an additional seven classrooms in the Medford School District. The first floor of the addition will have administrative offices.

On the second floor, there will be a culinary studio and a clay studio, as well as a large space for various programs.

The Children’s Museum has more than 70 employees, and additional staff will be required for the new building.  The addition will feature a play area on the roof that can accommodate about 300 people and host events, with views of Medford City Hall and the Jackson County Courthouse.

Board member Card voiced the strongest opposition, saying this project is outside the bounds of other projects funded by MURA.

“I don’t like the position I find myself in,” he said. “I struggle with MURA being the source of money going into this project.”

He said he didn’t consider the downtown a blighted area that needed to be revitalized.

“It is a feel-good project,” Card said.

He said he would have preferred to use the city’s general fund dollars rather than MURA money.

Board member Kevin Keating said, “I think the price tag is a bit high. It’s a big ask.”

Board member Mike Zarosinski, also Medford’s mayor, said the Children’s Museum has helped with the renewal in the downtown.

“I see a lot of activity in this location,” he said. “It’s pulled a lot of people into the downtown.” He did agree that the high price tag for MURA is somewhat “uncomfortable,” but supported having a larger space for childcare.

“It clicks a lot of boxes,” he said.

Board chair Kevin Stine said, “I think when I look at the totality of everything, it is a tremendous asset with what they done with the city.”

He said it was also an opportunity for MURA to put the last dollars into a worthwhile city project.

“They’ve taken something of Medford and made it a vital piece in the downtown,” he said.

Board member John Quinn said the revitalization of the Carnegie and the expansion of the Children’s Museum have a public and social benefit.

“It’s pretty obvious that people can’t work if they don’t have a place to put their children,” he said. “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”

Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at [email protected].